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03-03-2007, 05:18 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Postmaster General
Military Professional
Join Date: 08-20-03
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China expands sub fleet
Quote:
China expands sub fleet
By Bill Gertz
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
March 2, 2007
China's military is engaged in a major buildup of submarines that includes five new strategic nuclear-missile boats and several advanced nuclear-powered attack submarines, according to the Office of Naval Intelligence.
The new nuclear-powered missile submarines (SSBNs), identified as Type 094s, will be outfitted with new 5,000-mile range JL-2 missiles that "will provide China with a modern and robust sea-based nuclear deterrent force," the ONI stated in report made up of written answers to questions on the Chinese submarine buildup.
The ONI report was first disclosed to Sea Power magazine, and a copy was obtained by The Washington Times. It was the first time the Pentagon has identified the number of new Chinese strategic submarines under construction.
The five new missile submarines will "provide more redundancy and capacity for a near-continuous at-sea SSBN presence," the ONI said, which noted that sea trials for some of the submarines are under way and the first deployments could begin as early as next year.
The buildup is raising new concerns among senior Pentagon planners already worried by Beijing's broader strategic nuclear-forces buildup, which also includes several new long-range land-based nuclear missiles and a land-attack cruise missile similar to the Tomahawk.
"This is a troubling development," Richard Fisher, a specialist on the Chinese military with the private International Assessment and Strategy Center, said of the submarine buildup.
The five missile submarines, each equipped with 12 JL-2 missiles, shows that China is working to achieve a force of 120 long-range nuclear missiles over the next decade, about half of them to be carried on the submarines, Mr. Fisher said. The other half would be the 60 land-based DF-31 missiles that current deployment rates will give China by then, he said.
The 120 missiles also could have multiple-warheads, since China is known to have acquired all the needed technology from the U.S. during the 1990s.
Retired Vice Adm. Michael McConnell, commenting at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, said China's nuclear missiles pose a threat.
"It's a matter of they're building their military, in my view, to reach some state of parity with the United States," said Mr. McConnell, the new director of national intelligence. "So they're a threat today, they would become an increasing threat over time."
Little is known about China's nuclear forces and efforts by Pentagon officials to engage Chinese military leaders about their strategic weapons and forces has not been successful. China's government has insisted its current modernization is part of a peaceful development, but the contrasting strategic nuclear-forces buildup is worrying, defense officials said.
Chinese Gen. Zhu Chenghu told reporters in 2005 that China would attack U.S. cities with nuclear weapons in response to any conventionally armed U.S. missile strikes against China during a conflict over Taiwan. Years earlier, Gen. Xiong Guangkai threatened to use nuclear weapons against Los Angeles if the U.S. helped Taiwan defend against a Chinese invasion of the island.
The missile-submarine buildup would provide Beijing with a major upgrade on current capabilities. In 1983, China built one Xia-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, reportedly with 12 1,000-mile range JL-1 missiles. But that solitary submarine has only twice test-fired its missiles and never ventured beyond China's regional waters.
"Although the range of the JL-1 limits the Xia's utility as a deterrent platform, targets throughout the region, including U.S. military facilities, could be targeted with the JL-1 from launch points inside traditional Chinese navy operating areas," the ONI said.
On China's new attack submarine, the ONI stated that China already has launched and is performing sea trials on an unspecified number of Type 093 nuclear-powered attack submarines. Published reports in China have said two Type 093 attack submarines are deployed and use "foreign technologies" and advanced anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.
The new advances are part of China's efforts to bolster its anti-ship weapons to permit strikes at greater ranges from the Chinese coast than its current diesel-powered submarine force offers, the ONI said. China currently is upgrading its current force of about 55 attack submarines -- most of them easy-to-track diesel boats -- with more-advanced and harder-to-track vessels, including Russian-made Kilos, and its own Song- and Yuan-class submarines.
"Each of these submarine classes, which are quiet platforms with anti-ship cruise missiles, is an integral part of China's regional anti-access strategy," ONI said. "The quieting incorporated into these submarines is required for successful operations in the open ocean operating areas which could facilitate the [Chinese navy's] wartime mission of keeping enemy combatants outside of strike range of the theater of operation."
A Song-class submarine surfaced undetected within five miles, well within firing range, of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk in October.
The ONI stated that China's maritime strategy is focused on blocking U.S. or Japanese intervention in a future conflict over Taiwan. To that end, Beijing has begun equipping its medium- and short-range ballistic missiles based on shore, hundreds of which are deployed across the Taiwan Strait from the island that the communist regime views as a renegade province, with maneuvering warheads.
These radar-guided or heat-seeking weapons "provide the accuracy necessary to attack a ship at sea," ONI said.
But China's rise in international trade and commerce, plus its growing dependence on imported foreign oil, also has expanded Beijing's maritime strategy from a mostly submarine force to one of building surface ships to "defend sea lines of communication" (SLOCs), because protecting sea-lanes with submarines is difficult.
ONI also said that in addition to new destroyers, "by 2020, China is likely to operate an aircraft carrier, the initial unit of which may be the refurbished ex-Varyag, acquired from Ukraine in 2000, to further support SLOC protection."
