China’s new weapon threatens to shift the balance of power: America will have to respond

The Chinese navy, which has long been smiling at Western defense professionals, is slowly gaining respect, The National Interest writes. China’s navigational capacity could be assumed as early as the 1950s, when the new regime came into effect in Beijing, but the ambitious plans had to be forgotten due to the Korean War. The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution did no good for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy either, as devotion to ideology was valued far more than technical literacy at the time. Even in the mid-1990s, when China began to take its defense tasks much more seriously, the focus was on short sea forces, so fast ships, diesel submarines, and ground anti-ship missiles became a priority, but this clearly was not enough to be compared to the most powerful fleets in the world.

However, the situation has now changed: investing in the High Seas Force has begun to produce tangible results. For the past decade, Beijing has been able to enjoy its own surface ships: China now has truly threatening frigates and multipurpose warships, sometimes strategically deployed even in distant waters like the Black and Baltic Seas. It is true that China is also quite determined about aircraft carriers. The progress that has been made to fill this part of the marina is simply obvious. Be that as it may, one thing remains unclear: whether Beijing will truly be able to cope with the more ambitious task of building a nuclear attack submarine (SSN) on its own, writes Professor Lyle J. Goldstein of the United States Naval College. in Newport.

Although China’s nuclear submarine programs (SSN and SSBN (rocket nuclear submarine)) are, as usual, shrouded in secrecy, a number of eloquent clues to PLA can be found in a special December 2008 issue of the Chinese publication Warships and Merchant Ships. The Navy SSN Development Program. According to an article in that publication, SSN-class ships will be a key factor in defending China’s interests in areas beyond 500 kilometers from the mainland, including areas near the land and sea route initiative (One Lane, One Road ).

Nuclear attack submarines are said to help the PLA navy “build powerful intelligence, vigilance, and attack potential.” The Chinese SSN is said to be used to destroy enemies that invade specific areas and prepare attacks against China. The operation of this class of submarines will aim to guarantee local control at sea. On the other hand, the possibility of directing the force to ground targets is not ruled out. One area where the SSN could serve is undercover operations targeting enemy ports.

The Taiwanese scenario has been mentioned several times in the analysis presented, and it has been repeatedly emphasized that the nature of China’s strategic challenges is not interventionist. At the end of the article, the author mentions that, depending on strategic needs, Beijing should consider building 1.5-2 SSN ships per year, allocating around 600-800 million euros per ship. dollars (EUR 550-740 million).

Another notable post in the post reviews the lengthy process the EPL navy had to go through while working on a Type 093 second-generation nuclear-powered submarine project. The most significant fact to emerge from the review provided should be information about certain improvements included in the design of the 093D. This interesting report has been supplemented by a multi-page analysis of the photos and corresponding graphic images (unfortunately not published on the Internet at least for the moment). Although the article in question is accompanied by a warning about open source content, which is not necessarily in line with the magazine’s editorial opinion, given the importance of underwater balance for future regional and global maritime security, ship strategists they should be of considerable interest to American strategists.

The 093 was first mentioned in 2005. The current article recalls the frustration of Chinese observers with the appearance of the country’s new submarine: they later lacked the modern design elements already applied by countries with advanced SSN ships, such as the United States. United and the United Kingdom. The first ship 093 was said to be not fundamentally different from its infamous predecessor, ship 091, which caused a number of problems.

Flaws in the ship’s design posed major and difficult problems: The 093A was only noticed in June 2016 (when it crossed the Strait of Malacca into the Indian Ocean), which meant it took over a decade to adjust the previous design. One of the most obvious design changes is the replacement of the tower-to-hull connection and more advanced hydrodynamic solutions in line with the direction of SSN ship design dictated by the United States and other navies. Judging from the analysis presented, the late appearance of Type 093A suggests that the characteristics of the original Type 093 did not meet the expectations of Navy management in any way.

Other design modifications, as written in the article in question, had to wait until June 2018. The design of the 093B type was significantly different from the version released in 2016. In particular, around 25 percent. The tower was elevated. Second, a hump-shaped bulge appeared just behind the tower. The purpose of this bulge has caused considerable speculation, but considerations that it’s likely to be equipped with a vertical ground-based cruise missile launch system (VLS) seemed the most reasonable. Another major design change is the rounding of the vertical steering wheel and the addition of a towed hydrophone grille. Therefore, the type 093B construction, according to the author of the article, can be called the first nuclear attack submarine built in China to have this type of sonar. Sonar, complemented by efficient side systems, was distinguished by extremely high sensitivity.

Despite all speculation about the center’s purpose in the 093B hull, it seems too early to jump to conclusions. In January 2018, the Japanese Navy reported on the sighting of a Chinese submarine, and it was already a Type 093C, but with a clearly smaller bulge beyond the turret. The 093D is by far the latest design version. It was shown during a parade in the South China Sea about a year ago.

However, the authors emphasize that the PLA’s naval forces are still unable to rely on their own submarines, so it is likely that at least for some time the Chinese SSN-class submarines will be operated as an escort for SSBNs and carrier groups in instead of during direct attack operations.

The Chinese experiments and failures described here can make it easier for American strategists to breathe a sigh of relief at how quickly China moves in all possible directions. Still, it shouldn’t be too reassuring. Given the professionalism that today’s China has been able to achieve in shipbuilding, it makes sense to assume that as soon as the optimal SSN design solution is found, from Beijing’s point of view, the ranks of high-quality, powerful submarines will fill very quickly.

There is already a stark contrast to the concentrated sprint-like production model, reminiscent of speed, low cost, and simplicity, demonstrated during the Soviet Cold War. The ambitions of the EPL naval forces, as already mentioned, are somewhat different: the goal is to develop submarine design skills in a moderate way, without much urgency, not to delay the process, but to advance in small steps. Still, we must not forget what is openly stated in the article mentioned at the beginning: Chinese SSN ships will be of great help in attacking the Guam base and other similar critical facilities. It would be simply irrational to ignore this threat, given the disastrous state of relations between the United States and China in recent times.

Rapidly growing muscles.

Late last year, China’s second aircraft carrier began service, greatly increasing the country’s military capabilities amid intense tensions between Beijing and Taiwan, and continuing the dispute with the United States and regional neighbors over the South China. According to United States intelligence, the country is currently building its third aircraft carrier.

As previously announced, with the Shandong aircraft carrier, China is becoming one of the few countries to have more than one such ship. Beijing is reportedly currently building its third aircraft carrier.

Shandong is the first self-made aircraft carrier.

In November, China confirmed that Shandong had crossed the Taiwan Strait with “routine” training and testing. Taiwan reacted angrily to the incident.

China, which sees Taiwan as democratic as part of its territory, stepped up military maneuvers around the island when President Tsai Ing-wen, who was skeptical of Beijing in 2016, came to power and is currently seeking reelection.

China’s other aircraft carrier, Liaoning, whose unfinished helmet was purchased from Ukraine, was accepted for weapons in 2012.

China’s military ambitions have recently risen, and in July, Beijing unveiled a national defense plan that calls for the creation of a modern, high-tech army.

China’s defense spending only lags behind the United States’ military budget, although it lags far behind.

Last year, the Chinese government indicated that in 2019 it spent $ 1.19 trillion on defense. yuan (€ 150 billion), an 8.1% increase over previous years. up to 1.11 billion. yuan (142 billion euros), according to a government report presented at the beginning of the annual session of the National People’s Congress (NLK).