from: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/GI14Ad02.html


China beefs up its navy
By Giuseppe Anzera

A number of advanced warships will gradually in the next two years come into service in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The bulk of these ships will belong to two new guided missile destroyer classes called 052B and 052C. The 052C will be fitted with an advanced integrated air-defense system, supposedly similar to the US Aegis phased-array radar display, with a high capability to engage multiple targets simultaneously.

Evolution of the Chinese fleet
Chinese shipyards have already completed two 052C class ships, which are expected to be commissioned this year. It is probable that the PLAN intends to bring at least six ships of this class into service, deploying them in the three main operative battle groups that form the bulk of Beijing's fleet. This strengthening of forces will constitute a notable improvement in the performance of China's high-seas forces. The 052C class warship is equipped with an air-defense system based on a sensor apparently similar

to the Aegis device and equipped with an HQ9 surface-to-air missile (SAM), considered a long-range vertically launched missile with a 90-kilometer range (56 miles).

The HQ9 will be installed in eight vertical-launch-system, revolver-like stations (six forward, two aft), each with six missiles. Destroyers of this class will also have the capability to conduct long-range surface war missions using two kinds of surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs): the HN3 (a modern cruise missile with a range of 2500 kilometers or 1553 miles and capable of delivering a conventional or nuclear warhead) and the YJ12 (a supersonic missile with a range of 200 kilometers (124 miles). Also, if air defense will be the main duty of 052C class ships, the presence of a variable depth sonar array is expected to give them good anti-submarine warfare performance.

Deployment of this class is proceeding parallel with the construction and acquisition of a number of new surface and submarine vessels. This emerging situation suggests some foreign policy scenarios related to Beijing's moves in the next years.

In regard to China's surface fleet (currently consisting of 64 large combatant units: 21 destroyers and 43 frigates), for the next decade Beijing will be committed to the demanding process of replacing with more modern units obsolete ships, that had for so long reduced the Chinese Navy to a mere coastal fleet. For this reason, PLAN continues to bring into service units of Russian Sovremenny class destroyers, while pursuing the construction of 052B and 052C class warships, in addition to the construction of a completely new ship, being built in China's Dalian shipyard, that is expected to be very large and loaded with heavy surface armament (probably similar to Russia's Slava class cruisers).

At the moment, the creation of an extensive ship-borne air force by building and deploying aircraft carriers does not seem to have priority in China. Beijing appears more interested in studying foreign equipment (as in the case of the aircraft carrier Varyag, a former Soviet carrier initially acquired from Ukraine, which is badly deteriorated and only 70% completed in terms of becoming militarily operational) and then proceeding, in the future and without particular haste, to build its first domestically built aircraft carrier.

For its underwater fleet (currently consisting of 57 units: 51 diesel submarines (SS) and six nuclear powered attack submarines or SSN), PLAN is following the same pattern of its surface forces. With significant help from Russia, PLAN is modernizing the diesel sub fleet as highlighted by the decision to acquire eight other Kilo class boats, following the first four-unit batch purchased during the 1990s; as for Sovremennys, the possibility of having and deploying top units (in their category) will enable the Chinese fleet to achieve a considerable upgrade in both operative effectiveness and technological standards (in particular in the sensor and weapon fields).

PLAN, at the same time, is proceeding with the construction of diesel submarines based on domestic projects (Type 039 and 039A), which has been slowed down by a number of problems discovered in the planning phase. However, in the next few years, this process will give rise to the complete replacement of the large but ineffective diesel submarine force (packed with old Soviet-design vessels) with a modern and efficient diesel fleet. The building of the new SSN Type 93 class is proceeding in the same direction; these vessels, according to PLAN's intentions, should allow a significant improvement in Chinese submarine warfare capabilities, especially if the rumors suggesting that the Type 93 class can perform like the Soviet Victor III class or even like the early US Los Angeles class are confirmed.

It is important to note that construction of the new Type 094 nuclear powered ballistic missile class submarines (SSBN) is proceeding very slowly, even if China can now deploy one unit of this kind (Xia-class).

