[🇨🇳] Chinese Navy

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Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Liberation_Army_Navy

The People's Liberation Army Navy(also known as People's Navy, Chinese Navy, or PLA Navy) is the maritime service branch of the People's Liberation Army, and the largest navy per number of ships in the world.

The PLAN traces its lineage to naval units fighting during the Chinese Civil War and was established on 23 April 1949.

Until the late 1980s, the PLAN was largely a riverine and littoral force (brown-water navy). In the 1990s, following the fall of the Soviet Union and a shift towards a more forward-oriented foreign and security policy, the leaders of the Chinese military were freed from worrying overland border disputes. Traditionally subordinated to the PLA Ground Force, PLAN leaders were now able to advocate for renewed attention toward the seas.

Chinese military officials have outlined plans to operate in the first and second island chains, and have worked towards blue water capability.[8] Chinese strategists talk about the development of the PLAN from a green-water navy into "a regional blue-water defensive and offensive navy."[9] As the PLAN has expanded into a blue-water navy, regular exercises and naval patrols have increased in the South China Sea within the Nine-dash line, the Senkaku Islands/Diaoyutai in the East China Sea, and the island of Taiwan, which it all claims as its territory.

The People's Republic of China (PRC) along with the Republic of China (ROC), Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines claims a significant amount of maritime boundary located within the South China Sea. Some exercises and patrols of the PLA NAVY in recent years went as close as the coastline of Japan, Taiwan, and Alaska within their EEZ although undisputed territorial waters have been not been crossed except in cases of innocent passage.

 

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Chinese Navy Next Generation Frigate Starts Builder Trials



The Hudong-built Type 054B frigate sailing up the Huangpu River in Shanghai. Image via Chinese social media.

[H1]Chinese Navy Next Generation Frigate Starts Builder Trials[/H1]
[H2]Speedy progress for program to field a new mid-sized combatant for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).[/H2]
Alex Luck
18 Jan 2024

The first Type 054B-frigate built by Hudong in Shanghai has started builder trials. This key step saw confirmation through imagery shared on Chinese social media. The Chinese Navy next generation frigate got caught by enthusiasts sailing up the Huangpu River, apparently returning from a trial back to Hudong's construction facilities further upstream on the river.

The ship still features the red anti-rust coating prominently on its deck. The unfinished state suggests further painting and other work is yet to follow, before the frigate will be handed over to PLAN for service trials and commissioning. The frigate was originally launched on August 26 at the Hudong-Zhonghua-yard in Shanghai.

[H3]Further confirmation on armament specifications[/H3]

A good look at the 32 cell-VLS for HQ-16 SAM, behind the new 100mm main gun and ahead of the CIWS, likely a Type 1130. Image via Chinese social media.

The new images reveal further details and characteristics of this successor to the venerable Type 054A-frigate, which saw production in large numbers over the past 15 years. For weaponry the VLS is the H/AKJ-16-design with 32 cells similar to 054A featuring HQ-16-type medium range surface to air- and Yu-8 ASW-missiles.

Furthermore the Type 054B design features slant carriers supporting two quadruple box launchers for anti-ship missiles amidships. An exact type remains unconfirmed and YJ-83 or YJ-12 AShM are both plausible candidates. Other already confirmed armament includes the 100mm main gun, a gun CIWS, likely the Type 1130, a HQ-10 missile CIWS, and lightweight torpedo-launchers.

[H3]Propulsion arrangement will not include gas turbines[/H3]

The smokestack arrangement can be glimpsed on this image, suggesting CODAD-propulsion. Image via Sino defence forum, originally Chinese social media.

Significantly the new images also settle speculation on the type of propulsion. A closer look at the smokestack arrangement clarifies that Type 054B will indeed feature CODAD – combined diesel and diesel-propulsion. As such the new design remains in line operationally with the preceding Type 054A. Earlier speculation including here on Naval News considered a switch including a gas turbine in the setup.

The selection of CODAD however may represent PLAN preference for careful and considered evolution in modern ship designs over too many radical shifts in short succession. This choice likely also reflects the intention to mass-produce a modern frigate design while ensuring affordability and reliability in equal measures.

[H3]Signature reduction efforts observable throughout the hull[/H3]

Midship section, featuring space for AShM box launchers. Note the covered vent next to the RHIB-bay. Image via Chinese social media.

A prominent design element of Type 054B appears to be widespread optimization of the hull, resulting in a more stealthy combatant. This includes shielding for both radar- and infrared-signatures, beyond overall hull shaping. The most obvious design feature here is the fitting of various covers over vents and openings on the frigate.

