The PLAN now has two of the STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) aircraft carriers in service. Those use a ski-jump to launch the aircraft. It comes with limitations: Aircraft need a high thrust to weight ratio and their operational payload may be limited. China is currently building a third carrier near Shanghai: The Type-003 will be massive. It is roughly comparable to the U.S. Navy’s Ford Class. This will be a CATOBAR (catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery) design. Thanks to its three EMALS (electro-magnetic aircraft launch system) catapults, it will be able to launch the new aircraft spotted in flight today.
J-35 / J-XY stealth fighter
The aircraft seems to feature folding wings (to reduced the footprint when stored onboard the carrier) and catapult launch bar (above the front wheel) for CATOBAR operations. The aircraft is designed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation and the flight took place at the Harbin Aircraft Industry Group test facility in Harbin.
The official designation of China’s new twin-engine stealth fighter aircraft is not known yet. Most open sources calls it “J-35” or “J-XY), some even calls it a variant of the FC-31. A full-size model of the stealth plane first appeared in June this year at land based testing facility: A full-sized mock-up of a real Chinese Navy aircraft carrier, located at Wuhan. Naval News‘ regular contributor H I Sutton covered at length the development at the time, pointing out the similarities between the aircraft and the FC-31.
The airframe complies with the new norms of stealthy aircraft design. Carefully aligned angles, a mix of sharp chines and blended surfaces, and sawtooth edges to panels. Over the course of its development, since its first flight in 2013. Three prototypes have flown with the latest, in 2020, being considered closer to a production aircraft.
A internal weapons bay spans the lower fuselage a lot like the F-22. This can carry the PL-15 medium range air-air missile. Like the F-35, additional weapons can be carried in underwing hardpoints. These will increase the aircraft’s radar cross-section so they are not normally seen.
H I Sutton
KJ-600 airborne early warning & Control (AEW&C)The KJ-600 reportedly performed a test flight at Xi’an Aircraft Industrial Corporation airfield in Xi’an on October 29.
Also spotted in flight (when, we don’t know but the pictures were released today) is the KJ-600. This is the Chinese analogue to the U.S. Navy’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, and it looks remarkably similar. The mock-up appeared on the deck of the concrete carrier in 2017. The prototype first flew in August or September 2020. While the real thing is not identical to the mock-up, it is very close.
Not much is known about its sensor suite but Henri Kenhmann from the Eastpendulum blog, a very reliable source on the Chinese military, previously shared the following with us:
“As for the type of radar selected for the platform, rumors mention an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar mounted on a rotating disk. This would favor the “width” of the radar (therefore the number of installed modules) the power and the range, to the detriment of the refresh rate had it been a three-sided fixed configuration (as is the case with the KJ-2000 and the KJ-500 land-based AWACS). A quick calculation shows that in “back-to-back” configuration, the “width” of each radar face is about 15% larger than in the configuration of three fixed faces, but all of this remains to be confirmed.”
This year’s report provides a baseline assessment of the Department’s top pacing challenge and charts the maturation of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
The report accounts for the PRC’s evolving national strategy and outlines the strategic objectives driving the PLA’s defense policy and military strategy. It also covers key developments of the PLA’s military modernization and reform, and provides insights into the PRC’s regional and global ambitions.
This includes the PLA developing the capabilities to conduct joint long-range precision strikes across domains, increasingly sophisticated space, counterspace, and cyber capabilities, and accelerating the large-scale expansion of its nuclear forces.
The full report can be found here.
Regarding the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) the report reads:
The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has numerically the largest navy in the world with an overall battle force of approximately 355 ships and submarines, including approximately more than 145 major surface combatants. As of 2020, the PLAN is largely composed of modern multi-role platforms. In the near-term, the PLAN will have the capability to conduct long-range precision strikes against land targets from its submarine and surface combatants using land-attack cruise missiles, notably enhancing the PRC’s global power projection capabilities. The PRC is enhancing its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities and competencies to protect the PLAN’s aircraft carriers and ballistic missile submarines.
Major Naval Units of the PLAN
Other key takeaways from the report regarding the PLAN:
- The PRC commissioned its first domestically built aircraft carrier in late 2019 and its first Renhai class cruiser in early 2020. The PRC expects its second domestically built aircraft carrier to enter service by 2024.
- In 2020, the PRC launched its second Yushen class amphibious assault ship (Type 075 LHA) after launching its first in 2019, its first class of large deck amphibious warship. A third hull was also under construction in 2020 (and launched in January 2021).
- In the near-term, the PLAN will have the capability to conduct long-range precision strikes against land targets from its submarine and surface combatants using land-attack cruise missiles, notably enhancing the PRC’s global power projection capabilities. The PRC is also enhancing its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) inventory and training to protect the PLAN’s aircraft carriers and ballistic missile submarines
The PRC’s 2019 defense white paper described the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as adjusting to changes in the strategic requirements of near seas protection and far seas protection, noting that it was “speeding up the transition of its tasks from defense on the near seas to protection missions on the far seas…” Towards the PRC’s goal of building a “strong and modernized naval force,” the PLAN is an increasingly modern and flexible force that has focused on replacing its previous generations of platforms that had limited capabilities in favor of larger, modern multi-role combatants. As of 2020, the PLAN is largely composed of modern multi-role platforms featuring advanced anti-ship, anti-air, and anti-submarine weapons and sensors. The PLAN is also emphasizing maritime joint operations and joint integration within the PLA. This modernization aligns with the PRC’s growing emphasis on the maritime domain and increasing demands for the PLAN to operate at greater distances from China.
