2012 Update: "The Rising Sea Dragon in Asia," and the growth of the Chinese Navy

JEFFHEAD.COM - The Rising Sea Dragon in Asia ^ | June 15, 2012 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

THE RISING SEA DRAGON IN ASIA - 2012 UPDATE
By Jeff Head - Last Update: June 15, 2012

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(Click on any image for a larger picture)

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2011 has seen significant increases in major combatant shipbuilding by the PLAN across the board. From the PLA Navy's first carrier being launched and sent to sea for trials, to continued testing and production of J-15 fighters for that carrier's airwing, to the increased tempo of serial production of the PLAN's Type 071 LPD, the Yuzhao Class (with a second and third unit launched and a fourth being built), to increased serial production of the PLAN's premier stealthy, area-wide anti-air/multipurpose destroyer, the Lanzhou Type 52C Class DDG with VLS and PARS which now has seen a 3rd, 4th, and 5th unit launched and a 6th, 7th and an 8th unit under construction, to continued rapid production of the modern Type 054A FFG Guided missiles Frigate, which now numbers 16 units either launched or about to be launched, to a brand new class of Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), the Type 056 Class which appears to be a PLAN litoral combatant which is already building in two shipyards and may expand to as many as four shipyards for very rapid production (30 or more units), to production of a new, improved Yuan Class SSK conventional submarine, the Qing Class, which has Air-independent Propulsion (AIP) capabilities.

While increased production picked up in all of the above areas, units of the Type 093 SSN, Nuclear attack Submarine, the Shang Class, with improved reactors, sensors, and weapons suite continue trials and introduction into the fleet at a slower rate, along with the same for the Type 094 Jin Class ballistic missile submarines.

In addition, the PLAN sent its 10th task force to the Arabian Sea to conduct anti-piracy operations, usually sending a guided missile destroyer, a guided missile frigate, and a UNREP logistics vessel to perform these duties, which is giving many, many Chinese sailors and commanders in the PLAN blue water experience. The PLAN has sustained these operations now for going on three years without pause.

As in past years, other, ongoing exercises of the many new units the PLAN has introduced into its fleets continues to improve their performance and ability to operate cohesively with their new technology, particularly as surface action groups and task forces. They do this by conducting exercises and manuevers regularly, and have the money to sustain these operations. This will continue at an increased tempo once their new carrier finishes trials, is commissioned and is introduced into the fleet.

All of these developments represent significant, rapid progress by the PLAN in establishing itself as a consistent blue water presence. Indeed it is already sending significant SAGs, including the new LPDs, to areas in the Arabian Sea (as mentioned) the Indian Ocean, off the coasts of Africa and South America, and throughout the Western Pacific to makes the PLAN presence known, show the flag, and protect Chinese interests.

Other Western Pacific nations are monitoring these developments carefully, and in the case of Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, and the Republic of China on Taiwan, are themselves increasing their own ship production and operational tempos as they can, and to modernize and enlarge their own navies. The US has now indicated plans to shift more vessels and other assets to the Western Pacific in response.

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FINAL OUTFITTING AND LAUNCH OF CHINA'S FIRST AIRCRAFT CARRIER OCCURRED IN 2011





History was made for the People's Republic of China on August 9. 2011, when China's 1st aircraft carrier conducted its first sea trials.

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MORE J-15 FIGHTERS PRODUCED & TESTED FOR THE CARRIER. INITIAL AT-SEA FLIGHTS EXPECTED IN 2012.

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PRODUCTION OF THE YUZHAO CLASS LPD, INCREASED. COMMISSIONED THE 2ND, LAUNCHING A 3RD, & BUILDING A 4TH.

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SERIAL PRODUCTION OF THE LANZHOU CLASS DDG. COMMISSIONING THE 3RD, LAUNCHING A 4TH & 5TH, BUILDING 6TH, 7TH & 8TH.

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RAPID SERIAL PRODUCTION OF THE JIANGKAI II CLASS FFG CONINUES. LAUNCHING A 15TH & BUILDING MORE






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[Jeff Head]

Actually, if you go to the site referenced by this thread you will find out differently...and I know of NO ONE who has implied that any Luda under any circumstances is equal to or like a Tico Cruiser. I have no idea where that statement came from.

I have stated that the newer DDGs, the Lanzhou Class of which eight have now been built (six in the last two years) are their version of AEGIS with Battle Management, PARs and VLS. They are not the equal of AEGIS, but they are no longer anything close to 25 years behid us either...they are catching up rapidly and have vessels now that are a viable threat to our forces.