The general implementation is not a first, as the Type 055 large destroyer shows very similar design aspects. Type 054B however seems to take signature reduction measures even further. Notable features include a cover for the starboard bow anchor, something not seen on previous Chinese combatants. Prominent shrouds also cover large vents on both sides next to the RHIB bays.

An earlier image of the second Type 054B fitting out at Huangpu. Note the sensor mast amidship still missing here, the large vent next to RHIB bay exposed and the missing CIWS. Image via Chinese social media.

One more Type 054B is in the late stages of fitting out at the Huangpu Shipyard in Guangzhou. The second hull should commence her own trials in the near future. No further units of Type 054B appear to be under construction at this stage.

The construction pace may suggest a lengthy trial phase before moving to proper volume production. A cautious initial phase followed by large volume production would mirror PLAN-procurement with the Type 054A frigate and the Type 052D destroyer. In any case this program for a Chinese Navy next generation frigate appears to be well on track for now.

 

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Chinese Carrier Aviation in 2024 – The Year So Far



Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning in Dalian, towards the end of her recent midlife modernization. Image via Chinese social media.

[H1]Chinese Carrier Aviation In 2024 – The Year So Far[/H1]
[H2]New imagery reveals important development steps for Chinese carrier aviation. While the new KJ-600 was spotted on aircraft carrier Fujian, the next gen J-35 and catapult variant of J-15 also made new appearances.[/H2]
Alex Luck
31 Mar 2024

Chinese efforts modernising and expanding indigenous carrier aviation capabilities have taken several notable development steps over the last few months. The newest aircraft carrier Fujian, currently fitting out in Shanghai, is of course a significant motivating force behind all these programs. The catapult-equipped carrier, a first for China, will possibly undergo her first sea trial within weeks.

However, recently observed developments also carry operational implications for PLAN's current force of two STOBAR (ramp launch) -equipped carriers Liaoning and Shandong. This article aims to provide a brief overview and update regarding relevant recent events.

[H3]KJ-600 carrier-borne AEWC aircraft[/H3]

KJ-600 airframe 7106 in an image circulated on Chinese social media.

The KJ-600 is China's incoming fixed wing airborne early warning and control (AEWC)-platform. The aircraft is in overall configuration similar to the E-2 Hawkeye-series of aircraft operated by the US Navy. First flight for the type occurred in August 2020. Assuming imagery of flying airframes with serial numbers is reliable, at least six prototypes or pre-production aircraft, numbered 7101 through 7106, exist so far.

Furthermore the type in December 2023 has started to appear at China's land-based catapult testing facility at the Huangdicun naval aviation base. In addition a mockup of the KJ-600 is now also present on the aircraft carrier Fujian, in addition to mockups of fighter jet types J-15 and J-35.

What appears to be KJ-600 airframe 7103 flying overhead in image shared on Chinese social media in late March 2024.

The observation of additional flying prototypes in addition to land-based catapult testing and mock-up testing on Fujian suggests the overall effort is proceeding relatively smoothly. It is unclear at this stage whether China intends to also introduce a cargo-variant of the KJ-600 for carrier onboard delivery (COD)-roles similar to what the USN does with the C-2 Greyhound.

Furthermore it is also questionable whether the type will see service off Liaoning and Shandong. Given the STOBAR-carriers respective design-inherent limitations for aircraft launch and stowage, this seems unlikely, but remains to be confirmed.

[H3]J-35 new generation carrier-borne fighter[/H3]

J-35 flying overhead. Image via Sinodefenceforum.com, originally Chinese social media, circulated in early March.

The J-35 represents the next generation of carrier-based fighter capability for PLAN, complementing and eventually replacing the Sukhoi Su-33 derived J-15. The first flight of J-35, itself a heavily revised development of the earlier FC-31 developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), occurred on October 29, 2021. It remains unclear how many J-35 are flying so far. Two flying prototypes or pre-production airframes appeared in Chinese social media imagery in late March. A mockup of the type started to appear on carrier Fujian in November 2023.

Importantly another mockup also started to appear on carrier Liaoning in February 2024. The first PLAN aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2012, was then just completing her midlife refit (MLU) and has since completed a first post-MLU sea trial.

This appearance heavily hints at PLAN intentions to operate this new generation fighter from both the existing STOBAR-carriers and new catapult equipped hulls. Such a step seems logical also in light of PLAN's requirement to complement and eventually replace its Russian-legacy J-15 across all carriers.