The PLAN organizes, mans, trains, and equips the PLA’s naval and naval aviation forces, as well as the PLAN Marine Corps (PLANMC), which is subordinate to the PLAN. In 2020, the PLAN continued to implement structural reforms that began in late 2015 and early 2016. Similar to the other services, the PLA-wide reforms removed the PLAN headquarters from conducting operations, which became the purview of the PLA’s joint Theater Commands, and focused it on organizing, manning, training, and equipping naval forces.
Force Structure
The PLAN is the largest navy in the world with a battle force of approximately 355 platforms, including major surface combatants, submarines, aircraft carriers, ocean-going amphibious ships, mine warfare ships, and fleet auxiliaries. This figure does not include 85 patrol combatants and craft that carry anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs). The PLAN’s overall battle force is expected to grow to 420 ships by 2025 and 460 ships by 2030. Much of this growth will be in major surface combatants. The PLAN’s force structure consists of three fleets with subordinate submarine flotillas, surface ship flotillas, aviation brigades, and naval bases. The PLAN’s Northern Theater Navy is subordinate to the Northern Theater Command, the Eastern Theater Navy is subordinate to the Eastern Theater Command, and the Southern Theater Navy is subordinate to the Southern Theater Command.
Submarines
The PLAN has placed a high priority on modernizing its submarine force, but its force structure continues to grow modestly as it works to mature its force, integrate new technologies, and expand its shipyards. The PLAN currently operates six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), six nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs), and 46 diesel-powered attack submarines (SSs). The PLAN will likely maintain between 65 and 70 submarines through the 2020s, replacing older units with more capable units on a near one-to-one basis.
The PRC continues to increase its inventory of conventional submarines capable of firing advanced anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs). Between the mid-1990s and mid-2000s, the PLAN purchased 12 Russian-built Kilo class SS units, eight of which are capable of launching ASCMs. China’s shipyards have delivered 13 Song class SS (Type 039) and 17 Yuan class diesel-electric (SSPs) (Type 039A/B). The PRC is expected to produce a total of 25 or more Yuan class submarines by 2025.
Over the past 15 years, the PLAN has constructed twelve nuclear submarines – two Shang I class SSNs (Type 093), four Shang II class SSNs (Type 093A), and six Jin class SSBNs (Type 094). Equipped with the CSS-N-14 (JL-2) submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), the PLAN’s six operational Jin class SSBNs represent the PRC’s first credible sea-based nuclear deterrent. Each Jin class SSBN can carry up to 12 JL-2 SLBMs. In 2019, Beijing displayed these missiles at the PRC’s 70th anniversary parade, revealing that at least a full complement of 12 JL-2s are complete and operational. The PRC’s next-generation Type 096 SSBN, which likely began construction in the early 2020s, will reportedly carry a new type of SLBM. The PLAN is expected to operate the Type 094 and Type 096 SSBNs concurrently and could have up to eight SSBNs by 2030. This would align with Chairman Xi Jinping’s 2018 directive for the SSBN force to achieve “stronger growth.”
By the mid-2020s, the PRC will likely build the Type 093B guided-missile nuclear attack submarine. This new Shang class variant will enhance the PLAN’s anti-surface warfare capability and could provide a clandestine land-attack option if equipped with land-attack cruise missiles (LACMs). The PLAN is also improving its anti-submarine warfare capabilities through the development of its surface combatants and special mission aircraft, but it continues to lack a robust deep-water anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability. The PRC is enhancing its ASW inventory and training to better protect the PLAN’s aircraft carriers and ballistic missile submarines. The PLA increasingly has emphasized the importance of ASW in achieving China’s broader maritime capability goals, to include open seas protection and preserving access to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean.
Surface Combatants
The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) Type 055 destroyer Nanchang followed by Type 052D destroyer Kunming. Russian MoD picture.
The PLAN remains engaged in a robust shipbuilding program for surface combatants, producing new guided-missile cruisers (CGs), guided-missile destroyers (DDGs) and corvettes (FFLs). These assets will significantly upgrade the PLAN’s air defense, anti-ship, and anti-submarine capabilities and will be critical as the PLAN expands its operations beyond the range of the PLA’s shore-based air defense systems. By the end of 2019, the PLAN had commissioned its 30th Jiangkai II class guided-missile frigate (FFG), completing the production run while it finalizes a follow-on class with additional units under construction. The PLAN is augmenting its littoral warfare capabilities, especially for operations in the East and South China Seas, with high-rate production of the Jiangdao class FFLs (Type 056). The PLAN commissioned its ninth Jiangdao over the year by mid-2020 with over 50 Jiangdao class FFLs in service out of an expected production run of at least 70 ships. The latest FFLs are anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variants with a towed-array sonar. The PRC has also built 60 Houbei class wave-piercing catamaran guided-missile patrol boats (Type 022) for operations in China’s “near seas.”
