.Chapter 34: The main pillar

During the period when the General Staff was responsible for naval equipment construction, the "Kunlun Mountain"-class aircraft carrier was one of Mu Haoyang's most important masterpieces.

In a sense, the "Kunlun Mountain" level is also the result of the struggle between Mu Haoyang and Teng Yaohui.

In the initial stage, the "Kunlun Mountain" class was designed as an upgraded alternative to the "Yangtze River" class, mainly improving the problems existing in the "Yangtze River" class, appropriately improving combat capabilities, able to independently perform combat missions in waters far away from the local area, and reducing the requirements for rear support.

After the "Yangtze River" level was put into service, the situation changed.

Although the "Yangtze River" class was worthy of the low cost during its service, especially the strong combat power obtained with a displacement of less than 50,000 tons, for the Navy, the various disadvantages of medium-sized aircraft carriers basically did not have the ability to operate independently in the ocean.

These problems were reflected before the outbreak of the First Indian Ocean War.

Affected by this, the Navy adjusted the c2, which is the "Kunlun Mountain" level tactical indicators, and clearly required the water displacement to be relaxed to more than 80,000 tons.

It is precisely because of this that the "Kunlun Mountain" class has become a large aircraft carrier.

At this stage, Mu Haoyang did not oppose the Navy's request, but actively supported the Navy's proposal and made positive contributions during the "Kunlun Mountain" level bidding and review stage. It can be said that without his support, Huang Zhibo would definitely not approve the Navy's "crazy plan".

You should know that during the design stage, the cost of the "Kunlun Mountain" level is twice that of the "Yangtze River" level.

The cost has increased exponentially, and the comprehensive combat capability of the aircraft carrier has not increased exponentially. To put it bluntly, the comprehensive combat capability of the "Kunlun Mountain" class is definitely not as good as the sum of the two "Yangtze River" class, and in terms of combat flexibility, it cannot be compared with the two medium-sized aircraft carriers. More importantly, the cost is only evaluated during the design stage, and the cost will definitely increase during actual construction.

It can be said that the "Kunlun Mountain" level only has an advantage in comprehensive cost.

To put it simply, during the 35-year service period of the design, the comprehensive expenditure of a "Kunlun Mountain" class must be much less than that of the two "Yangtze River" class. Not to mention, the fleet and aviation force of a "Kunlun Mountain" class are 4,500, which is nearly 1,000 fewer than the two "Yangtze River" class. The personnel expenditure in 35 years can be reduced by more than 10 billion yuan, and the maintenance cost can also save hundreds of billions of yuan.

Under Mu Haoyang's active promotion, the "Kunlun Mountain" level changed from drawings to real objects.

However, Mu Haoyang and Teng Yaohui have huge differences in construction quantity.

As mentioned earlier, the Navy initially planned to build eight "Kunlun Mountain" class ships in two batches, which will replace the "Huangdi" and the two "Yangtze River" class ships.

Obviously, such "high standards" not only did not receive the support of Mu Haoyang, but even Huang Zhibo could not pass the hurdle.

The reason is very simple. According to the plan submitted by Teng Yaohui, the second batch of "Kunlun Mountain" classes will be completed and put into service before 2035, and the "Yangtze River" class has only been in service for less than fifteen years, not half of its designed life. Because the "Yangtze River" class is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, it is impossible to sell it to other countries. If it is eliminated in 2035, it will be equivalent to losing hundreds of billions of yuan for no reason.

If two "Yangtze River" class ships are retained, there is no need to build eight "Kunlun Mountain" class ships.

From the perspective of industrial production, if eight "Kunlun Mountain" class are built in two batches, the number of constructions in each batch will reach four. The result is that Dalian Shipyard and Jiangnan Shipyard must build a second ship platform, which requires a huge investment of hundreds of billions of yuan. As an enterprise, the two shipyards cannot make such a large investment in building four aircraft carriers each, so either let the navy build more aircraft carriers or let the navy share the expansion costs. From the perspective of cost, these two solutions will increase the burden on the navy.

The result was that Mu Haoyang insisted on building four ships in two batches first.

As for whether to build the third batch, it has basically nothing to do with Mu Haoyang.

It can be said that Mu Haoyang was very visionary when dealing with this matter.

Given the situation at that time, if his proposal was adopted, even if Teng Yaohui continued to insist on his own opinions, it would not be possible to build the third batch of "Kunlun Mountain" class. The reason is very simple. When the second batch of "Kunlun Mountain" class is completed, the technical accumulation required for the C3 project will be basically completed, and the Navy has no reason to build more "Kunlun Mountain" class. If the C3 class is built, because a large number of new technologies are adopted, especially the new hull, it is possible to build up at most two ships in the early stage, and it is possible to build only one ship after success. In this way, even after 2035, the Navy will not build a large-scale aircraft carrier according to Teng Yaohui's plan.

Of course, this does not mean that Mu Haoyang is opposed to building aircraft carriers.