Two

J-35 flying overhead in an image circulated in March 2024 on Chinese social media.
Similar to KJ-600 the appearance of more flying airframes in addition to mockup-testing onboard both carriers Fujian and Liaoning supports the notion that the overall J-35 program is progressing well.

Whether the second carrier in service, Shandong, will see similar work in the near future remains to be seen. It is also conceivable that the newer carrier is already capable of supporting J-35. Alternatively the ship may undergo modification at a later stage, when her own MLU is due.

 

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[H3]J-15 carrier-borne fighter[/H3]

J-15 fighter tied up in launch position on aircraft carrier Shandong. Image via Chinese social media, originally Chinese state media.

The J-15 represents PLAN's current carrier-borne fighter capability and is in use on both Liaoning and Shandong. Based on observed numbered airframes seventy or more airframes are in service to supply aircraft for the two STOBAR-carriers and land-based training capacity. Beyond the original STOBAR-fighter variant J-15 has seen further development. This includes a two-seater version for training, the J-15S, but also a variant optimised for electronic warfare dubbed J-15D.

In addition a version capable of catapult-launch is in active development and designated J-15B. This model is a continuation of work started with an airframe commonly referred to as J-15T. The original prototype first appeared in land-based testing around 2016.

J-15B landing at land-based PLA training facility. Image via Twitter/X account "@sugar_wsnbn", originally Chinese state media.

Observable development on J-15D has been prolonged, with the configuration flying first in 2016. It remains unclear, to what degree the type will see introduction across China's aircraft carrier fleet. At least one airframe continues active testing and the latest imagery of this effort dates from late March. Two mockups of the type have also previously appeared on Liaoning.

An older image showing two J-15D mockups on aircraft carrier Liaoning. Note that the real J-15 is a dual seater. Image via Sinodefenceforum.com.

As for the catapult-launch capable variant J-15B, the most recent imagery again dates to March this year. Pictures circulated on social media show two airframes apparently conducting testing at land-based facilities.

The fact that one mockup is present on Fujian suggests that development of the type for operational fielding is proceeding. The relative weighting of the program compared to J-35 and the resulting fleet mix onboard Fujian remains to be seen. It is conceivable that J-15B will become the new standard fighter also replacing older J-15 onboard Liaoning and Shandong. This requirement may arise, once airframes reach the end of useful life or obsolescence due to fitted equipment.

[H3]Carrier Fujian approaching first sea trial[/H3]

Aircraft carrier Fujian fitting out at Jiangnan. Note deck markings being applied and both KJ-600 and J-15 mockup parked between bow catapults. Image via Chinese social media.

In conclusion the recent months have shown lively activity for the development of Chinese carrier aviation. The ongoing testing of all three relevant fixed wing-aviation programs for PLAN suggests healthy progress in fielding an expanded and more modern carrier aircraft-capability. The most important next step in this regard is indubitably the first sea trial for carrier Fujian.

The third Chinese carrier, and the first equipped with catapults for aircraft-launch, has earlier this year returned to her fitting out-berth, after completing some cleanup work in drydock. Most recently the ship has seen her life-rafts fitted and application of flightdeck markings is also currently underway. As such a first sea trial within weeks appears plausible now.

 

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China Unveils Next-Gen Attack USV 'Thunderer A2000' at WDS 2024


Mockup of Thunderer A2000 USV at WDS 2024

[H1]China Unveils Next-Gen Attack USV 'Thunderer A2000' At WDS 2024[/H1]

[H2]At the World Defence Show Exhibition in Riyadh held between February 4th and 8th, 2024, China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) unveiled the Thunderer A2000, a new combat unmanned surface vessel (USV). Despite being in the conceptual phase, this medium-sized USV promises to increase maritime capabilities in the littoral waters.[/H2]
Tayfun Ozberk 08 Feb 2024

With a displacement of 280 tonnes and a length of 45 meters, the Thunderer A2000 boasts impressive specifications. Powered by twin diesel engines and two CPP propellers, it surges at a top speed of 35 knots, delivering both agility and efficiency. The trimaran hull design, reminiscent of CSSC's JARI USV, ensures low radar cross-section and stealth.

Naval News engaged with CSSC officials at the Chinese pavilion at the WDS 2024 venue, unveiling crucial insights into the Thunderer A2000. Equipped with an AESA radar for comprehensive surface and air surveillance, its heavy armament stands out. Featuring an 8-cell vertical launching system (VLS), it accommodates short and medium-range surface-to-air missiles (probably HQ-10) for efficient air defense capabilities.

