A Project 081 landing helicopter dock has been laid down at the Khudun-Zhonghua shipyard. Almost the same DVKD, but with more modest combat capabilities, will be exported.
The performance characteristics of project 081, according to data from open sources, are as follows: length - 260 meters, width - 40 meters, total displacement - 40,000–45,000 tons. As a power plant, designers can choose either two Chinese-made QC-280 gas turbine engines, or four 16RS2-6V diesel engines, which are produced under a German license at the Shanghai Hudong Heavy Machinery plant. The power of one diesel engine is 12 thousand horsepower, therefore, the total power of 48 thousand horsepower will provide the ship with a maximum speed of 23 knots. At an economic speed of 16 knots, he will be able to cover seven thousand miles.
According to the estimates of Rear Admiral of the PLA Navy, Yin Zhuo in reserve will have 1,068 people in the ship's crew and 1,200 troops in the landing party.
30 helicopters on board
For the use of helicopters and UAVs, the DVKD project 081 is equipped with a special direct deck, which will provide eight places for takeoff and landing, ten parking places. The Chinese designers plan to provide six points for starts even in rough seas. The package includes up to 30 helicopters of different classes. The movement of drones of different types between the deck and the hangar will be provided by two heavy and two light hoists.
As practice shows, for construction, verification of all systems and carrying out acceptance tests, Chinese shipbuilders and the military need from one and a half to two years. By the time of launching, the basis of the deck grouping of the vessel will be helicopters for fire support of the amphibious assault "Zhi-10", PLO "Zhi-18F", AWACS "Zhi-18J", transport "Zhi-18". In the future, they can be replaced by the lighter "Zhi-20", two copies of which were adopted by the PLA in 2016.
As a reconnaissance UAV from this DVKD, it is possible to launch the proven ASN-206 vehicles or their more modern versions - ASN-209H, ASN-218.
A snag in the motor
It is known that the PRC is developing vertical take-off and landing aircraft "Jian-18" and "Jian-26", which can be based on the export version of the helicopter carrier - Project 075 DVDKD. TTX "Jian-18": length - 22.4 meters, span wings - 15, 2 meters, height - 4, 94 meters, net weight - 20, 6 tons, maximum combat load - 12, 5 tons, gross weight - 47 tons, maximum speed - 3100 kilometers per hour, maximum flight range - 8500 kilometers. In the design of the Jian-26, borrowings from the fifth-generation stealth fighter Jian-20, adopted by the PLA Air Force in 2016, are obvious. It is known that the first two Jian-20 squadrons will be deployed at the Dingxin airbase (Gansu province) and are designed to simulate the actions of a potential enemy in bilateral exercises.
The main problem for the production of promising fighters "Jian-18" and "Jian-26" is the lack of engines for them in the PRC. Two solutions are possible: the purchase of Russian RD-41 and RD-77 and technical documentation for them, obtaining information, samples of parts and even complete F135-PW-600 or F119-PW-100 engines from agents operating in the United States.
The main executor of work on this topic is aircraft plant No. 112 in Shenyang. So far, the only model that can serve as the basis for creating the power plant of these aircraft is the WS-10G (power - 15,500 kgf with afterburner). Experts from the 601th and 611th Research Institute of Aircraft Engines are working on the problem of increasing power and increasing the resource.
At the same time, China is conducting research and development on convertiplanes. The UAV exhibition in September 2016 in Beijing was a testament to the technological progress in this area. Chinese analysts are closely watching the operation of the first combat tiltrotor of the US Armed Forces, the V-22 Osprey, and the development of the new V-280 Valor.
Marine "Bison"
The inner dock of the ship will house from two to four hovercraft of the Bizon type, which are copies of the Russian Zubrs. In addition, the Marine Corps units will carry out combat missions using ZTL-11 wheeled amphibious assault guns (caliber - 105 mm) and tracked infantry fighting vehicles ZBD-05, which in the second modification are well known from the International Army Games. In total, the ship can accommodate 34 units of amphibious assault vehicles.
For self-defense of the ship, a short-range air defense missile system "Sea Red Banner-10" (export designation FL-3000N) and 11-barrel Type 1130 anti-aircraft gun systems of 30 mm caliber will be installed.
Lightweight
For export, the Chinese will offer project 075 DWKD with a displacement of 36 thousand tons, 252 meters long and 32 meters wide. Two heavy lifts will move the aircraft. There are six places for takeoff and landing on the deck. The maximum size of the air group is 20 aircraft. It is planned to place two Bizon-type hovercraft in the dock chamber. Thus, the export version has more modest performance characteristics, as well as combat capabilities.