The PLAN is currently expanding its force of large surface combatants with two programs, the Luyang III DDG (Type 052D) and the Renhai CG. By late 2020, the PRC had launched 25 Luyang III DDGs—including 12 lengthened Luyang III MOD DDGs. Both the standard Luyang III and the Luyang III MOD have a 64-cell multipurpose vertical launch system (VLS) capable of launching cruise missiles, SAMs, and anti-submarine missiles. In 2020, the PRC commissioned the first Renhai class guided-missile cruiser and launched the eighth hull in the class. The Renhai has 112 VLS cells and can carry a large load out of weapons including ASCMs, surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), torpedoes, and anti-submarine weapons along with likely LACMs and anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) when those become operational.
The PLAN continues to emphasize anti-surface warfare capabilities in its force development. The PLAN’s frigates and corvettes, as well as modernized older combatants, carry variants of the YJ-83/YJ-83J ASCM (97 nm, 180 km), while newer surface combatants such as the Luyang II class DDGs are fitted with the YJ-62 (215 nm, 400 km). The Luyang III class DDGs and the Renhai class CGs will be fitted with a variant of China’s newest ASCM, the YJ-18A (290 nm, 537 km). A few modernized destroyers have been retrofitted with the supersonic YJ-12A ASCM (250 nm, 285 km). Eight of the PLAN’s 12 Kilo class SSs are equipped with the Russian-built RS-SS-N-27b ASCM (120-nm, 220-km). The PRC’s Song class SS, Yuan class SSP, and Shang class SSN will field the PLAN’s newest domestic submarine-launched YJ-18 and its variants, which constitute an improvement over the RS-SS-N-27b ASCM.
The PLAN recognizes that long-range ASCMs require a robust, over-the-horizon (OTH) targeting capability to realize their full potential. To fill this capability gap, the PLA is investing in joint reconnaissance, surveillance, command, control, and communications systems at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels to provide high-fidelity targeting information to surface and subsurface launch platforms.
As the PLAN continues to transition into a global multi-mission force, the addition of land-attack capabilities to its modern array of anti-surface and anti-air capabilities is a logical next step. In the coming years, the PLAN will probably field LACMs on its newer cruisers and destroyers and developmental Type 093B nuclear attack submarines. The PLAN could also retrofit its older surface combatants and submarines with land-attack capabilities as well. The addition of land-attack capabilities to the PLAN’s surface combatants and submarines would provide the PLA with flexible long-range strike options. This would allow the PRC to hold land targets at risk beyond the Indo-Pacific region from the maritime domain.
Amphibious Warfare Ships
China First Type 075 LHD off Hainan island
The PLAN’s investment in LHAs signals its intent to continue to develop its expeditionary warfare capabilities. In April 2020, the PLAN launched the second ship of the Yushen class LHA (Type 075) following the first ship’s launch in 2019. A third Yushen-class LHA was reportedly launched in January 2021, marking approximately 16-month timeframe to launch three of three vessels. The Yushen class are highly capable large-deck amphibious ships that will provide the PLAN with an all-aspect expeditionary capability. The Yushen class can carry a large number of landing craft, troops, armored vehicles, and helicopters. In addition, the PLAN has seven large Yuzhao class amphibious transport docks (LPDs) (Type 071), with an eighth ship entering sea trials in 2020. The Yuzhao class LPDs and Yushen class LHAs provide the PLA with greater capacity, endurance, and more flexibility for long-range operations than the PLAN’s older landing ships, which it has reduced in number over the last decade with obsolete units being decommissioned. The Yushen and Yuzhao can each carry several of the new Yuyi class air-cushion medium landing craft and a variety of helicopters, as well as tanks, armored vehicles and PLAN marines for long-distance deployments.
Aircraft Carriers
In December 2019, the PRC commissioned its first domestically built aircraft carrier, Shandong, which launched in 2017 and completed multiple sea trials during 2018-2019. Shandong was photographed at a base on Hainan Island in the Southern Theater Navy in late 2020. The new carrier is a modified version of the Liaoning (Soviet Kuznetsov) design and likewise uses a ski-jump takeoff method for its aircraft. The PRC continued work on its second domestically built aircraft carrier in 2020, which will be larger and fitted with a catapult launch system. This design will enable it to support additional fighter aircraft, fixed-wing early-warning aircraft, and more rapid flight operations and thus extend the reach and effectiveness of its carrier based strike aircraft. The PRC’s second domestically built carrier is projected to be operational by 2024, with additional carriers to follow.
The PLAN is also working on several future carrier-based aircraft to operate from its carriers. In addition to the standard J-15, there is a catapult-capable J-15 variant in development. The aircraft has tested from land-based steam and electromagnetic catapults at China’s Huangdicun test site. A third J-15 variant, the J-15D, is a two-seat aircraft equipped with wingtip electronic support measures/electronic intelligence gathering pods as well as several conformal antennas. The aircraft is intended to fill a dedicated electronic attack role. Beyond fighter aircraft, China is refining the design of a carrier-borne AEW aircraft known as the KJ-600. A mockup of the aircraft, which appears externally similar to the E-2C/D Hawkeye, has existed for many years, and a prototype of the KJ-600 began its flight test program in late August 2020.
