China’s next carrier could be its longest, what are Beijing’s pl

New satellite images indicate that China’s next aircraft carrier may be longer than the US Navy’s largest warship, offering fresh clues about how far from home Beijing may want its carrier fleet to operate and what logistics such operations would require.

What the satellite images show

The images were captured on September 4 and show that work has begun on the bulbous bow of the carrier being built at Dalian Shipyard in northeastern China, defence intelligence company Janes reported last week.

According to Janes, measurements from the stern to the projected tip of the bow suggest the carrier could eventually have an overall length of 336 metres (1,100 feet) to 339 metres.

That projected size would place the vessel on a par with the USS Gerald R. Ford, the US Navy’s newest carrier, which Janes puts at about 333 metres.

How it compares with China’s Fujian

The same projected measurements would also make the under-construction carrier roughly 20 metres longer than the Fujian, China’s most advanced carrier.

The Fujian entered service last November, according to the source material.

Why the size matters

Analysts say the vessel’s hull and potential nuclear propulsion suggest China’s carrier fleet could be used further afield.

The fresh satellite imagery therefore matters not only because of the carrier’s possible length, but also because it points to questions about Beijing’s intended operating range and the logistics needed to support a fleet operating far from home.

Janes’ reported measurements remain based on the visible stern-to-projected-bow assessment, but they provide the clearest figures in the source material for how large the Dalian-built vessel could become.

Source: South China Morning Post