Australia's Cairns Post revealed (June 8) photographs 'leaked' on Chinese social media on May 31 that provide a pretty good estimate of the flight deck layout for Type 003 CATOBAR CV once completed overlaid on the current stage of construction. From satellite imagery, the Type 003 looks about 325m long and up to 80m wide. The new USS Ford is 337m long and 78m wide. US Navy supercarriers weigh in excess of 100,000 tonnes. Speculation is that Type 003 will fall just short of this, at about 90,000 tonnes. The Type 0003 appears to have two large, side-mounted aircraft elevators on the starboard (right) side. Indications are it will be fitted with catapults (Chinese state-run media reports them to be advanced electromagnetic devices in the same league as USS Ford) with two on the bow and one on the port (left) overhang. This is significant. Unlike its predecessors which have simple ski-ramps, the Type 003 will be able to rapidly launch combat aircraft carrying full fuel and weapon loads. The photographs show that construction of the ship is on track to be launched next year, with a likely operational date as soon as 2024. The Type 003 carrier will reach a major construction milestone soon with the Island expected to place onto the flight deck in the next couple months. The new Chinese aircraft carrier will have 55 aircraft and helicopters plus support aircraft on board against the 90 aircraft and helicopters plus support aircraft on board the USS Ford.
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