Auxiliary Ships
Type 901 fast combat support ship PLAN Hulun Lake AOE-965. JMSDF picture.
The PLAN continues to build a large number of seagoing auxiliary and support ships, including intelligence collection ships (AGIs), ocean surveillance ships (AGOSs), fleet replenishment oilers (AORs), hospital ships, submarine salvage and rescue ships, and various other specialized units. Additionally, China’s first domestically built polar icebreaker, Xuelong 2, became operational in 2019. The ship is operated by the Polar Research Institute of the State Oceanic Administration. In 2020, Xuelong 2 completed its first deployment to the Arctic.
PLAN Marine Corps (PLANMC)
Chinese amphibious landing exercise in the South China Sea
Serving as the PLA Navy’s land combat arm, the PLA Navy Marine Corps (PLANMC) expansion and growing focus on expeditionary operations has been among the most notable changes to the PRC’s armed forces in recent years. The PLANMC previously consisted of two brigades (approximately 10,000 personnel) and was limited in geography and mission to amphibious assault and defense of South China Sea outposts. In 2020, the PLANMC continued to mature an enlarged force structure of eight brigades intended to be scalable and mobile, modernize its capabilities for joint expeditionary operations—including operations beyond the First Island Chain—and become more proficient in conventional and irregular warfare. Throughout 2020, the PLANMC continued to work towards fully equipping and training its four newly established maneuver brigades (in addition to its two previously existing brigades), a SOF brigade, and an aviation (helicopter) brigade. Overall, the PLANMC’s reform and modernization has continued to prove slower than expected given the CMC’s milestone for the PLA to “generally achieve mechanization” by the end of 2020 ahead of the CCP’s centenary in 2021. In October 2020, Chairman Xi visited the PLANMC headquarters where he urged the marines to accelerate the improvement of their combat capabilities and increase their focus on “war preparations and fighting battles” by raising their training standards and to “maintain a high state of alert.”
While the PLANMC likely missed the PLA’s milestone to “generally achieve mechanization” by the end of 2020, an additional PLANMC brigade likely reached fully mission capable status in 2020 while another four brigades likely achieved initial operating capability (IOC) status. One of the three brigades reaching IOC was the PLANMC’s aviation brigade, which graduated its first group of domestically trained ship-borne pilots in April 2020. This growing multifaceted aviation brigade provides the PLAN and PLANMC with an increasingly proficient quick reaction capability. This coincides with Chairman Xi’s remarks at the PLANMC HQ in October 2020 that the PLANMC should strive to forge a multi-functional rapid response team. Also aligned with the PLA’s modernization goals, the PLANMC continued to outfit several of their new maneuver brigades with new expeditionary vehicles.
The PLANMC continues to make strides towards becoming a multidimensional expeditionary force capable of conducting operations beyond the First Island Chain to protect the PRC’s growing overseas interests. The PLANMC has conducted a variety of cross-regional training exercises to improve long-range mobility and the ability to operate across diverse climates and terrain in pursuit of rapid reaction capabilities. Additionally, the PLANMC devotes time and resources to conducting NWMA, to include counter-piracy operations and international military engagements. While the focus of the PLANMC appears to be shifting towards global expeditionary operations, the PLANMC also expanded its amphibious capability from the two Southern Theater brigades to three brigades, as one Northern Theater brigade received and demonstrated their proficiency with amphibious armored vehicles.
The PLANMC maintains a presence at the PRC’s first overseas military support facility in Djibouti that extends Beijing’s military reach and strategic influence in Africa and the Middle East. The PLANMC’s presence in Djibouti provides the PRC with the ability to support a military response to contingencies affecting the PRC’s investments and infrastructure in the region and the approximately 1 million PRC citizens in Africa and 500,000 in the Middle East. The PLANMC also embarks a contingent of marines with the PLAN’s Gulf of Aden counterpiracy-focused naval escort task force that supports the PRC’s trade interests. Additionally, the PLANMC supports the PRC’s military diplomacy. For example, it has trained with Russian and Thai forces and participated in exchanges with the United States and Australia.
warspot.ru
About Type 055 Destroyers
The Type 055 destroyers are the largest surface combatant currently being built in the world. They have a length of 180 meters, a beam of 20 meters and a draft of 6.6 meters for a full load displacement of about 13,000t. In comparison, the US Navy’s Ticonderoga-class cruiser and the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer displace 9,800 tons. The Royal Navy Type 45 is lighter at about 8,500 tons. Their official PLAN designation is “10,000-ton class destroyer”. The US Department of Defense have been calling them “cruisers” since 2017.
Type 055 weapons
The current Type 055’s weapons fit includes:
- A 130 mm H/PJ-38 main gun
- 112 VLS silos
- A H/PJ-11 CIWS with a fire rate of 10,000 rd/min
- A HQ-10 short-range missiles
- Decoy launchers
- Torpedoes.
The silos are split in two areas: 64x cells forward and 48x cells aft, just in front of the ship’s double hangar. They are of the same model as those fitted aboard Type 052D destroyers, compatible with both hot and cold launch missiles thanks to the Concentric Canister Launcher (CCL) concept.
