Chinese Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier (CVN): Design Finalized

China-Defense Forum members were somewhat astounded today when pictures were released on Chinese internet forums of what is certainly a model of the first Chinese nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (CVN). While it being just a model might not seem that significant to many, there are telltales about the model in these pics that indicate it's genuine. In fact, it represents a final design for the new CVN has been approved by PLAN for production.



The design clarifies some previous questions: four catapults (presumably EMALS), no ski-jump



The hull number 18 falls in line with previous expectations that the first "all-indigenous" Chinese carrier design would be nuclear-powered and is expected to be the "002 Class". As the currently in-service CV LIAONING is hull number 16, this also implies hull number 17 will be the 001A, a Chinese-built KUZNETSOV-class CV.


http://china-defense.blogspot.com/20...-aircraft.html