A standout feature lies in the 24-cell launchers positioned on the starboard and port sides, initially believed to be countermeasure launchers. However, Naval News learned that these launchers deploy loitering munitions, enhancing the USV's offensive capabilities. Notably absent are anti-ship missiles, suggesting reliance on kamikaze-style strikes.

The VLS and loitering munitions launchers of Thunderer A2000

Beyond its formidable weaponry, the Thunderer A2000 excels in coordination and control. It demonstrates the ability to command smaller USVs within its operational sphere while providing air defense for nearby assets. Controlled from a shore-based station, satellite connectivity extends its operational reach, facilitated by the trimaran's seakeeping capabilities.

Additionally, it was revealed that the Thunderer A2000 features a platform to conduct VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) UAS operations for surveillance and detection needs. This capability enables the USV to identify detected contacts, thereby improving the recognized maritime picture.

CSSC officials project the Thunderer A2000 as a force multiplier in littoral waters, serving reconnaissance and surveillance duties during peacetime and seamlessly transitioning into anti-access area denial (A2/AD) operations during heightened tensions. Its versatility and potency herald a new era of unmanned maritime warfare, cementing China's technological prowess on the high seas.

The Thunderer A2000's versatility allows it to adapt to various operational requirements, from peacetime surveillance to high-intensity conflict scenarios. Its ability to operate independently or as part of a networked fleet enhances China's ability to respond swiftly to evolving maritime challenges.

 

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China's PLAN exercises with YJ-62 anti-ship missile


Screen capture from CCTV video

[H1]China's PLAN Exercises With YJ-62 Anti-Ship Missile[/H1]

[H2]A regiment of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy)'s Northern Theater Navy (also known as "North Sea Fleet") has deployed land-based YJ-62 anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs) in a drill that took place in the coastal city of Haiyang in Shandong province in China. The move is likely a first and has implications for the strategic Yellow Sea...[/H2]
Kosuke Takahashi

27 Jan 2024

According to the drill's one-minute-plus video footage released by Chinese state-owned broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), the brigade was seen exercising with four 8×8 WS2400 transporter-erector-launchers (TELs) – each equipped with three YJ-62 ASCMs – and a single 8×8 command post vehicle.

The PLAN's North Sea Fleet (NSF) is subordinate to the Northern Theater Command headquartered in Shenyang City of Liaoning Province, which has jurisdiction over northern China and the Korean Peninsula. X social media user Ise Midori was first to accurately pinpoint the location of the drill.

Screen capture from CCTV video

The YJ-62 missiles have so far been deployed mainly in the Eastern Theater Command headquartered in Nanjing City of Jiangsu Province, which has jurisdiction over Taiwan, and the Southern Theater Command headquartered in Nanjing City of Guangdong Province, which has jurisdiction over the South China Sea.

It is likely that the missiles were deployed for the first time to units in the Northern Theater Command.
The YJ-62 is a turbojet-powered medium-range, anti-ship missile that can be launched from air, land or sea. According to GlobalSecurity.org, it has a maximum range of 500 kilometers and can carry 450 kg of high-explosive armor-piercing warheads. The maximum speed is subsonic at 0.9 Mach.

Equipped with a warhead weighing up to 300 kilograms, a 5,000-ton warship can be seriously damaged or even sunk with only one effective hit, GlobalSecurity.org states.
The YJ-62 anti-ship missile is no longer the only heavy anti-ship missile in China, because more advanced and longer range ASCMs such as the YJ-12 and YJ-18 have also entered service. The YJ-12 is also used by coastal defence forces similar to the YJ-62. In addition the PLA has various long range land attack cruise missiles at their disposal, both in ground- and air-launched varieties.

The Northern Theater Command is one of the five theater commands of the People's Liberation Army, covering the three northeastern provinces of Jilin, Liaoning, and Heilongjiang, as well as the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Shandong Province. The PLA is strengthening its military capabilities in an operational area that includes China's northeastern coast and the Yellow Sea (Korean name: West Sea) in preparation for an eventual military conflict with the Korean Peninsula, Russia, or Japan.

YJ-62 range from Shandong province in China. Most of the Yellow Sea and Korea's Western coast is within missile range.

