South China Morning Post: Breakthrough to power most advanced jet launch system on China’s second home-grown aircraft carrier
Military chiefs have given green light for new integrated propulsion system capable of powering electromagnetic catapults, experts say
A technological breakthrough in naval propulsion will enable China’s second home-grown aircraft carrier to use the world’s most advanced jet launch system without having to resort to nuclear power, overcoming a huge hurdle in the vessel’s development, military sources said.
The development of the integrated propulsion system (IPS) would allow the vessel to be more efficient, allowing more power for an electromagnetic catapult, rather than a less technologically advanced steam-driven catapult launch system, the sources said.
China’s first two carriers, the Liaoning and its sister ship, the Type 001A, are conventionally powered vessels equipped with Soviet-designed ski-jump launch systems.
Read more ....
Update #1: Chinese Military to Develop Third Aircraft Carrier After Technology Breakthrough (Newsweek)
Update #2: China's New Aircraft Carrier to Use Advanced Jet Launch System (The Diplomat)
WNU Editor: Another sign that the Chinese want an aircraft carrier to match what the U.S.can deploy.
