There was a reason to speed up the F-35B…2030’Korean carrier’ for the first time

The appearance of a light aircraft carrier that will protect Korea from the sea in the 2030s was revealed.

The JoongAng Ilbo obtained a bird’s eye view of the navy’s light aircraft carrier, which is currently being conceptually designed. The Navy explained to the bird’s eye view, “It is not final, and we will develop the ship type of the light carrier while researching and reviewing it,” and said, “The ship design can be modified even in the basic and detailed design stages.” However, “the’basic’ will not change significantly,” a hint from multiple government sources.

Then what is the basic that will not change? ① Flat deck ② Double island ③ Remove well dock

When I first saw the bird’s eye view, something came to mind. They are the American assault ship of the US Navy (LHA 6) and the Queen Elizabeth, which is the carrier of the British Navy.

The 45,000t-class American ship is equipped with stealth vertical take-off and landing fighter F-35B Lightning II, MV-22 tiltrotor, CH-53K transport helicopter, AH-1W/Z attack helicopter, and MH-60 multi-purpose helicopter. During the amphibious operation, more than 1,600 marines aboard the ships are loaded onto these aircraft and transported to the ground or protected from enemy attacks.

The U.S. Navy plans to carry only 20 F-35Bs and two MH-60s on American ships to serve as light carriers.

The 65,000-ton Queen Elizabeth ship carries the F-35B, the AW159 Wildcat multi-purpose/anti-submarine helicopter, and the AW101 transport/early warning helicopter. In the case of the F-35B, a maximum of 24 units can be carried, and 36 units each can be stowed in the hangar and deck.

The navy’s light carrier is a flat deck resembling an American ship. The Elizabeth ship has a ski jump stand. Carriers with shorter runways than land bases float into the sky as if they were shot by catapults (injectors).

However, there is not enough space to install an injection machine for a medium-sized carrier (40,000t class) or less. So, after the aircraft runs through the deck at full speed, it takes off by jumping from the ski jump.

However, the American and Queen Elizabeth ships operate the same F-35B, but they are split on the flat deck and the ski jump.

The navy’s light carrier does not have a ski jump. Like the American ship, the F-35B takes off by shortening the run distance by operating a lift fan. It is a device that blows air down the lift fan. The lift fan allows the F-35B to take off and land vertically.

For both American and Queen Elizabeth, the F-35B lands vertically.

The American ship has one island (bridge), while the navy has two light carriers. There are also two Queen Elizabeth ships. In addition, it applied a stealth design like the Queen Elizabeth ship. One bridge is in charge of sailing, and the other is in charge of air traffic control.

However, air control can also be performed on a sailing bridge, and vice versa. A naval official explained, “If there are two bridges, even if one is hit by the enemy, the operation can continue to the other.”

Both elevators that move the aircraft up and down from the hangar to the deck are on the starboard. Initially, I tried to put one on the left and right sides, but I drove to the starboard. This has the advantage of allowing you to use the deck more widely. However, the downside is that the starboard can be vulnerable to enemy attacks.

The navy’s light carrier does not have a welldog. The Welldog is a space where the landing ship opens the door during the landing operation and allows seawater to enter, allowing the landing boat or amphibious armored vehicle to float. Even American ships do not have a welldog.

A naval official said, “Unlike the large landing ships Dokdo (LPH-6111) and Marado (LPH-6112), we do not plan to build a well-dog on the light port. This way, we can properly maintain the aircraft by increasing the hangar. I can load it.” Japan also does not add welldogs while remodeling existing traps. Because it can move at a faster speed.

It is said that the Navy referred to the Italian Cabower (550) while conceiving a light carrier. The 30,000 ton-class Carbow is equipped with 10 AV-8B Harrier II, British vertical take-off and landing fighters that have been modified by the United States. In May of last year, the modification work was completed to mount the F-35B.

It is reasonable to assume that the size of the light carrier and the number of aircraft on board are slightly larger than that of the Kavor.