The Haiyang-based YJ-62 will put the Yellow Sea and the Korean Peninsula littorals within the missile range. The Yellow Sea (known in Korea as the "West Sea") is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula and is a "strategic corridor" for China because it connects to the Bohai Bay,
The Yellow Sea is extremely important geographically and historically for China and the Korean Peninsula, and is a strategic maritime point for military, trade, and diplomacy.

Additionally, since Beijing is closest to the Korean Peninsula, peace and stability in the Yellow Sea and the Korean Peninsula are essential for China's economic development. However, since the beginning of this year, North Korea has repeatedly fired artillery and cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea, and so China may be increasing its vigilance toward North Korea.

 

[Old School]

[H1]China tests next-generation aircraft carrier[/H1]
The warship set out for its maiden sea trials from Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard on Wednesday
The Chinese navy on Wednesday launched sea trials of its third and most advanced aircraft carrier, according to state media reports. The tests mark the final stage before the warship is put into service.

With a displacement of 80,000 metric tons, the Fujian dwarfs the People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN) two active carriers, the 66,000-ton Shandong and the 60,000-ton Liaoning. Only the US Navy operates bigger aircraft carriers than the Fujian.

The ship features a full-length, flat flight deck with an advanced catapult-launch system for jets that will enable it to launch larger and heavier aircraft than the Shandong and Liaoning.

The final testing begins nearly two years after the fully domestically designed and built aircraft carrier was first unveiled in June 2022, and comes at a time of escalating tensions in the South China Sea.

The sea trials were intended to assess the "reliability and stability of the carrier's propulsion and electric power systems," according to the Chinese navy. The carrier was named among "the most important military hardware" Beijing is developing.

Analysts say Fujian's ability to launch larger warplanes carrying higher munition loads further away will give the carrier a greater combat range than its predecessors in the Chinese fleet, providing the country's navy with blue water capabilities, i.e. the ability to operate on the high seas.
China tests next-generation aircraft carrier — RT World News

 

[Saif]

Chinese nuclear-powered submarine sank this year, US official says

China’s newest nuclear-powered attack submarine sank earlier this year, a senior US defense official said on Thursday, a potential embarrassment for Beijing as it seeks to expand its military capabilities. China already has the largest navy in the world, with over 370 ships, and it has embar

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Chinese nuclear-powered submarine sank this year, US official says
REUTERS
Published :
Sep 27, 2024 18:35
Updated :
Sep 27, 2024 18:35

A series of satellite images from Planet Labs from June appear to show cranes at the Wuchang shipyard in Wuhan Shi, China, June 15, 2024. Photo : Planet Labs Inc/Handout via REUTERS

China’s newest nuclear-powered attack submarine sank earlier this year, a senior US defense official said on Thursday, a potential embarrassment for Beijing as it seeks to expand its military capabilities.

China already has the largest navy in the world, with over 370 ships, and it has embarked on production of a new generation of nuclear-armed submarines.

A senior US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said China’s new first-in-class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank alongside a pier sometime between May and June.

A Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington said they had no information to provide.

“We are not familiar with the situation you mentioned and currently have no information to provide,” the Chinese official said.

The senior US official said it was not clear what caused it to sink or whether it had nuclear fuel on board at the time.

“In addition to the obvious questions about training standards and equipment quality, the incident raises deeper questions about the PLA’s internal accountability and oversight of China’s defense industry - which has long been plagued by corruption,” the official said, using an acronym for the People’s Liberation Army.

“It’s not surprising that the PLA Navy would try to conceal” the sinking, the official added.

The mishap “raises questions about production and safety standards of the PLA Navy’s first-in-class nuclear-powered attack submarine – one of the Chinese defence industry’s most advanced platforms,” said James Char, a China defence expert at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

“As well as sowing doubts about the survivability of the new submarine, it also reminds us of the potential pitfalls armed forces around the world may face when it comes to handling nuclear material.”

Speaking in Taipei on Friday, Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo said authorities “have a grasp of the situation through multiple intelligence and surveillance methods”, but did not elaborate.

Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, keeps a close watch on the latter’s military activities. In June, pictures appeared online of a Chinese nuclear submarine surfacing in the Taiwan Strait near Taiwan fishermen.

The Chinese submarine news was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

A series of satellite images from Planet Labs from June appear to show cranes at the Wuchang shipyard, where the submarine would have been docked.

As of 2022, China had six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, six nuclear-powered attack submarines and 48 diesel-powered attack submarines, according to a Pentagon report on China’s military. That submarine force is expected to grow to 65 by 2025 and 80 by 2035, the US Defense Department has said.

