Aircraft Carriers

Joe C-P · February 14, 2009, 11:16:54 AM

The oil money isn't there so much any more, but I can see Chavez buying himself a Kiev-sized carrier as a personal yacht, though a CTOL like the Indians were supposed to get out of the Admiral Gorshkov.

Pakistan might do the same, though I can't really see why they'd want one. Carriers aren't hard to see, and the Indian navy could track it wherever it went in the Indian Ocean.

Perhaps Argentina would want a carrier again.

ChernayaAkula · February 16, 2009, 01:39:42 PM

Quote from: Nils on February 09, 2009, 04:13:18 AM
<...> navalised FC-20 (export J-10) <...>

Sauragnmon · February 16, 2009, 03:07:04 PM

CA you should be paying attention to me eventually - I have plans to do a Super-10 which might potentially be navalized.

dy031101 · February 21, 2009, 01:05:53 PM

Posted by GTX:

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,22456.msg337200.html#msg337200

So...... Russia's gonna up the number of her carrier(s)......

Actually, what if it would be Russia exporting carriers?

On a seperate topic, what if some potential customers are interested in SATOBAR carriers but would want Western weapons and/or aircraft? What if the F-35B is unavailable to those customers? How difficult would it be to adopt Western CATOBAR aircraft for operation from carriers of, say, Kuznetsov's size......?

GTX · February 21, 2009, 01:17:55 PM

Quote from: dy031101 on February 21, 2009, 01:05:53 PM
How difficult would it be to adopt Western CATOBAR aircraft for operation from carriers of, say, Kuznetsov's size......?

Shouldn't be too hard - in fact the Typhoon has already been postulated as a candidate for such.

Regards,

Greg

dy031101 · February 21, 2009, 01:25:15 PM

Quote from: GTX on February 21, 2009, 01:17:55 PM
Shouldn't be too hard - in fact the Typhoon has already been postulated as a candidate for such.

I kept on having the idea of Rafales flying from a Westernised Kuznetsov (or Rafales adopted for Russian ordnance flying from an export Kuznetsov) in my head......

GTX · February 21, 2009, 01:36:11 PM

Well for that matter just about any naval fighter is a goer.

Regards,

Greg

dy031101 · February 21, 2009, 01:52:50 PM

Would it be too early to brainstorm on what might follow the São Paulo in service of the Brazilian Navy?

Just call me Ray · February 21, 2009, 06:27:26 PM

Why would it be?

Weaver · February 21, 2009, 07:04:07 PM

Quote from: dy031101 on February 21, 2009, 01:52:50 PM
Would it be too early to brainstorm on what might follow the São Paulo in service of the Brazilian Navy?

Whatever's cheap and/or second hand, I imagine.

One or more Invincibles, once the RN's finished with them?

New build carrier from India?

dy031101 · February 21, 2009, 07:07:06 PM

What's the price tag of the Kuznetsov?

Just call me Ray · February 22, 2009, 01:31:34 AM

Quote from: Weaver on February 21, 2009, 07:04:07 PM

One or more Invincibles, once the RN's finished with them?

The Invincibles would be small for their needs, though. I imagine they would either buy a brand new carrier or just sit out on naval aviation for a while.

Weaver · February 22, 2009, 02:31:53 AM

Quote from: Just call me Ray on February 22, 2009, 01:31:34 AM
Quote from: Weaver on February 21, 2009, 07:04:07 PM

One or more Invincibles, once the RN's finished with them?

The Invincibles would be small for their needs, though. I imagine they would either buy a brand new carrier or just sit out on naval aviation for a while.

What are their needs though? They currently seem to be operating a small number of ASW helos and a small number of strike aircraft, which the Invincibles can do, plus don't forget that there are potentially three on offer. Anyway, when you're at the bottom of the bottom of the market, you cut your sails to suit your cloth. If the choice is an Invincible or letting their perishable naval aviation skill fade away for a decade, then I'd say go with the Invincible.

Hobbes · February 22, 2009, 07:34:53 AM

I've always had the impression South-American naval aviation was more a matter of pride than a useful tool, so the Invincibles would be enough to fill the role.

Just call me Ray · February 22, 2009, 11:58:38 AM

Quote from: Weaver on February 22, 2009, 02:31:53 AM

What are their needs though? They currently seem to be operating a small number of ASW helos and a small number of strike aircraft

Their strike aircraft are not VSTOL-capable though (as much as we'd like to think the Scooter can do anything

) and according to Wikipedia the Brazilians really want a fixed-wing strike capability. If they bought an Invincible they would either have to buy Harriers (and the high accident rate from USMC, RN and IN service makes that option unattractive) or sign on for the F-35 when F-35 production slots have already been accounted for for many, many years.

I wouldn't discount the Brazilians in terms of sea power projection. They're a rather wealthy nation and they can easily afford more than just the bottom of the bottom.