Regional crisis and the protection of sea lines of communication
The naval construction plan as a whole indicates that the duties that PLAN will be called upon to tackle in the next few years will be the protection of sea lines of communication to keep open the "choke points" relevant to China's trade flow, and power projection in areas identified as vital for China's national interests. All these tasks coincide with China's anxiety to acquire and protect the necessary natural resources (especially oil) to sustain the growing energy requirements of its national industrial system. Increased dependence on overseas resources will bring Beijing to require a greater effort by Chinese naval forces to protect the trade flows and show the flag in ports of countries that are considered important trading partners.

Moreover, PLAN will be required to conduct long-range missions in the open sea to defend exclusive economic zones and to control areas with uncertain sovereignty, as in the case of the Spratley Islands. These isolated islands, situated in the South China Sea, are claimed by China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, due principally to the rich oil deposits believed to be located there. The ships commissioned by PLAN will enable China to conduct missions of this kind, with the aim of deploying a fleet overwhelmingly superior to those of all other Asiatic countries (especially Taiwan) with the exception of the Indian and Japanese navies, which Beijing can try, at least, to counterbalance.

The submarine fleet will have the same duties as surface vessels, but is also expected to be assigned the hard task of facing the "traditional" Taiwanese adversary and, supposedly, coping with US battle groups. In fact, it appears that Beijing discarded the possibility of deploying a limited number of aircraft carriers (which would appear excessive in relation to other regional navies) since they would have little hope of prevailing in an engagement with US naval forces. This explains why China's aircraft carrier planning and construction is slowing in pace. Indeed, Beijing now prefers a well-stocked fleet of diesel submarines and nuclear powered submarines to have the difficult role of exerting some deterrence against American ships in case of a crisis.

Following this path, China will rise to a respectable level of underwater power, partially repeating the Soviet strategy during the Cold War. However, unlike the past Soviet submarine fleet (essentially dedicated to attacking NATO forces and protecting bastions full of SSBNs), Chinese submarine forces seem to be assigned the role of supporting surface forces - in their attempts to control sea lines of communication, with the additional mission of trying to exert some form of counter-power against US forces.

In this context, moreover, the Taiwan issue requires careful examination. In fact, the expansion and improvement of the Chinese submarine fleet, especially in diesel submarine numbers, can give Beijing an additional card to play against Taipei under the form of a submarine blockade. Such a blockade is potentially very hard to neutralize and cope with, even for Taiwan's respectable anti-submarine warfare forces; this strategy can exert stronger pressure than diplomatic threats, but is not comparable to a real attempt at invasion, hazardous and hard to carry out - and also fraught with unforeseeable political and military consequences.

Conclusion
The Chinese fleet's evolution in the coming years suggests that PLAN will be essentially concerned with protecting sea trade with the aim of assuring an uninterrupted flow of energy resources to satisfy the needs most dependent on overseas resources and safeguarding sea lines of communication. The enlargement and modernization of the Chinese fleet will inevitably alarm surrounding countries and other regional powers (such as India and Australia) and will oblige other states to renew their surface and submarine forces. However, it appears unlikely that PLAN can, or will, become a force with global projection (notably far behind the US Navy's capabilities, or those of the Soviet Navy during the 1980s) in the next decade.

The chief missions that PLAN will be called on to perform are eminently regional, such as power projection to support claims to areas of dubious sovereignty, but with rich subsoil resources (such as the Spratley Islands), to achieve the same operative capability as the more powerful Asian fleets, and ability to engage such a demanding adversary as the Taiwanese fleet (able to perform at high levels due to continuous acquisition of American equipment). In relation to US Navy battle groups, PLAN can, at most, aim for the possibility of exerting some form of deterrence (especially through the use of submarine forces), thus refuting all those who, since the beginning of the 21st century, have imagined American and Chinese battle groups confronting one another to decide which state will rule over the Pacific Ocean.

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I don't entirely buy the author's take on China's Military Plans.

Good, let the Commies spend their WalMart profits on a Navy that we will send to the bottom in days.

Seems like the Chinese are on the right track. Build a useful navy which allows them to pursue their foreign policy goals, whilst retaining a sense of reality as to their chances against the US military.

