The Rising Sea Dragon in Asia (PLAN) - 2008 Update

The Rising Sea Dragon in Asia ^ | January 2, 2008 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

THE RISING SEA DRAGON IN ASIA - 2008 UPDATE By Jeff Head - Last Update: January 2, 2008 Throughout 2007 the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has concentrated on integrating its newest surface combatants into its various fleets, while introducing new combatants simultaneously. In particularly, the newer nuclear attack and ballistic missile submarines have been officially seen and photographed, punctuating the PLAN's continued advance and improvement of its nuclear submarine capability, while continuing to build and add new diesel electric submarines. It's new Landing Ship Dock and now new, associated LCAC craft are being integrated into the fleet. The PLAN thus continues its unprecedented modernization and buildup integrating its new guided missile destroyers, guided missile frigates, fast attack craft, very modern and quiet diesel/electric attack submarines, nuclear attack submarines, nuclear ballistic missile The new Type 051C, guided missiles destroyers have undergone sea trials and their pennant numbers have been added, 115 and 116 as they have joined the North Sea Fleet. The new Type 071 LPD has been conducting sea trials. This is a significant addition to the PLAN, representing the largest amphibious vessel in their inventory and a very modern and capable design of which more are sure to be built. The vessle displaces 20-25,000 tons and is capable of both air assault and amphibious assault as the new LCAC craft which have now started appearing, and which are shown in the following photographs attest. The PLAN has introduced a new LCAC design, clearly intended for their new Lanning Platform Dock. These are very similar in size and function to the US Navy's LCAC and appear capable of carrying at least one main battle tank or and assortment of other vehicles and troops. The LPD appears to be able to hold at least two, and perhaps three of these craft. The new Type 054A guided missiles frigates have been undergoing sea trials. With their vertical launch missiles and heavier displacement and other improvements, they represent extremely modern and capable frigates. The east and south sea fleets will probably both benefit from these vessels, particularly as more are added. The PLAN has offically recognized the existance of the new Type 093 nuclear attack submarine (SSN) and the Type 094 ballistic missile submarine (SSBN). The SSN appears to be roughly equivalent to a US Navy Los Angeles attack submarine in design and capability, and perhaps close to the advanced Los Angeles class. The SSBN carries 12 SLBMs, each with a range of several thousand kilometers. It cannot be over emphasized how critical these developments are in the relative sea power in the western Pacific, particularly as the PLAN builds more of these vessels. It is thought that at least two, and perhaps up to four new SSNs are already launched and through trials, while at least one, and perhaps two of the new SSBNs have been launched to date. In the mean time, steady work continues on the Varyag, the full-deck aircraft carrier undergoing refit at the Dalian naval shipyards. Outside of finish work on the island, the deck and hull seem to be complete with unknown progress on the interior spaces, particularly the propulsion. Significant anticipation as to the launch date of this vessel is building, with some conjecture that it may be launched just before or during the Olympics shecdeuled in Beijing. The PLAN, during this period, has shown a willingness and the capability to spend significant time and monies on training and integration exercises for its newly acquired vessels...all extremely critical in developing the expertise, policies, procedures, and doctrine for their growing modern navy.

Once again, by way of reference, it should be noted that in general numbers, over the last several years, the PLAN has built and launched over 80 new major surface combatants for its fleet. In that same time period, they have not decommissioned any major surface combatants, meaning they have added over 80 major surface combatant vessels to their inventory. In that same period, the US Navy has built 46 new major surface combatants. At the same time, the US Navy has decommissioned 49 major surface combatants, many of them with 10-15 years of service life remaining, meaning a net loss of three major surface combatants in this period.

Clearly the trend shows that the PLAN is rapidly closing the gap between itself and the US Navy, and particualrly when focusing on the Western Pacific, which is where the PLAN is concentrated, this is a trend worthy of watching and considering in future US Navy and other western nation's planning and acquisition schedules.

