According to any media, the rate of production of ships in China seems to be slowing down in the last year. However, the Chinese slowdown is inactive akin to the velocity of the sprinter, only that it is now alternatively the pace of a racer moving at a distance of 400 m alternatively than 100 m. surely a Chinese-built unit that is most likely to be the world's first aircraft carrier for drones only deserves attention.
In fresh weeks there have been 3 interesting news about Chinese Navy. The first 1 afraid a fresh aircraft carrier "Fujian", which had just been tested by sea. It is simply a unit of a completely fresh type, in construction which was no longer based on the russian project. It was equipped with catapults alternatively of existing alleged ski jumpers, as in the case of “Liaoning” and “Shandong”. A small later, information came out about a fresh kind of corvette designed as a stealth-class ship. Interestingly, during the decade 2012-2021 China has built 72 kind 056 corvettes, however, 22 units from the first production series have already been removed from the fleet state and the coastguards have been transferred. possibly the mediate State needs a more modern plan to operate in the litoral zone. The 3rd message did not penetrate the public, although it surely deserves it. China seems to be ending construction of the 4th aircraft carrier. This is an innovative solution intended exclusively for unmanned aircraft (!).
The recently built vessel is simply a catamaran with a hull dimension of about 100 m and a runway deck width of not more than 40 m. According to reports from Naval News (nearly all media information about this ship is based on this source) it will be possible to operate unmanned aircraft (UAV) with a wingspan of about 20 m, or akin size to the American Predator. Although it cannot be excluded at this phase that the built unit will yet have a different intent (e.g. a ship-target or a test platform for investigating drones at sea), it will most likely be the world's first aircraft carrier only for unmanned aircraft. It is worth recalling that the Iranians (mainly for prestigious reasons) and Turkey (after being excluded from the F-35 programme) are working on a akin solution, so this is not just an extravagance.
Ship "Zhu Hai Yun"
Unmanned systems are rapidly gaining importance. The Ukrainian conflict proves this on an ongoing basis. Naval equipment at the aircraft carrier for UAV may be an appropriate idea, especially for China. The Corvette construction program mentioned at the outset appears to reflect 2 improvement trends of the Navy of China's People's Liberation Army. On the 1 hand, oceanic units are being built that will operate as part of conflict groups consisting of aircraft carriers or helicopters, cruisers, destroyers and frigates, most likely supplemented by submarines. On the another hand, Beijing sees the request to have smaller (costier) ships that will work in the litoral zone. It's about corvettes, tiny rocket ships. An aircraft carrier from which unmanned platforms will operate may be a valuable complement to this second category in particular. Its presence in coastal waters will strengthen the ability to recognise, to any degree besides the impact capacity, especially for smaller vessels of the countries of the region (in the light of fresh incidents, the Philippines should be mentioned above all).
Looking at Chinese ship programs in historical terms, it can be expected that a fresh ship will be tested and evaluated for any time after being brought into service. If the concept of utilizing units of this class proves correct, then the next aircraft carriers for drones, although most likely the already upgraded type, will scope the line comparatively quickly. However, it is surely worth looking at the future of innovative construction.