According to our colleague East Pendulum, all Chinese missiles which size does not exceed 9 meters in length and 0.85 meters in diameter can be launched from those VLS cells, provided that the combat system is compatible.
Chinese Shipyard Launches Two Type 054 Frigates and One Type 071E LPD China's Hudong Zhonghua shipyard located near Shanghai today launched two frigates and a landing platform dock (LPD). In details, the ships that just hit the water are a Type 054A frigate for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy), a Type 054AP for the Pakistan Navy and a Type 071E LPD for the Royal Thai Navy.
Xavier Vavasseur 23 Dec 2021
The Type 054A (NATO designation Jiangkai II) frigate is said to be the 34th ship-in-class for the PLAN. The Type 054AP (Tughril-class) is the fourth and final ship of the class ordered by Pakistan from China. The Type 071E LPD is the first and so far only ship of the class for the Royal Thai Navy. All three vessels were built in the same dry dock, hence their simultaneous launch.
About Type 054A Frigate
The 34th Type 054A Frigate for the PLAN.
The Type 054A is a multi-role frigate and is recognized as the backbone of the PLAN fleet of surface combatants with 30 vessels in commission. They have a length of 134 meters, a beam of 16 meters for a displacement of 4,000 tons. They have a crew complement of 165 sailors and are fitted with:
- a H/PJ-26 76mm main gun
- 2×4 CM302 anti-ship missiles
- 32x VLS cells for HQ-16 surface to air missiles
- 2x Type 730 30mm CIWS
- 2x Triple Torpedo launchers
The main sensor system of those frigates is the Type 382 radar which shares a close resemblance with the Russian MR-710 Fregat radar.
About Type 054AP / Tughril-class Frigate
The fourth (and final) Type 054AP Tughril-class Frigate for Pakistan.
Pakistan signed an initial contract for the delivery two Type 054 A/P frigates in 2017. An additional contract for two more ships was announced in June 2018. The first-in-class frigate was launched in August 2020 and started sea trials in late May 2021. The second was floated in January 2021. As for the third one, the keel laying took place on May 1st 2021 and the launch in August 2021. All four units were built in China. The first ship of the class, PNS Tughril, was commissioned in November 2021.
Type 054AP frigates feature a SR2410C 3D multifunction ESA (electronically scanned array) radar and a long range / metric wave radar.
About Type 071E LPD
The Type 071E LPD for the Royal Thai Navy if the first export variant of the PLAN’s Type 071 amphibious ship.
Thailand signed a contract with China for the procurement of a Type 071E landing platform dock (LPD) on September 9, 2019. The amphibious vessel is based on the Type 071. The deal was reported to cost only Bt6.1 billion (200 million USD).
The PLAN currently has six vessels of the Type 071-class (NATO designation Yuzhao) commissioned in its fleet, with two more on the way. All were built at the same Hudong Zhonghua shipyard. Thailand becomes the first export customer of the type.
Originally designed after the 1996 Taiwan Strait crisis, the Type 071 is 210 meters long and 28 meters wide with a full load displacement of 25,000 tons. It is capable of carrying an 800 marines (1 battalion) and some 20 amphibious vehicles.
When a Chinese submarine entered the Malacca Strait on December 20, heading towards the Indian Ocean, there was speculation about where it was going. This was answered when it pulled into the Yangon River, Myanmar, on December 23. Literally the next day it was commissioned into the Myanmar Navy as UMS Minye Kyaw Htin.
The sale, or transfer, had not been announced in advance. It highlights the growing influence of China in the region and the role submarine sales play in the geopolitical arena.
And China’s impact on the world submarine market. China is now supplying 4 countries with submarines. More may follow.
Submarine Diplomacy
Buying submarines is not like cars, where you select a model, and pick from a catalogue of features. They are not bought off the shelf, instead each aspect has to be defined. The location where they are to be built, the degree of customization, crew training, and ongoing maintenance are all part of a typical deal. And there is always a geopolitical aspect, and often government-to-government negotiations.
And it is not simply commercial. Governments can supply submarines to help create, or reinforce, alliances. Or at least expect favorable future relations going forward. This is especially true if the submarines are provided free, or at a major discount. One way to do this is by supplying older submarines from their own inventory. It can be a win-win and limits the risk if politics change in the future.
The Chinese submarine for Myanmar is more complex than most in a few ways. Although China has been Myanmar’s main defense supplier for many years, it had not been in the frame for submarines. Instead, India and Russia had. Externally, it might be seen as a stab in the back to Indian efforts.
Myanmar has been trying to establish a submarine capability for about two decades. Exactly a year earlier on December 24 2020 the Myanmar Navy commissioned its first submarine, the UMS Min Ye Theinkhathu. Significantly, that submarine had been transferred by India, China’s immediate rival in the Indian Ocean region.
Both submarines are relatively old types, and both are second-hand. The Chinese one is a Type-035 Ming Class, and the Indian one is a Russian-built KILO class boat. Despite arriving second, the Chinese boat is hardly an upgrade over the Indian supplied one. In fact, the KILO is generally considered the more capable platform, although the exact details of their equipment fit are naturally harder to pin down.
