Posted on 06/25/2004 9:13:02 AM PDT by Republican Party Reptile
Edited on 07/12/2004 3:42:30 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
A delegation of Taiwanese legislators met with Pentagon officials this week, including Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz. A key topic discussed was a novel way to build submarines for the Taiwanese, we are told.
Under a plan percolating in the Pentagon, Russia would sell the United States eight very quiet Kilo-class submarines outfitted with Russian weapons but equipped with U.S. electronics and propulsion systems, defense officials said.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Things get stranger and stranger.
Kilos would be a good buy for Taiwan since it is most likely that the other nations that currently build diesel subs would not sell to Taiwan so as not to tick of the Chi-coms.
The Kilo is a pretty decent sub. Add US electronics and a little tweeking it should be great.
Yep, the Kilo is a good submarine, to be sure.
And no threat to an Improved Los Angeles Class, let alone the Seawolf.
Kilo vs. Kilo....with US electronics/sonar vs. Chinese electronics/sonar.
I know who wins that fight.
Honestly this would be pretty awesome if it did happen-The Kilos are rated to be extremely quiet-Ive read several newsreports saying that the US Navy in its exercises with the Indian navy had pleaded for its kilos(it can carry upto 18 torpedoes and/or missiles) to be fielded(India has around 10 of these)-but the Indians politely refused saying that they wouldnt want to offend their main arms supplier,Russia.If there are problems with the Kilo-it would be in its vintage electronics&detection system.
Imagine A Kilo class sub equipped with an adapted Lockheed Martin weapons control system,American sonar,Mk-48s&my favourite -the Russian Klub supersonic anti-ship/land attack cruise missile.This missile comes in different variants having ranges of between 220kms to 300 kms &their supersonic last stage gives them an advantage over the subsonic American harpoon missiles.
How old is the US Barbell design? Its been decades since the US Navy had a disel/electirc sub.
I am very suspicious of this. I doubt that the Russians are really serious about abrogating the Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Defense of 2001. There must be something underhanded about this.
Actually, Kilos would be attractive to Israel too - and they're quite capable of putting in their own electronics.
Yep, although one would hope that the Taiwanese Kilos would have some sort of change that alters their acoustic characteristics, otherwise nobody will be able to sure they aren't pulling the trigger on a friendly.
Hmmm...Sure would like to get some Tangoes to the Taiwanese...But if not Kilos are a good idea.
Won't the use of a US propulsion change the sound characteristics. I believe one of the major sound sources is the propeller and engine noise.
The Russians are making out big time. They are now selling to both sides!!!!!
Well said1
Actually the Kilo's major(& only steadfast) strength has been its quietness -that's why theyre still formidable despite being around for over 20years.Well the USN may be tops in nuclear sub technology-but diesel electric subs are a world apart.I really don't think it would be wise for the US to modify its propulsion systems-a better alternative would be German or French help in that regard(highly unlikely though!!!!!).But the US must modernise the Kilo's radar &Sonar systems with its own systems-for they are one weakness the Kilo has.
After Jimmy Carter allowed export of special precision machine tools, Russia can make propellors that are very quiet.
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