On Wednesday, China said it had successfully conducted a rare launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean, a move likely to raise international concerns about the country’s nuclear buildup.

The United States and China held theater-level commander talks for the first time earlier this month, amid efforts to stabilise military ties and avoid misunderstandings, especially in regional hot spots such as the South China Sea.​

 

[Saif]

https://asiatimes.com/2023/10/china-russia-in-a-nuclear-sub-counter-to-aukus/

China-Russia in a nuclear sub counter to AUKUS
China’s Type 096 nuclear submarine draws on Russian tech and expertise and once operational will bring US mainland into closer missile range
by Gabriel Honrada
October 23, 2023

China and Russia are cooperating on a next-generation nuclear submarine design. Image: Twitter Screengrab

China is making new quiet nuclear submarines with Russia’s expert assistance, an answer to the AUKUS alliance and the latest sign of the two powers’ converging strategic interests against the United States and its Pacific allies

The project could make it harder for the US and its allies to track China’s submarines in crucial theaters including the South China Sea and represents a direct challenge to US undersea dominance in the Pacific.

This month, Reuters reported that China is producing a new generation of nuclear-armed submarines, citing evidence that its Type 096 nuclear ballistic missile (SSBN) submarine will be operational before the end of the decade. The report said that breakthroughs in the submarine’s quietness have been aided partly by Russian technology.

Recent research discussed at a conference in May at the US Naval War College and published in August by the college’s China Maritime Studies Institute predicts the new Type 096 vessels will be far more challenging for the US and allies to monitor and track.

The research said the Type 096 submarine would compare to state-of-the-art Russian submarines regarding stealth, sensors and weapons and China’s undersea capability jump would have “profound” implications for the US and its Indo-Pacific allies.

It says the advanced Chinese SSBNs will significantly complicate an already intense subsurface surveillance battle, as tracking Chinese submarines is increasingly an international effort with the Japanese and Indian militaries assisting the US, UK and Australia.

Reuters says that the covert effort to track China’s nuclear attack submarines (SSN) and SSBNs is one of the core drivers of increased deployments and contingency planning by the US Navy and other militaries across the Indo-Pacific region.

It mentions that those efforts are expected to intensify when Type 096s enter service, as the People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) is routinely staging fully armed nuclear deterrence patrols with its older Type 094 boats out of Hainan Island in the South China Sea, similar to the patrols operated for years by the US, UK, Russia and France.

The prospect of quieter Chinese SSBNs is driving, in part, the AUKUS deal among Australia, the UK and the US, which will see increased deployments of British and US attack submarines to Western Australia. Australia expects to launch its first nuclear-powered attack submarines with UK technology by the 2030s.

AUKUS alliance will arm Australia with nuclear submarines. Image: Twitter

The Type 096 SSBN is China’s next-generation underwater nuclear deterrent, representing a significant upgrade over the current Type 094 SSBN.

According to Missile Defense Advocacy (MDA), the Type 094 is primarily armed with the JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), which has a 7,200-kilometer range.

Matthew Funaiole and other writers mention in an August 2021 article for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank that to hit Hawaii and the northwestern US the older Type 094 must traverse critical chokepoints such as the Miyako Strait and Bashi Channel in the First Island Chain that comprises Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines. Funaiole and others say the JL-2’s range deficiency and reported noisiness may expose it to US and allied anti-submarine forces.

However, Asia Times noted in November 2022 that the Type 094 is now armed with the newer JL-3 SLBM, sporting a 10,000-kilometer range that can conceivably hit the US mainland from protected bastions in the South China Sea.

The Type 094 has also undergone recent upgrades to increase its stealth and survivability. Minnie Chan notes in an October 2021 article for the South China Morning Post (SCMP) that the Type 094A and 094B subvariants have improved hull designs to reduce noise, such as a modified towed sonar array dispenser, reduced bow limber holes and new sail shape.

Despite those upgrades, China’s submarines still lag their US and Russian counterparts in terms of stealth. In a March 2023 article for the US Naval Institute, Mike Sweeney says that during the Cold War, the US and Soviet Union achieved “super-quieting” with their SSBNs and SSNs, with the US achieving it in the 1960s and the Soviets in the mid-1980s.

In comparison, Sweeney points out that China’s Type 093 SSN’s stealth is estimated to be on par with 1970 Soviet designs while its Type 094 SSBNs have noise levels similar to 40-year-old Soviet designs.