So the sudden acquisition of an older Chinese boat is not about modernizing Myanmar’s capabilities. It is instead part of a bigger picture. China is presumably expecting to bag the follow-on order or more modern boats. And solidify its geopolitical position in the Bay of Bengal in the process.
China has done something very similar in the past. In 2017 it supplied two ex-PLAN (Chinese Navy) Type-035 Ming Class submarines to Bangladesh.
Market Warfare
For the past few decades, the submarine export market has been dominated by France and Germany. These big players are already being challenged. These include new entrants South Korea, Spain and Japan, and reemerging established players like Sweden. And of course Russia has a stake in submarine exports. Now China is joining the club and rapidly rising towards the top.
China is already supplying four nations with a total of 12 submarines. The largest, and likely most sophisticated, deal is for Pakistan. The Pakistan Navy is getting eight Type-039B Yuan Class submarines, with four being built locally. These missile-capable submarines come with AIP (Air Independent Power).
Thailand is getting another Yuan, designated S26T. Meanwhile ex-PLAN Type-035 Min Class boats, which are less capable than the Yuans, have been supplied to Bangladesh (2) and now Myanmar (1). China is known to be courting other countries with submarines, notably Nigeria.
Commissioning ceremony of Type 035B submarine UMS Minye Kyaw Htin
Like Russia, China is willing to supply submarines to countries which western governments may not. But unlike Russia its new-build submarines come with AIP. Thrown together with the classic Belt-and-Road incentives this may make them particularly appealing to internationally isolated governments.
Western leaning submarine builders will also be watching Chinese developments. On the one hand, there are many prospective customers who would not consider Chinese submarines. But equally, the markets undoubtedly overlap with many countries being open to both China and the West. Chinese submarine designs will increasingly be competing directly against Western types.
Belt And Submarine
The game will not only be about money, but strategic influence and position. For China there is the added dimension of the Belt and Road Initiative. This is a Chinese government strategy to invest in key infrastructure developments around the world. Countries brought into this in a big way include Myanmar.
While the Belt and Road projects are infrastructure, many will see a very blurred line between them and the submarine sales. Said another way, the submarines are part of an influence game and strategic positioning. They can be leveraged in a similar way to port or shipyard projects.
In the case of Myanmar, it will be interesting to see the sales conditions. Not just the price, which is surely cheap or free, but the future restrictions it places on Myanmar.
None of the surface combatants were assigned to serve in the East Sea Fleet, dedicated to the Taiwan Strait. Instead, the South and North Sea fleets, facing Korea, Japan and the South China Sea received the new vessels that will reinforce the PLAN on the high seas.
Type 055 Destroyers
Type 055 Destroyers Lhasa 102 and Nanchang 101
Armed to the teeth with 112 VLS cells and considered a cruiser by NATO (Renhai-class CG), the Type 055 is the most powerful surface combatant in service in the Chinese fleet. Since the commissioning of the first ship-in-class Nanchang in late 2020, four more have been pressed into service last year:
The Type 055 destroyers are the largest surface combatant currently being built in the world. They have a length of 180 meters, a beam of 20 meters and a draft of 6.6 meters for a full load displacement of about 13,000t. In comparison, the US Navy’s Ticonderoga-class cruiser and the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer displace 9,800 tons. The Royal Navy Type 45 is lighter at about 8,500 tons. Their official PLAN designation is “10,000-ton class destroyer”. The US Department of Defense have been calling them “cruisers” since 2017.
Type 055 weapons
The current Type 055’s weapons fit includes:
- A 130 mm H/PJ-38 main gun
- 112 VLS silos
- A H/PJ-11 CIWS with a fire rate of 10,000 rd/min
- A HQ-10 short-range missiles
- Decoy launchers
- Torpedoes.
The silos are split in two areas: 64x cells forward and 48x cells aft, just in front of the ship’s double hangar. They are of the same model as those fitted aboard Type 052D destroyers, compatible with both hot and cold launch missiles thanks to the Concentric Canister Launcher (CCL) concept.
According to our colleague East Pendulum, all Chinese missiles which size does not exceed 9 meters in length and 0.85 meters in diameter can be launched from those VLS cells, provided that the combat system is compatible.
The PLAN is set to fit its first few Type 055 with HQ-9B anti-aircraft missiles with a range of 200 km, YJ-18A anti-ship missiles, a new type of medium range anti-aircraft missile and land attack cruise missiles based on the YJ-18 family, ie, practically the same as those already found on Type 052D destroyers. It is also likely that the new anti-submarine missile Yu-8A is among the ship’s weapons fit.
Type 052DL
Type 052DL destroyer Kaifeng (124) during a live-fire exercise as part of North Sea Fleet in the fall of 2021. Kaifeng is the 19th ship-in-class overall and the 6th of the “DL” variant featuring a lengthened hull.