NTM

when its on...its on

we will tear china up...

Future attack-sub skippers at USNA and elsewhere are smacking their lips at the prospects.

Quoted: Good, let the Commies spend their WalMart profits on a Navy that we will send to the bottom in days.

US Navy and US Airforce would use them for target practice.

We'll never go to war with China... nor will they ever go to war with us... we/they wouldn't be able to prevent the war from escalating to a nuclear conflict.

Quoted: We'll never go to war with China... nor will they ever go to war with us... we/they wouldn't be able to prevent the war from escalating to a nuclear conflict.

So? We lose 300 million people (our whole population). They lose TWICE that and end up with.... more than what we started with.

No, I'm afraid the only way to ensure it DOESN'T go nuclear is to be able to fry ALL of them.

<<Yawn>>

BFD...

the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)

Yep. I'm not too worried about a nation that names the naval arm of their military after a fucking football game.



ETA:

Imagine what they'll call their Naval Aviation group: The Army Navy Air Force.

Dupe

Quoted: Quoted: We'll never go to war with China... nor will they ever go to war with us... we/they wouldn't be able to prevent the war from escalating to a nuclear conflict. So? We lose 300 million people (our whole population). They lose TWICE that and end up with.... more than what we started with. No, I'm afraid the only way to ensure it DOESN'T go nuclear is to be able to fry ALL of them.

I agree... and since we have that capability... it won't go nuclear... just like I said. If you think we can't take out all 1.2 billion chinese with our current arsenal, you are dillusional.

Funny,

Didn't I see a thread on here earlier about how the AF was developing long range missiles to target large ships?  I see a battle over Taiwan brewing.

~Dg84

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: We'll never go to war with China... nor will they ever go to war with us... we/they wouldn't be able to prevent the war from escalating to a nuclear conflict. So? We lose 300 million people (our whole population). They lose TWICE that and end up with.... more than what we started with. No, I'm afraid the only way to ensure it DOESN'T go nuclear is to be able to fry ALL of them. I agree... and since we have that capability... it won't go nuclear... just like I said. If you think we can't take out all 1.2 billion chinese with our current arsenal, you are dillusional.

Sad thing is, we probably wouldn't need to. Take out their state infrastructure and the rest comes crashing down...

The PLAN is a non-nuclear powered force. Destroy their supply ships and you destroy their entire fleet. If China gets belligerent, we should sink all their supply ships at port at the same time, then kick back and watch what they will do.

Quoted: Dupe

Is it this one you're referring to?
Thanks Bill & Hillery... China Debuts Aegis Destroyers!

I'll feel threatened when I see the Chinese manufacture
anything of consequence. Cars, trucks, anything...

Until then, I'll look at their navy like I look at most of
their products: mass-produced sub-standard shit.

The reason why our Tanks prevailed in battle over German Tanks was that our "Ronson Lighters" (as our sherman tanks were called) outnumbered the Germans 5 to 1 and we had better logistical support than the Germans did.

China wants to challenge India for control of the Indian Ocean. They want to protect their oil routes from the middle east. Both India and China are putting together carrier battle groups.

For the countries with an Indian Ocean coastline, it doesn't matter who's carrier it is. If it can show up on your coast and launch sorties that could bomb your harbors or blow up your oil platforms, it's powerful enough.

Quoted: I'll feel threatened when I see the Chinese manufacture anything of consequence. Cars, trucks, anything... Until then, I'll look at their navy like I look at most of their products: mass-produced sub-standard shit.

Tell that to all of the companies that have no problems importing all of their shit. It's almost impossible to have a houseful of "Made in America" items.

Quoted: Quoted: I'll feel threatened when I see the Chinese manufacture anything of consequence. Cars, trucks, anything... Until then, I'll look at their navy like I look at most of their products: mass-produced sub-standard shit. Tell that to all of the companies that have no problems importing all of their shit. It's almost impossible to have a houseful of "Made in America" items.

My television is so old it says "Made in America" on it.



I'm tired of hearing about the Cold War-esque build-up of China's military. Let's get it over with already!