Their new FFGs are better than the current Perrys, particularly after we stripped them of even thier single arm launchers.

Right now there are still twelve Luda class, which have had modern SSMs and newer sensors added. This allows them to be more effective when operating with their brand new units because they can get their targeting from the other assets which they lack.

So, 12 Ludas, or Type 051 DDGs.

In terms of more modern DDGs with much more modern sensors, bettwr weapons fit, much better ASW capabilities, the have the following:

Lanzhou Class, Type 052C DDGs - 8
Guangzhouo Class Type 052B DDGs - 2
Harbin Class Type 052 DDGs - 2
PLAN Proj 956(E) Sovremmeny DDGs - 4
Luzhou Class Type 051C DDGs - 2
Luhai Class Type 051B DDGs - 1

So, that’s 19 much newer more modern DDGs and 12 old DDGs for a total of 31...meaning they have built nineteen new DDGs in the space of time that they disposed of only four of the old Ludas...that’s not a replacement strategy, that is a high growth strategy.

Similar is occuring with the Frigates (FFGs). The older FFGs, like the ludas are the Type 053 class. Newer version were steadly introduced until the type 053H and Ks became fairly modern. The older ones, similar to the Ludas are the Jianghu class. The newer ones of the Type 053 (Hs and Ks) are the Jiangwei Class.

The PLAN built 53 of the older Jianghu Class of which 28 are still in service, having been modernised with newer SSms and sensors like the Ludas.

The more modern Jiangwei Class had 14 built of which all 14 are still in service.

Since that time the PLAN has embarked on a serious, very nmodern campaign of FFG build, the Type 054(A) clases.

Two of the type 054 Class were built and now 16 of the much more capable Type 054A class have been launched in the last five years, at about three per year.

This means that the PLAN who had 53 older type FFGs, now has 60 frigates of which 28 are the older type and 32 are the newer type which means in the time they disposed of 25 old frigates, they built 32 new ones. Again, not a replacement strategy but a growth strategy.

Same is true in the Diesel Electric Submairine area where we find them adding far more new AIP SSs than they are dispoing of older ones. And the nuclear sub SSN and SSBN is a pure growth areana for them too.

[nutmeg]

Incredible thread, Jeff... thanks!

[Jeff Head]

YTou are welcome. Please pass it around so other’s can know how our dollars we spend on Red China products are being used.

They are involved in an incredable Naval buildup...and their other services, particularly their missile force and air force are doing similarly.

[nutmeg]

Please pass it around so other’s can know how our dollars we spend on Red China products are being used.

Will do... I'll ping my biggest list here momentarily.

[nutmeg]

The Chinese Navy continues to increas their buildup, both qunatitatively and qualittatively at an astounding rate.

In the last several years they have grown their navy with new, capable, modern diesigns by over 142% while the US NAvy has shrunk by 13% in that same time period.

Don't miss this stunning thread (including amazing photos) put together by FReeper Jeff Head. (Thanks, Jeff!)

A short excerpt above posted by Jeff, but there's lots more interesting (and pretty scary) stuff posted on the entire thread...

[rmlew]

Thanks and Happy Birthday!

[DTogo]

FYI...our hard earned dollars at work.

Yep. Interest on US debt held by China = China's defense budget.

[Jeff Head]

Thanks, nutmeg, for the ping to so many.

The more who know about this and understand its implictions, the better.

The world is not safe, and the days of nation against nation...or whole alliances against whole alliances are not necessarily over. We have to stay vigilant and stay strong and not buy into the so-called “peace dividend” when such powerful enemies are arming themselves to the teeth.

[Jeff Head]

Thank you...and God’s speed and blessings to you and yours in return.

[Jeff Head]

Not to mention the profit they are reaping from all of their sales through about every retailer here in the states whose products are being produced there. It’s still a communist county and the proifts still acrue to the government there.

[Reeses]

My dad, before he passed away in 2004 (and it has increased since then) said it reminded him of the naval buildup before World War II of the JApanese and the Germans.

China is also starting to make historical claims on neighboring land like the Germans did. With their expanding economy they need more land and the natural resources they come with. We're in an extended world-wide economic recession and have weak Western leadership just like the lead up to WWII. All it will take is a spark.

Because of the huge investments made in technology for WWII, the years after led to great wealth and prosperity for America. A world war in the near future would likely be the first robot war. After the war the robot technology would be put to civilian uses. Manufacturing would return to America. A high tech war would not be so kind to countries with an oversupply of cheap labor like China. If they do start a war, it will be their downfall.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!