The rise of a great power: starting with military industry

Chapter 722: Construction of Type 001 Light Aircraft Carrier Begins

After such a long period of careful preparation, the construction of China's first domestically-produced aircraft carrier, the 'Type 001' light aircraft carrier, a 2-ton conventional-powered aircraft carrier, is finally about to start at the Yangcheng Shipyard.

Since Panshan Group took over Yangcheng Shipyard, Yangcheng Shipyard has been rebuilt and expanded, and its annual shipbuilding capacity has been continuously improved.

Up to now, it has become the largest shipyard in the country with the strongest shipbuilding capacity. It can build various advanced warships as well as various types of civilian ships.

It can be said that shipbuilding capabilities are being improved every year and the technical level is constantly improving.

And this is just a microcosm. In recent years, China's shipbuilding industry has also been quietly changing, and has made a qualitative leap compared with a few years ago.

You should know that China's shipbuilding industry was already very powerful in ancient times.

Even now, the Jiangnan Machinery Manufacturing Bureau, which was established more than a hundred years ago, is still a large shipyard in the world, capable of building large warships at that time.

After the founding of the Republic, the shipbuilding industry started again. In the beginning, even 10,000-ton ships could not be built. In the 1960s, the first 10,000-ton ship was finally built.

At present, Japan is still the world's largest shipbuilding country, with new ship orders received by Japan accounting for 45% of the global share, followed by China with 30%, and South Korea in third place with 22%.

In recent years, the proportion of new ship orders received by Japan has been declining, while that of China and South Korea has been increasing. China and South Korea are actively absorbing the market share lost by Japan, among which China's market share has increased the fastest.

After the reconstruction and new construction of other Chinese shipyards are completed, the market share will inevitably increase again. It is estimated that within a few years, it will replace Japan and become the world's largest shipbuilding industry country.

As for South Korea, in terms of volume, it cannot compare to China.

Because China has lower labor costs, a more complete industrial chain, and large-scale industries are more likely to gain an advantage, and its improvements in technology level and production efficiency will surpass South Korea, it will be difficult for South Korea's shipbuilding industry to compete with China.

By then, South Korea will not only lose a lot of its current market share, but will also not be able to expand its share in the shipbuilding market.

From the very beginning, Liu Tao's policy in the shipbuilding industry was to improve his own technical level and production efficiency. As long as he improved himself, he would have a huge competitive advantage. Other countries simply could not compete with China in shipbuilding.

Take South Korea for example. South Korea’s labor costs are relatively high, and the cost of parts is also relatively high. How can it compete with China in price competition?

As for why Japan still has such a large market share, it is actually more due to inertia, the inertia of brand effect.

Since the stock and property bubbles burst, the yen has continued to appreciate. Domestic Japanese shipyards have high labor and parts costs, and are mostly at a disadvantage in price competition.

This is still the case at present. Part of China's shipbuilding capacity is used to build warships, otherwise it would occupy a larger market share.

就像羊城造船厂，那可是有一个重要的使命，就是为华夏海军建造各类先进的军舰，从022型导弹艇、022A型鱼雷艇、83型扫雷艇、84型扫雷艇、816型电子侦察船、817型电子侦察船、818型电子侦察船、054型护卫舰、052型驱逐舰、039型常规潜艇，都能建造。

Due to its very good planning, advanced shipbuilding technology and willingness to spend money, the Yangcheng Shipyard has seen rapid improvement in its skilled workforce and shipbuilding capabilities.

Not only is the construction capacity of warships improving, but the construction capacity of civilian ships is also improving.

In the future, in addition to building aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines will also be built here, as well as ships such as large luxury cruise ships and LNG ships. These are the jewels in the crown of the shipbuilding industry.

Liu Tao is very proud of the start of construction of the 'Type 001' light aircraft carrier, because he not only changed China's military industry, but also changed China's shipbuilding industry.

It is only a matter of time before China becomes the world's largest shipbuilding country.

As long as it develops for 80 to 90 years, I am afraid that the orders received by China alone will account for % or even % of the market share!

In fact, if China really follows the market competition mechanism, its shipbuilding capacity can reach more than 99% of the world.

The shipbuilding industry will make a huge contribution to economic development and bring a large number of employment opportunities. Early in the morning, the whole Guangzhou shipbuilding industry was filled with colorful flags and loud drums.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held in a huge dock.

Many people attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

At 9 o'clock sharp, the groundbreaking ceremony began on time.

Technical workers used a CNC cutting machine to cut several steel plates, welded them together, and completed the small group, which marked the beginning of the construction of the aircraft carrier.

This is just a small module on an aircraft carrier, but a tall building starts from the ground, and an aircraft carrier is made up of countless such small modules.

Yangcheng’s shipbuilding technology is very advanced and can greatly improve construction efficiency, so it doesn’t take too long to launch an aircraft carrier.

One of the important reasons why the manufacturing period of the first 'Type 001' light aircraft carrier was relatively long was because it was the first time an aircraft carrier was built.

Once the workers become familiar with the process, the technology matures and efficiency is further improved, the entire cycle can be shortened by at least one or even two years.

Take photos and videos as souvenirs.

After the groundbreaking ceremony, the leader and Liu Tao took a walk in the Yangcheng Shipyard.

When Liu Tao heard his leader again propose that the navy wanted to build its own aircraft carrier, he looked helpless.

This time, the Navy will use the money from the sale of frigates, destroyers, and conventional submarines to build aircraft carriers.

Just for the sake of having an aircraft carrier, even if it is just a light aircraft carrier like the 'Type 001'.

Liu Tao was not very fond of the 'Type 001' light aircraft carrier, but the navy was different. They were drooling over it and were very jealous.

A light aircraft carrier is still an aircraft carrier, right?

Aircraft carriers are the mainstay of a great power’s navy!

The Persian Gulf escort fleet constantly reports the situation in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea back to the country. The navy pays close attention to this and is jealous of the powerful US navy.

As China's overseas interests continue to expand, in the future it will definitely be necessary for aircraft carrier fleets to be able to reach waters around the world and protect overseas interests.

The Navy and other departments have held many seminars on this point and have reached a consensus.

Liu Tao did not expect that the navy was so obsessed with aircraft carriers and dared to think about aircraft carriers when military expenditures were limited.

You know, the money the Navy earns from selling frigates, destroyers and conventional submarines is far from enough to build a light aircraft carrier.

Even with this order from Thailand, Panshan Group can build a light aircraft carrier supply chain and significantly reduce the production cost of the second ship. However, even so, such a light aircraft carrier, including weapons and equipment, will cost about 20 billion yuan.

Liu Tao felt that the navy’s obsession was too strong!

According to him, the navy can use the current new ships to train a new generation of navy, and then build aircraft carriers when there is sufficient military funding. At that time, there will be no problem in directly launching medium-sized or even large aircraft carriers.

(End of this chapter)