China expands sub fleet*-*Nation/Politics*-*The Washington Times, America's Newspaper
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It appears that China is seriously building up to pose a strategic challenge to the US as also become a compatible superpower militarily.
The new nuclear submarines, its missiles and the quiet performance will make China's navy formidable in the near future.
One wonders how this new challenge will be faced by not only the US, but by the world at large, their homilies and pious platitudes notwithstanding.
Is the world ready for the Chinese fire breathing dragon?
__________________
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I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.
HAKUNA MATATA
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03-03-2007, 12:27 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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Guest
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Ray we could have a ready nuke sub by now, you know beaureaucracy have killed, slowed hundreds of our projects.
by beaureaucracy i mean right from school to talent retain to funds to payscale to willingness.
i wonder when we are going to have our first ssn.
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03-03-2007, 12:37 PM
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#3 (permalink)
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Military Professional
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Join Date: 08-06-03
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Sir,
The article is all good and well, except one thing - no hull has been laid.
__________________
Chimo
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03-03-2007, 13:17 PM
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#4 (permalink)
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Military Professional
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Several things, Sir,
The Chinese does not have a small enough nuke that could be MIRV into the JL-2/DF-31. The Chinese may have acquire the technology but no tests, not even sub-component level tests of such a small warhead has ever been tried.
There has been no evidence of any JL-2/DF-31 production and no new base construction and no expansion of the 2nd Artillery Force personnel. This means that if the DF-31 is to be deploy, they would replace existing brigade stocks rather than raise new brigades.
Lastly, Gen. Zhu Chenghu is an English school principal who's career is now over and he was p!ssed off for being passed over for command. Gen. Xiong Guangkai never made that statement about trading Los Angeles for Taipei. It was done by a Maj in his staff over beer with the American Ambassador.
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03-03-2007, 17:33 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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Contributor
Join Date: 01-02-07
Location: Empire of Evil
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Quote:
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ONI also said that in addition to new destroyers, "by 2020, China is likely to operate an aircraft carrier, the initial unit of which may be the refurbished ex- Varyag, acquired from Ukraine in 2000, to further support SLOC protection."
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The brother-twin of "Kuznetsov" may leave to the high sea?
That's interesting.  |
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03-03-2007, 17:39 PM
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#6 (permalink)
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Defense Professional
Join Date: 12-10-04
Location: Seattle, WA
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^^^ maybe under tow.... 
__________________
My baby called me up. She said- Why don't you ever take me out? Pick me up in your brand new car....You shake the short change from the old fruit jar...
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03-03-2007, 18:11 PM
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#7 (permalink)
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Contributor
Join Date: 01-02-07
Location: Empire of Evil
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Most likely. I've heard the casino has been arranged there. That would be the first case when casino becomes a combat ship. Why not? Good experience anyway...
Last edited by MrFirst : 03-03-2007 at 18:33 PM.
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03-03-2007, 20:52 PM
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#8 (permalink)
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Senior Contributor
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something similar I guess
Quote:
China ballistic missile submarine force growing: US navy
China is conducting sea trials of the first of five new nuclear-powered submarines armed with longer-range ballistic missiles, according to a US naval intelligence report made public Friday.
The sea trials are part of a broader push by China to check US naval power in the western Pacific with a more modern fleet of nuclear-powered ballistic missile and attack submarines, the Office of Naval Intelligence said.
The first of the new nuclear ballistic missile submarines, designated the Type 094 SSBN, could begin operating as early as 2008, it said.
The submarine "will provide China with a modern and robust sea-based nuclear deterrent force," the ONI reported.
It will be equipped with the JL-2 sea-launched ballistic missile with range of 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles), a big gain over China's only other ballistic missile submarine.
The XIA SSBN, a 24-year-old nuclear powered vessel, is armed with the JL-1 missile, which has a range of only 1,7770 kilometers (1,000 miles).
Even at that shorter range, the XIA can target US military facilities in the region from launch points inside traditional Chinese operating areas, the report said.
The ONI said China probably will build five of the new ballistic missile submarines "in order to provide more redundancy and capacity for a near-continuous at-sea SSBN presence."
"Construction and sea trials of the Type 094 program are ongoing," it said.
The unclassified ONI report, which was obtained by AFP and has a question-and-answer format, was first reported by Sea Power magazine, then picked up by the Washington Times.
It said China also is concluding sea trials of a new Type 093 nuclear powered attack submarine that is expected to be quieter and armed with more advanced weaponry than its predecessor, the HAN SSN class submarines.
It will have anti-ship cruise missiles and more modern torpedoes than the HAN, the report said.
"China has built these features into the Type 093 in an effort to improve the PLA(N)'s (Peoples Liberation Army Navy) to conduct anti-surface warfare at greater ranges from the Chinese coast than its diesel submarine force offers," it said.
The report said the China's navy currently has about 55 attacks submarines, most of them diesel electric.
It is a smaller but more technologically advanced force than the one China had in the 1980s.
Each of the attack submarines are armed with anti-ship cruise missiles and designed to be quiet enough to operate in the open ocean.