To sum up, the Navy’s light carrier is that the father is American, the mother is Queen Elizabeth, and Kavor is the cousin.

Carriers need early warning to inform them of aerial threats in advance. Early warning with radar detects attacks by enemy aircraft or missiles from a distance and informs the carrier. US or French carriers operate fixed-wing early warning. The British put a radar on the AW101 helicopter to assume the role of early warning.

 
그런데 해군의 경항모엔 조기경보 헬기가 없다고 한다. 대신 구축함을 항모 전단의 선봉에 세우거나, 전투기를 항시 띄워 초계작전에 투입한다고 한다. 이는 이탈리아 카보우르함에서 배워온 것이다.

 
또 해군의 경항모는 한국형 차기 구축함(KDDX)의 다기능 위상배열(AESA) 레이더를 달 계획이다. 이 레이더는 탄도미사일을 추적할 정도로 강력하다.

 
해군의 경항모는 자체 방어를 위해 근접 방어시스템(CIWS)과 함대공 유도탄 방어 유도무기(SAAM)를 갖춘다. 모두 국산으로 단다는 게 원칙이라고 한다.  
 
해군은 현재 CIWS로 미국제 팰링스나 네덜란드제 골키퍼를 쓰고 있지만, 곧 국산 개발을 착수하려고 한다. SAAM은 LIG넥스원이 생산하고 있는 함대공미사일인 해궁이다. 해궁은 한국형 수직발사 체계(VLS)에서 나간다. 수면을 스치듯 낮게 날아오는 시스키밍 미사일을 요격할 수 있는 미사일이다.
 

정부는 올해 상반기 해군의 경항모 사업추진 기본전략 수립과 사업 타당성 검토에 들어간다. 국내 기술로 충분히 지을 수 있다는 분석에 따라 2022년 기본설계를 시작하고, 2026년부터 함정을 제작하는 수순에 들어간다. 이르면 2033년 해군의 경항모가 영해를 지키는 모습을 볼 수 있게 된다.

 

Military authorities propel vertical take-off and landing type fighters to be loaded onto the navy’s light carrier. Although the aircraft type has not been confirmed, there is no vertical take-off and landing type fighter to replace the F-35B. In fact, it was decided to purchase 20 F-35Bs.

Military authorities will introduce the F-35B first before launching the light carrier. The air force, not the navy, is in charge of training and operation. An example in which the Air Force is in charge of aircraft carrier loading can be found in Britain.

The reason for rushing to introduce the F-35B is for the design of a light aircraft carrier. A military official said, “Detailed information of the F-35B is necessary for the design of the main parts of the ship such as the deck. However, for security reasons, Lockheed Martin’s position cannot provide information before the contract.”

The Navy also revealed the appearance of a mobile fleet centered on a light carrier. The Navy intends to expand the 7th Mobile Fleet to the 2025 Mobile Fleet. It escapes territorial waters and protects Korea’s national interests in the original seas such as the Amen Bay and the East China Sea. It is the center of the maritime transport route through which crude oil and export goods pass. The home port of the mobile fleet is Jeju.

According to the Navy’s computer graphics, the Gyeonghang Mo is escorted by the King Sejong class Aegis destroyer, the Chungmugong Yi Sunshin class destroyer, the Dosan Anchangho class submarine, as well as the KDDX.

In the air, F-35B fighters cover them. P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and AW159 maritime operations helicopters are also flying. In addition, unmanned maritime patrols and unmanned helicopters can be seen. A government source said, “The Navy is trying to introduce unmanned maritime patrol aircraft such as the MQ-4C Triton, a modified Global Hawk, and unmanned helicopters such as the MQ-8 Fire Scout.”

At this level, it is not comparable to China or Japan in the Pacific in the 2030s, but it cannot be pushed unilaterally. Following China, Japan is also trying to have a carrier, and arms race in Northeast Asia is intensifying. In order for Korea to survive in the harsh international politics environment, it is inevitable to have a carrier.

Reporters Cheoljae Lee and Yonghan Park [email protected]