Moving on from the expensive Type 055, five slightly smaller, more economical Type 052DL were also commissioned with the PLAN last year, China’s first multi-role destroyer maintains it’s relevance despite the burgeoning development of it’s navy’s technology:
- Suzhou (132)
- Huainan (123)
- Nanning (162)
- Kaifeng (124)
- Guilin (164)
- Zhanjiang (165) *to be confirmed*
The Type 052D Kunming-class (Nato designation: Luyang III) is one of the latest generation of guided-missile destroyer (DDG) of the Chinese Navy. It is based on its predecessor, the Type 052C DDG and likely shares the same hull. However the Type 052D incorporates many improvements in terms of design as well as sensors and weapons fit. This modern class of vessel is considered as the Chinese equivalent to the American AEGIS destroyers.
The vessels are still being built for the PLAN by two shipyards: Jiangnan-Changxing shipyard and Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company. The first vessel of of the class, Kunming (hull number 172), was commissioned in March 2014.
Displacing 7,500 tons, the class has a length of 157 meters, a beam of 17 meters and a crew complement of 280 sailors.
The Type 052D is intended for the high seas. It shares almost the same platform as its predecessor, the Type 052C, but has more advanced combat systems and illustrates perfectly the Chinese military’s “Run fast with small steps” approach in their weapons development.
The ships are equipped with vertical launchers for eight anti-aircraft, anti-submarine or tactical cruise missiles each (64 missiles in total): four modules are located forward of the ship in front of the superstructure, four others aft, in front of the helicopter hangar. In addition to artillery systems, these destroyers are armed with two triple torpedo launchers.
From 14th ship in the class, named Zibo (淄博) with pennant 156, the Type 052D become “Type 052DL”: The destroyer is longer by about 4 meters. This extra length involves primarily its hangar and helicopter deck at the stern of the ship. Probably to accommodate the new Z-20 helicopter (the hangar is large and can host two helicopters). The 517B radar fitted on Type 052D is replaced by a new type of shipborne radar with longer detection range, lower power consumption, and reportedly anti-stealth capability
Type 075 LHD
Type 075 LHD Hainan (31). Note the many Changhe Z-18 helicopters on deck.
In addition to “shooters”, 2021 brought two new (helicopter) carriers to the PLAN fleet: Two Type 075 amphibious assault ships, Hainan (31) and Guangxi (32). They represents China’s first steps in the world of LHDs. With the rumored catapult-touting drone carrier Type 076 on the horizon, a batch of 8 more Type 071 LPDs in the works and the ceasing of large combatant production after the massive surge above, It can be said that the PLAN’s focus in the near future will be on amphibs. As tensions in the Taiwan Straits flare up, military planners ought to keep a close eye on the East Sea Fleet’s assets.
The Chinese Navy officially started development work on the Type 075 in 2011. The project called for a helicopter carrier displacing more than 30,000 tonnes. Its aim is likely to increase the “vertical” amphibious assault capability with the very mountainous East Coast of Taiwan in mind.
As for its specifications, open data speak of “36,000 tons of displacement”, “capacity of 28 helicopters”, “diesel engine with the 12,000 kW 16PC2-6B” and “four CIWS including two HQ-10 and two H/PJ-11”.
While the Type 075 appears to be slightly smaller than the U.S. Navy’s LHA, it is larger compared to French or Spanish/Australian LHD equivalents. It is actually pretty close in size to Italy’s future Trieste LHD.
The first Type 075 was constructed in record time (this has become the norm nowadays, for Chinese shipbuilding: extremely fast construction pace that no one can match). A total of eight LHDs are said to be on order for the PLAN while a larger version is rumored to be planned (sometimes referred as Type 076).
When fully operational, the new Type 075 LHD will bolster the PLAN’s amphibious capabilities, which today rely on the Type 071 LPD design.
Type 094 SSBN
Type 094 SSBN Long March 18
At least one Type 094 (Jin-class) nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) was also commissioned in 2021 (in April, alongside Type 055 DDG Dalian and the first Type 075 LHD during a grand ceremony in presence of Chinese president Xi Jinping).
The Changzheng (Long March ) 18 is likely the 6th (or 7th?) Type 094 (also known as Type 09-IV) submarine of the class for the PLAN. It received pennant number 421. The lead boat of the class was commissioned in 2007.
The Type 094 is armed with 12 JL-2 SLBMs, each with an estimated range of 7,400 km (4,600 mi). Submarines of this class have a length of 135 meters.
Аnalysis and comment:
To put this massive scale of production into perspective, the destroyer commissionings alone brought a total of 768 additional VLS cells into the PLAN fleet last year, comparable to the entire Royal Navy fleet in service. In addition, pass years of “Dumping Dumplings” focused on smaller 054A Frigate and 056A Corvettes instead of the Aegis-equivalents of this year. All the vessels which entered service with the PLAN in 2021 amounts to about 100,000 gross tonnes, far more that any other individual navy in the Pacific region. As Japan rediscovers its naval power and South Korea is showing ambitions for a blue water navy, the region is poised to enter yet another naval arms race reminiscent of the one more than a hundred years ago.
About the author:
Lia Wong is a student and aspiring polyglot passionate about OSINT. With experience in translating live media on political movements in Asia, she prides herself on her print and social media gathering/analysis talents. Young and eager, she focuses particularly on Western Pacific forces and the geopolitical impact of their interactions. Her Twitter handle is @LiaWongOSINT.