A key focus of China's maritime strategy is to keep outside powers beyond striking range in a Tawan scenario.
"Much of China's military modernization effort of the past five years, and particularly the modernization of the Chinese Navy, has been designed to improve China's anti-carrier capability," the ONI said.
"China envisions an attack on a carrier strike group as incorporating submarine-launched ASCM (anti-ship cruise missile) strikes and ASBM (anti-ship ballistic missile) strikes," it said.
It said China is equipping theater ballistic missiles with maneuvering reentry vehicles with radar and infrared seekers to attack a ship at sea.
China has focused on submarines because its surface warfare ships are harder to defend against air or submarine attack, it said.
China's maritime strategy is also aimed at protecting a growing sea trade crucial to its economy, the report said.
"In order to protect oil and other trade routes, the PLA (N) is beginning to develop the foundations of a naval capability that can defend sea lines of communications," the report said.
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ONI estimates first 094 to join the force in early 2008. |
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03-03-2007, 21:35 PM
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#9 (permalink)
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Military Professional
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I will wait until additional hulls are laid before jumping the gun about multiple SSNs.
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03-05-2007, 02:27 AM
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#10 (permalink)
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Military Enthusiast
Senior Contributor
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Man US is going nuts over a paper submarine while Russia is building new classes of nuclear submarines with newer and better missiles with nary a peep of US protest?
Yeah it's the budget war going on now.
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03-05-2007, 10:32 AM
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#12 (permalink)
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Regular
Join Date: 10-21-06
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray
One wonders how this new challenge will be faced by not only the US, but by the world at large, their homilies and pious platitudes notwithstanding.
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The US wont really need to worry about China. It's the nations around her periphery that are worried.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray
Is the world ready for the Chinese fire breathing dragon?
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Again, same idea. For the nations close to her she has always been breathing fire.
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03-05-2007, 11:46 AM
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#13 (permalink)
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Contributor
Join Date: 01-02-07
Location: Empire of Evil
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And here is the underlying reason of the suddenly arisen Chinese threat. Nothing else but just a propaganda covering for arms trade.
Quote:
China Demands US Cancel Planned Missile Sale To Taiwan
by Staff Writers
Beijing (AFP) March 02, 2007
China demanded Friday the United States scrap a planned sale of hundreds of missiles to Taiwan, warning the deal would harm regional stability and bilateral ties. "We solemnly demand the leader of the United States... immediately cancel this weapons sale (and) avoid harming the peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits and Sino-US relations," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.
"The Chinese side expresses its strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to this. We have raised solemn representations with the US side."
The US Department of Defence this week notified Congress that it planned to sell Taiwan 421 million US dollars worth of missiles, which would help boost the island's defences against rival China.
"The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region," the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency said.
Acquisition of 218 Advanced Medium Range Air-to- Air missiles and 235 Maverick missiles would help Taiwan "modernise its armed forces and enhance its defence ability to counter air and ground threats," it said.
Qin said the sale violated US commitments to a "one China policy," which maintains that there is only one China with Beijing as its capital.
By selling weapons to Taiwan, Washington was also violating its promise to gradually reduce sales to the island territory, he said.
"By selling these missiles to Taiwan, the United States is violating ... its commitments," Qin said.
"This is rude interference into China's internal affairs."
China considers Taiwan a part of its territory to be reunified by force if necessary.
The United States is committed to providing Taiwan with defensive weaponry in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act, a US law passed when it switched its political recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979.
The proposed sale comes after US Vice President Dick Cheney last week expressed concerns over China's growing military might and as top US intelligence officials said Beijing was trying to achieve parity with the US in military affairs.
"China's continued fast-paced military build-up are... not consistent with China's stated goal of a 'peaceful rise,'" Cheney said while on a trip to Australia.
Retired admiral Michael McConnell, the new director of US national intelligence, told Congress on Tuesday that "it's a matter of their building their military, in my view, to reach some sort of state of parity with the United States.
"They are a threat today, they will become an increasing threat over time."
US officials estimate China's annual defence spending at between 80 and 115 billion dollars, the highest in the world after the United States, and well above their stated defence spending of 35 billion dollars last year.
Following the barrage of criticism, China insisted this week that it posed no military threat to the rest of the world.
"China adheres to the role of peaceful development. We are an important force for maintaining peace and stability," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said when asked about Cheney's comments. http://www.sinodaily.com/reports/Chi...aiwan_999.html
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03-08-2007, 04:37 AM
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#14 (permalink)
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Contributor
Join Date: 01-08-07
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Quote:
Originally Posted by awangmamat
The US wont really need to worry about China. It's the nations around her periphery that are worried.
Again, same idea. For the nations close to her she has always been breathing fire.
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That's true..It is really doubtful eversince why is China upgarding their military that large and when the times comes, our poor country and antique military could not resist penetration at all..
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03-08-2007, 08:27 AM
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#15 (permalink)
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Regular
Join Date: 10-21-06
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A more robust ASEAN is the solution. SEA should seek greater strength through collective effort. China would then be dealing with a bloc rather than individual states.
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