Ellie Cook notes in an article for Newsweek this month that China’s new Type 096 will likely be 150 meters long with a top speed of 33 knots and compare favorably with newer Russian SSBNs such as the Borei-class. Cook mentions that China may have up to eight operational SSBNs by 2030, including the Type 094 and Type 096, with the country currently operating four Type 094 SSBNs.

Russia may also be assisting China with its new Type 096 SSBN’s design, with the two sides “no limits” strategic partnership shifting in China’s favor as Russia becomes more and more dependent on Beijing’s assistance faced with the Western sanctions imposed over the Ukraine war.

In a September 2023 China Maritime Studies Institute report, Sarah Kirchberger asserts that China’s submarine industrial base suffers from weaknesses in submarine propulsion and quieting. Kirchberger notes that, since the 1970s, Russia has been assisting China to build its SSNs and SSBNs.

She mentions that Russia’s Rubin Design Bureau was reportedly heavily involved in the design of China’s Type 093 SSN in terms of hull design, instrumentation, acoustic stealth improvement and acoustic countermeasures. She also notes that Russia remains well ahead of China in crucial submarine technologies such as quieting and nuclear propulsion.

A Chinese nuclear-powered Type 094A Jin-class ballistic missile submarine takes part in a military display in the South China Sea. Photo: Handout

The Type 096 may have design parallels with Russia’s next-generation SSBN. In August 2022, Asia Times reported about Russia’s Arcturus SSBN concept, which features sonar-deflecting shaping, new anti-echoic coating, a shaftless power plant and pump jet propulsion. The Arcturus comes armed with next-generation Russian SLBMs and underwater drones.

Kirchberger argues that Russia’s underfunded submarine design bureaus and industries are at risk of a brain drain to China, with the Russian government moving to stop that possibility by entering into joint production with China.

She notes that Russia could supply critical technologies such as nuclear propulsion, quieting, and hydrodynamic hull design. At the same time, she says China’s massive naval shipbuilding capacity can provide mass production capability and economies of scale.

Kirchberger notes that Russia’s state-owned nuclear company Rosatom supplied 6,477 kilos of highly enriched uranium (HEU) to China’s CFR-600 reactor on Changbiao Island in December 2022, an amount that analysts project could make 50 nuclear warheads yearly. She says that apart from nuclear weapons the HEU could also be used as fuel for China’s nuclear submarines.​

 

[Krishna with Flute]

The People's Liberation Army Navy(also known as People's Navy, Chinese Navy, or PLA Navy) is the maritime service branch of the People's Liberation Army, and the largest navy per number of ships in the world.

The PLAN traces its lineage to naval units fighting during the Chinese Civil War and was established on 23 April 1949.

Until the late 1980s, the PLAN was largely a riverine and littoral force (brown-water navy). In the 1990s, following the fall of the Soviet Union and a shift towards a more forward-oriented foreign and security policy, the leaders of the Chinese military were freed from worrying overland border disputes. Traditionally subordinated to the PLA Ground Force, PLAN leaders were now able to advocate for renewed attention toward the seas.

Chinese military officials have outlined plans to operate in the first and second island chains, and have worked towards blue water capability.[8] Chinese strategists talk about the development of the PLAN from a green-water navy into "a regional blue-water defensive and offensive navy."[9] As the PLAN has expanded into a blue-water navy, regular exercises and naval patrols have increased in the South China Sea within the Nine-dash line, the Senkaku Islands/Diaoyutai in the East China Sea, and the island of Taiwan, which it all claims as its territory.

The People's Republic of China (PRC) along with the Republic of China (ROC), Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines claims a significant amount of maritime boundary located within the South China Sea. Some exercises and patrols of the PLA NAVY in recent years went as close as the coastline of Japan, Taiwan, and Alaska within their EEZ although undisputed territorial waters have been not been crossed except in cases of innocent passage.

A huge navy but lacks the blue water capabilities. Their aircraft carriers can not go high sea far away from shore to perform operations. Their DF21D more hyped than successfully tested. One Russian expert had said that China will loose 40% of of ite naval fleet in trying to sink one aircraft carrier US. India has tested HGV which is nothing but a variant of India's LRASM missile which is being made to target Chinese ship in south China sea. China is building numbers rapidly but it is far away from being a blue water navy or an effective naval power in Indian Ocean.