With 8 ships already in the water, the Chinese Navy’s Type-055 Renhai Class cruiser is making waves. It is undoubtedly the most impressive surface combatant in the PLAN (Chinese Navy) line-up, making it a natural focus of observers. New intelligence suggests that at least two more are under construction in Dalian, China.
The first Type-055, Nanchang (101), was launched in June 2017. Since then 7 more have been built at Dalian and Shanghai. At 13,000t they are the largest surface combatants currently under construction in the world. This makes then about a quarter bigger again than the U.S. Navy’s AEGIS cruisers.
20 years ago Chinese warships were far behind their Western, and Russian, counterparts. While America was building AEGIS-equipped air defense destroyers, Chinese ships only had short range missiles. Now the Type-055 is, at least in general terms, comparable to the U.S. Navy’s Ticonderoga Class AEGIS cruisers.
The U.S. Navy’s AEGIS Combat System features the powerful AN/SPY-1 passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar. These are the large phased arrays, arranged four per ship to cover all directions. Combined with high levels of automation and integration, this provides excellent situational awareness. Chinese systems seemed decades out of date.
Two warships have recently started to be assembled in the large dry dock in Dalian. Analysis suggests that these are more likely Type-055 Renhai Class Cruisers rather than the smaller Type-052D Luyang-III Class destroyer.
That started to change in the 2000s with a succession of increasingly modern Chinese ships. These included the Type-052C Luyang-II Class which was seen as China’s answer to the AEGIS destroyer. The Type-052 family quickly became the Type-052D Luyang-III model which boasts the Type-346A phased array radar. Unlike the American AN/SPY-1 this has Active Electronically Scanned Arrays (AESA) instead of Passive (PESA).
The Type-055 has the latest Type-346B version of these system. How it compares, in combat terms, to AEGIS is not public. What is clear however is that the Chinese system is maturing and appears to have been steadily improved. It is thought to provide Chinese commanders with similar levels of awareness.
Heavy Weapons Load
The advanced radar systems are combined with universal vertical launch systems (VLS) which can carry an array of weapons. Missiles for air defense, anti-submarine and ant-surface warfare. The Type-055’s VLS has fewer cells than the Ticonderoga Class (112 versus 122), but they are larger and deeper. The weapons load-out is actually quite different though. This likely reflects different needs and priorities more than technological capabilities.
The main air defense missiles are at least analogous. The Chinese HHQ-9 missile, heavily influenced by the Russian S-300 system, performs a similar role to the Standard family of missiles. The U.S. Navy ships also carry the ESSM shorter-ranged air defense missile. These can be quad-packed into a single cell of the VLS. These Chinese ships are not thought to have an equivalent missile, although they do have a 24-round HHQ-10 short-range system. Both ships have close-in weapons systems (CIWS).
Similarly, the Chinese Yu-8 anti-submarine missile is generally equivalent to the U.S. Navy’s VL-ASROC.
Differences In Focus
The Chinese ships place a greater emphasis on anti-surface warfare. For this they can carry the YJ-18 long-ranged supersonic anti-ship missile. These large, modern, missiles contrast with the Harpoons carried by the Ticonderoga Class. A maximum of 8 Harpoons can be carried, but the Chinese ships can carry many more YJ-18s.
Meanwhile the Ticonderoga Class carry the highly successful Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile (LACM). It is unclear whether the Type-055 has a comparable LACM, although possibly the YJ-18 can also perform this role. China now has so many cruise missile types in service that, if the Type-055 doesn’t have a LACM capability, it is down to doctrine.
An even great divergence in weapons is in the anti-ballistic missile (ABM) arena. U.S. AEGIS ships can be equipped with the RIM-161 SM-3 missile which can intercept medium range ballistic missiles. China is not thought to field an equivalent system.
For China’s part, there is an expectation that the Type-055s will receive anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) in the future. This may require some modifications, although the VLS aboard these ships is already quite large.
The Generation Game
Perhaps the biggest difference between the Chinese and American cruisers is age. The Type-055, in both appearance and design terms, is a generation or more newer. Its angled lines and clean superstructure contrast with the Ticonderoga Classes boxy complexion. We should not judge ships combat effectiveness on looks. But the difference points to the truth that the American ships are getting long in the tooth.
Now approaching 40 years in age, the remaining Ticonderoga Class will start to be decommissioned in the next few years. The current oldest hull, USS Bunker Hill, will be retired next year, its life already extended by several years. These ships will not be replaced by a cruiser design. Instead, they will give way to the latest, and most cable, variants of the Arleigh Burke Class destroyer.
The latest flight-III Arleigh Burke Class destroyers are more modern than the Ticonderoga Class. But they are still a much older base design than the Type-055, going back to the 1980s. They are also still smaller than the Chinese ships, and have fewer VLS cells. This doesn’t necessarily make them worse of course. In many ways it is more similar to the Chinese ship.
The key takeaway is that there is even a discussion on the pros and cons of the relative designs. 20 years ago it was a no-contest. Now Chinese warships are impressive enough to have the conversation.
It remains to be seen whether the latest Type-055s (if that is indeed what we are seeing in Dalian) will be significantly different to the first 8. Possibly with ASBMs, or other new capabilities.