LINKS OF INTEREST

Jeff Head is an engineering consultant with many years experience in the power, defense, and computer industries. He currently works for the federal government helping maintain and protect regional infrastructure. He is a member of the U.S. Naval Institute, and is also the author of a self-published and best-selling series of military techno-thrillers called the Dragon's Fury that projects a fictional third world war arising out of current events. You can learn more about that series by clicking on the pictures of the novel covers below:

THE DRAGON'S FURY SERIES

Copyright © 2008 by Jeff Head

[griffin]

This is interesting to say the least!

I see the idea is to replace the Phalanx with the rolling airframe missile, at least in the short term. Sounds like it has a good amount of common components as the sidewinder.

That seems like alot and extreme thermal cycling unless the keep it cool DURING operation. High thermal cycle deltas wreck havoc via thermal corrosion and oxidation for even resistant metallic like Haynes 230 and Hastalloy materials....not to mention stress cracking. If your using ceramics and glasses that need to be brazed to metal housings the braze materials are an interesting issue.

I wonder what operational temps they are experiencing now. Thanks for the info. This will be a point of study for me...

[Jeff Head]

RAM is replacing and supplementing Phalanx throughout the fleet. RAM is a great CIWS.

I expect we will see solid state lasers on warships in the 20-teens. The newer reactors will make it possible and I expect they will dramatically improve defenses. But, there will also then be a technology race in counter-measures as well in terms of making the missiles and projectiles laser resistant (various types of coatings, etc.). That will lead to enventual more exotic directed energy weapons.

But, in the midst of it, I see systems like RAM and improved kinetic weapons (like Phalanx) also remaining in place. Enabling an incoming missle or round to evade all three types will be very difficult.

[griffin]

I don’t know what the time of engagement and retargeting is for the directed energy weapon, but the RAM is nice because it can engage multiples at one time. It also mounts on the existing phalanx mount (with slight mods?).

Sure is a great time to be in the hi-tech arms business.

[Paul Ross]

“For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst and provide for it.”
- Patrick Henry

Bump! Thanks for the blast from the past!

[Paul Ross]

I'm not saying we shouldn't keep our powder dry, but let's not get too Henny-Penny ("...the sky is falling...the sky is falling...") about this.

Who precisely is being Henny-Penny?

With remarks like that...it looks to me like your "powder" is already all-wet.

[sport]

Mark

[AmericanVictory]

Have they sent a note of thanks to Bill and Hill for letting them have so much assistance with this and to the Congress for refusing to look into it? They could tell them how Riady great it was to give them silent sub technology and other goodies.

[Jeff Head]

Here's another applicable quote...from a great naval hero in our own history...

"I wish to have no Connection with any Ship that does not Sail fast for I intend to go in harm's way." - John Paul Jones

[Jeff Head]

The dismantling and standing down of our navy began with Bush Sr. and extended through and accellerated during the Clinton years. It has not been as bad with W, but is still down to some of the lowest levels since before World War II in terms of numbers of ships.

Now those ships are VERY capable...but as the Chinese close the technology gap and produce large numbers, they become a credible threat to take seriously (and I am sure our planners in the Navy and DOD do...its the pols that worry me). And they are spending the money to train and develop their doctrine.

Not saying it is the equal of ours in the least...but in the concentrated spaces over in the Western Pacific which is all they have to worry about to begin with while we plow all seven seas...well, it punctuates the potential.

[AmericanVictory]

Well, those I work with have been fighting to stop this all along. We agree about Bush the senior, who undid Reagan’s good in many ways.Kinder and weaker was the message. Hard to win with that attitude. Fortunately Maggie was around.

[Paul Ross]

Fortunately Maggie was around.

Agreed, kept him from going entirely wobbly, anyways.

But now with her long out of power, its really sad what has happened to "Great" Britain's Royal Navy. Slashed from 44 to 22 ships...in the middile of an ongoing war!

[Bender2]

Check out: “China’s ability to sustain warfare”
at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1948606/posts