 

[Bilal9]

A huge navy but lacks the blue water capabilities. Their aircraft carriers can not go high sea far away from shore to perform operations. Their DF21D more hyped than successfully tested. One Russian expert had said that China will loose 40% of of ite naval fleet in trying to sink one aircraft carrier US. India has tested HGV which is nothing but a variant of India's LRASM missile which is being made to target Chinese ship in south China sea. China is building numbers rapidly but it is far away from being a blue water navy or an effective naval power in Indian Ocean.

Are you sure?

They have destroyers, quite a few (more in number than the Indian Navy).

China has approximately 42 destroyers in its navy, while India operates 12 guided-missile destroyers. The Chinese navy is rapidly expanding, which contributes to a significant numerical advantage over India's destroyer fleet.

In fact they are rivaling the US right now.

Unpacking China’s Naval Buildup

Already the world's largest navy, the People's Liberation Army Navy is positioned to overtake the U.S. Navy in several indicators of naval power within ten years.

www.csis.org

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Are you sure?

They have destroyers, quite a few (more in number than the Indian Navy).

China has approximately 42 destroyers in its navy, while India operates 12 guided-missile destroyers. The Chinese navy is rapidly expanding, which contributes to a significant numerical advantage over India's destroyer fleet.

In fact they are rivaling the US right now.

Unpacking China’s Naval Buildup

Already the world's largest navy, the People's Liberation Army Navy is positioned to overtake the U.S. Navy in several indicators of naval power within ten years.

www.csis.org

I agree.

They are No 1 in number. However, so far as sophistication is concerned, we are far ahead. Our destroyers have world's best attack and defence missiles. Brahmos and MRSAM are best in class. Our destroyers have torpedo decoy, best in class radar mounted high to track sea skimming missiles. Our air defence missiles can stop a sea skimming missiles just a half k.m. away. We are far ahead in missile technology compared to China.We have just tested ram jet powered 340 k.m. BVR .

 

[Saif]

China's navy commissions new-generation frigate as competition rises with US and others

China's navy has commissioned a new-generation frigate as competition rises with the US and other regional powers, saying the ship will "play a vital role in enhancing the overall combat effectiveness" of its forces. China already has the world's largest navy in terms of number of hulls, although

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

China's navy commissions new-generation frigate as competition rises with US and others
AP
Published :
Jan 22, 2025 17:49
Updated :
Jan 22, 2025 17:49

China's navy has commissioned a new-generation frigate as competition rises with the US and other regional powers, saying the ship will "play a vital role in enhancing the overall combat effectiveness" of its forces.

China already has the world's largest navy in terms of number of hulls, although its technology is sometimes seen as lagging. Its largest competitor, the US, has warned its Navy could be outnumbered and has called for a building program as well as reforms to put damaged ships into action sooner.

China's People's Liberation Army Navy operates mainly in waters off the Chinese east coast and in the huge and strategically crucial South China Sea, which China claims almost in its entirety. A key mission also remains backing up the army in any attack on Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy about 160 kilometers (100 miles) off the Chinese coast that Beijing has vowed to annex by force if necessary.

The first Type 054B frigate, christened the Luohe, was commissioned Wednesday in Qingdao, a port city in northern China where the PLAN's northern fleet is based.

The ship has a displacement of approximately 5,000 tons and includes stealth technology, combat command systems and firepower integration, "significantly enhancing overall performance," the navy said.

"With strong capabilities for comprehensive combat operations and diverse military missions, the warship will play a vital role in enhancing the overall combat effectiveness of naval task forces," it added.

The Luohe's armaments include a variety of machine guns for close combat and anti-air and anti-ship missiles, according to defense publications, some of which say the ship could become the backbone of the Chinese navy.

The statement said nothing about future 054Bs, but at least two more are believed to have been launched and another is under construction. China has around 234 warships compared to the US Navy's 219, including around 50 frigates and the same number of destroyers. China has two operating aircraft carriers and another undergoing sea trials, along with a massive and powerful coast guard.

Recent wargames have shown China would lose many more vessels in a simulated clash with the US, but would be able to absorb the losses and continue fighting.

The PLAN has also sent ships further abroad including the Mediterranean Sea and the Caribbean in its attempts to use its navy as an extension of its growing economic and diplomatic clout. PLAN and Chinese coast guard ships have also patrolled in the East China Sea, where China claims a group of uninhabited islands controlled by Japan. While planes and ships from both sides have come into contact, no shots have been fired during such incidents.

The US and other nations have deliberately sailed close to islands, some of them human-made, to challenge China's claim to them. Beijing has ignored a UN-backed court's ruling that threw out most of China's territorial claims.​