The Indian INS Vikrant and the Type 003 Hull Chinese Supercarrier Fujian are both premiere warships of the Indian and Chinese navies, with the Type 003 hull especially getting the attention of the US in particular.
Indian, Chinese Aircraft Carriers
In light of escalating tensions with China and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy of China expanding its excursions in the Indian Ocean Region, the arrival of INS Vikrant represents a substantial improvement in the Indian Navy's ability to project power (IOR), reported the EurAsian Times.
The fleet has two aircraft carriers, so even if one needs maintenance, the other will keep operating. The Indian Navy also wants to obtain a third aircraft carrier.
China launched the Fujian, or Type 003, aircraft carrier on June 17. Type 003, named after the Chinese state of Fujian, is China's third aircraft carrier and the first with a completely indigenous design.
According to experts, the Fujian will most likely be deployed to project Chinese power in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, noted SCMP.
Most of the details about the new Chinese supercarrier are unknown yet but at a displacement of 80,000 tons, which is twice the Vikrant (40,000 tons).
Fujian is the biggest competitor to the US Gerald Ford class with a length of 320 meters and a width of 73 meters, an estimate from satellite imagery. The India INS Vikrant and the Type 003 Hull Chinese Supercarrier Fujian are generations apart, but the airwing makes a big difference.
The second Indian carrier was 260 meters long and as wide as 62 meters; as tall as 59 meters with 14 decks, five in the superstructures, and 2,300 compartments on the ship. A total of 1,700 crew could operate the ship with cabins for women officers provided.
Flight Deck and Equipment
Vikrant used a ski-ramp with Short Take-Off but Arrested Landing (STOBAR) aircraft; it has dual take-off runways and a landing strip equipped with triple arrester wires.
The Indian ship will have 24 Russian-built MiG-29K fighters same as the Vikramaditya. Although the Indian Navy might get the Super Hornet or Rafale-M as maritime aircraft, noted Military Watch Magazine. Other aircraft will be several choppers either from India or foreign.
The Type 003 hull is equipped with the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), which is more advanced and versatile enough for launching more aircraft types. Ski ramps are shorter take-off, but the plane uses its power to leave the deck.
EMALS uses a strong magnet on catapults to power take-off, just like the Nimitz class steam catapults with CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) technology.
Ski-jumps are less effective than EMALS which launch heavier planes by adding more fuel and weapons for fewer weight restrictions. Capability to use large transport planes via EMALS is better than rotorcraft that is inferior, especially cargo limits they have
Furthermore, electromagnetic catapults can launch big reconnaissance aircraft equipped with airborne warning and control systems (AWACS), extending the range at which attackers can be detected ahead of time.
The Fujian, a catapult type J-15T, seen on Shandong and Liaoning, to operate soon to be seen is the 5th gen FC-31 Gyrfalcon when ready. More advanced aviation will be on the Type 003 Hull when ready. Compared to the India INS Vikrant, the Type 003 Hull Chinese Supercarrier Fujian is potent and at par with US aircraft carriers.
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