The rise of a great power: starting with military industry

Chapter 1071 The Second Aircraft Carrier Formation
Liu Tao took a "Ray Eagle" helicopter and left Qiong Island and came to a sea area.

In this sea area, China's second aircraft carrier fleet is conducting training.

In the entire fleet, the Type 002 aircraft carrier is in the middle, with a Type 093 attack nuclear submarine and a Type 039 conventional-powered submarine in the front, followed by two Type 052 destroyers. In the third row, the aircraft carrier is in the middle, with two Type 052 destroyers, six Type 054 frigates and a comprehensive supply ship on the left and right wings. The entire Second Aircraft Carrier Fleet is composed of fourteen warships, including two underwater submarines and twelve surface warships.

The combat effectiveness that such an aircraft carrier formation can exert is already very strong. If the number of Type 093 attack nuclear submarines increases and the Type 093 attack nuclear submarines replace the Type 039 conventional submarines, the combat effectiveness of the entire aircraft carrier battle group will be further enhanced.

Liu Tao was looking at the aircraft carrier. At this moment, a J-11C carrier-based aircraft was undergoing catapult takeoff on the deck of the aircraft carrier.

With the help of the steam catapult, the J-11C carrier-based aircraft accelerated, reached the take-off speed, and took off from the deck of the aircraft carrier.

The training of an aircraft carrier formation is very expensive, but the money must be spent.

Because only by continuously conducting take-off and landing training on an aircraft carrier can pilots truly improve their skills and abilities.

The next step is the command and combat training of the aircraft carrier battle group, which must also be conducted at sea, with training in different subjects.

Only by training more in peacetime can we exert our combat effectiveness and defeat the enemy in wartime.

China's aircraft carrier era has just begun, and how to use aircraft carriers and how to unleash the combat effectiveness of aircraft carrier battle groups must be explored independently.

Because no one will teach you this.

You have to figure everything out on your own, and even pay high tuition fees.

In recent years, the navy has produced more than ten martyrs in exploring the use of aircraft carriers.

Liu Tao held a telescope and looked down at the Type 002 aircraft carrier and the entire aircraft carrier formation.

At this moment, the entire formation was majestic and magnificent.

Just such an aircraft carrier formation, as long as it can form combat effectiveness, can deal a major blow to medium-sized countries.

After all, its carrier-based aircraft includes 36 J-11C fighter jets.

In the entire aircraft carrier formation, the Type 054 frigate has multiple tactical uses and can undertake tasks such as air defense, anti-submarine, escort and strike on surface targets; the Type 052 frigate has strong air defense, anti-submarine and ocean-going combat capabilities.

The Type 039 conventional submarine attacks enemy ships using torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.

In addition to its powerful anti-submarine combat capabilities, the Type 093 attack nuclear submarine can also attack ships by launching torpedoes and anti-ship missiles, and can also launch cruise missiles to attack targets on land.

The Type 002 aircraft carrier is equipped with a certain self-defense weapon system/close-in defense system as the last line of defense for the aircraft carrier itself, which includes three close-in defense guns and three 3-unit "Aegis" short-range air defense missile launchers. The real attack on targets at sea and on land is carried out through carrier-based aircraft.

It can be said that such an aircraft carrier battle group is truly an integrated offensive and defensive force.

The 'Ray Sculpture' helicopter hovered over the aircraft carrier battle group for a while, and then landed on the deck of the aircraft carrier.

"Hello, leader!" Zhang Zhaozhong came over and saluted Liu Tao.

Liu Tao returned the salute.

Then, under the leadership of Zhang Zhaozhong, they inspected everything on the Type 002 aircraft carrier, as well as the achievements and some problems that had been explored during this period.

"Leader, when will the integrated command flagship you mentioned earlier be delivered to the navy?" After finishing his meal, Zhang Zhaozhong asked in a low voice in the lounge.

The current aircraft carrier formation has a modified Type 052 destroyer as its flagship.

After all, as a fleet flagship, communication center, command, early warning, coordination, planning, etc. are its primary tasks, which not only requires a large amount of equipment, but also requires a large number of personnel. If it is placed on an aircraft carrier, it will not only take up resources but also bring complex electromagnetic compatibility and other issues. In addition, the combat of an aircraft carrier is more complicated than that of an ordinary warship. In addition to the captain's command of navigation and daily life, there must also be an aviation command system and team. There is no need to move the fleet command function to an aircraft carrier to occupy limited resources.

Of course, this does not mean that aircraft carriers cannot serve as flagships, but it is not necessary. Instead, aircraft carriers should focus on combat.

"It will be launched soon. It will be launched on July 7 this year and will be delivered to you by the end of next year." Liu Tao said with a faint smile.

Zhang Zhaozhong was delighted when he heard this.

Other people’s words may not be very reliable, but Liu Tao’s words are always reliable.

This has been proven time and time again.

If there were no Liu Tao, the Chinese Navy might have been lucky enough to have a frigate or destroyer with decent performance.

更不要提现在有着世界先进的054型护卫舰、052型驱逐舰、039型常规潜艇、093型攻击核潜艇以及002型航母了。

Ten years ago, Zhang Zhaozhong would never have dared to think about such an aircraft carrier battle group, not even in his dreams. The thought of it seemed like a crime.

But now, it has been realized.

In fact, within a few years, we will have the Type 002B nuclear-powered medium-sized aircraft carrier, and within ten years, we will have the Type 003 nuclear-powered large aircraft carrier.

Sometimes when Zhang Zhaozhong thinks about it, he finds it unbelievable.

And all this was brought by Liu Tao.

Which warships the navy can add depends on Liu Tao's opinion.

Because the navy's military expenditure, let alone the purchase of warships, even the payment of salaries, subsidies and the daily operation of warships is already very tight.

The annual increase in naval expenditure is far from enough for the navy to live a lavish life.

China has now entered the era of dual aircraft carriers. In a few years, it will be the era of three aircraft carriers, and in less than ten years, it will be the era of four aircraft carriers.

But even four aircraft carriers were far from enough for Zhang Zhaozhong. He had always believed that China's vast sea borders required at least six aircraft carriers to barely protect them. If there were 6 aircraft carriers, that would be the best.

Afterwards, Liu Tao and Zhang Zhaozhong talked about what happened in December.

According to the plan, when China's second aircraft carrier formation is combat-ready, it will go to Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, pay friendly visits to various friendly countries, and take the opportunity to fight pirates along the way and protect merchant ships.

As for collecting ocean hydrological data and underwater topographic data along the way, that is just a side job.

It has only been more than a decade since the first warship set out of the country in the 80s. This is not enough time for the navy to master complete hydrological and underwater topographic data of various oceans. In this regard, the Chinese Navy is far behind the British Navy, let alone the US Navy.

As the world's maritime hegemon and the former maritime hegemon, the United States Navy and the British Navy both possess the most detailed hydrological and underwater topographic data on the world's oceans.

Even the French Navy has accumulated much more data in this area than the Chinese Navy.

The Chinese Navy still has a lot to do in terms of accumulating its foundation.

For example, building a complete ocean hydrological database and underwater topographic database will take at least 20 years to complete.

(End of this chapter)