However, in his opinion, in the short term, especially before solving surrounding problems, the Chinese Navy does not have the foundation for a global confrontation with the US Navy, so there is no need to build aircraft carriers on a large scale, and there is no need to spend too much effort and resources on aircraft carriers in type 1.

According to his idea, at least until the C3 level is completed, the Chinese Navy should maintain a small step and fast development model.

Only by building a variety of aircraft carriers, familiarizing themselves with the construction methods of aircraft carriers and enhancing the construction process can we lay a solid foundation and build them on a large scale after the technology is mature.

This is a necessary step in the development of the navy.

More importantly, this development model can make use of new technologies as much as possible and move to the pace of technological success.

On the "Kunlun Mountain" class aircraft carrier, the benefits brought by this development model are clearly reflected.

For example, on the "Kunlun Mountain" and "Tianshan", the latest developed air defense and final interception systems were adopted. The comprehensive air defense capability was three times higher than the "Yangtze River" class, and the last anti-missile interception capability was more than ten times higher. It was one of the most powerful aircraft carriers in the world at that time. In addition, the latest developed electromagnetic catapults were used, which can catapult five fighter jets in one minute. On the "Qinling" and "Taihangshan", by adjusting the flight deck layout, such as moving the two elevators on the starboard side back, the aviation dispatch efficiency increased by 20%. In addition, the latest developed passive detection radar was equipped for the first time.

If built in large quantities, many new technologies will not be able to be applied to aircraft carriers.

From the perspective of comprehensive combat capabilities, the Kunlun Mountain class surpasses the first six Ford class, and is comparable to the next six Ford class.

With ninety-six carrier-based aircraft, the Kunlun Mountain can dispatch forty-eight in one wave and retain twelve fighters over the fleet. If the number of air defense fighters is reduced and the "tidal operation method" is adopted, sixty fighters can be dispatched in one wave. If the dispatch efficiency is not considered, the Kunlun Mountain class can carry up to 120 J-22 fighters, or eighty J-22 and twenty-four J-15bs, as well as other heavy carrier-based fighters, and ensure that up to 48 fighters can be dispatched in one wave.

Generally speaking, a carrier-based aviation corps of the Kunlun Mountain class have ninety-six fighters. According to the initial Navy's configuration standards, it includes forty-eight J-22 or J-22b multi-purpose fighters, twenty-four J-15b heavy fighters, six zy-1 or zy-1d carrier-based early warning aircraft (one of which is a backup aircraft), four y-1c carrier-based transport aircraft, eight qy-1d carrier-based fixed-wing anti-submarine patrol aircraft and six z-22 multi-purpose helicopters (mainly perform anti-submarine patrol missions, and can also perform transportation missions).

Of course, this is not the final equipment.

For example, after the launch of the J-32, that is, the J-30, the J-30 will all replace the J-15b and become the most important heavy fighter jets in the carrier-based aviation. The zy-1 and zy-1d will also be replaced by the zy-2 carrier-based early warning aircraft that use common radars before 2035, while the y-1c and qy-1d will be replaced by the inclined rotary wing aircraft that completed the test flight work not long ago. As for the carrier-based helicopters, they are likely to be eliminated.

According to the Navy's Air Force's plan, by 2035, the number of carrier-based aircraft of the "Kunlun Mountain" class will be reduced to less than 90. Only in wartime will the carrier-based aviation gang be enhanced. If the J-32 cannot be served on time, the Navy is likely to replace the J-22 and J-15b with j-22m, and increase the number of carrier-based fighters to more than 90, thereby comprehensively improving combat capabilities.

With the service of the Kunlun Mountain and the Tianshan Mountain, these two aircraft carriers became the backbone of the Chinese Navy.

The problem is that in Mu Haoyang's eyes, aircraft carriers are not the core force of the fleet. At least when performing offensive missions, the combat effectiveness of aircraft carriers has been challenged.

The change was the simulation exercise that was not announced to the public.

During the exercise, Mu Haoyang used the fleet built by new technology to completely defeat the aircraft carrier battle group commanded by Teng Yaohui, and achieved absolute victory in both naval battles and ground strikes. It was this exercise that opened the curtain of naval equipment technology.

According to Mu Haoyang's judgment, aircraft carriers are still irreplaceable in future naval battles, but the tactical uses of aircraft carriers will inevitably undergo a maximum change. To put it bluntly, carrier-based aviation is indispensable, but not omnipotent, and it is impossible to play a decisive role in all battles.

In the final analysis, it is a tactic caused by technology.

In future naval battles, aircraft carriers will return to their true nature, that is, they mainly undertake fleet air defense and long-range strike tasks. Carrier-based aviation will be the main means of long-range strikes. However, under the background of naval tactical changes, the status of other auxiliary warships will be greatly improved, especially various new warships. Only by rationally utilizing various combat forces in the fleet can the greatest victory be achieved at the lowest cost.

In fact, this is also the key direction of the development of China's navy in recent years.

It is precisely because the focus is on auxiliary warships that, to the outside world, the Chinese Navy is a little unimprovement and is even going back.
Chapter completed!