FAC fleet weakest in the PLAN?

I think 2208 count as a FAC? sinodefence has information of this new class of FAC
http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/littoral/2208.asp

Originally Posted by DPRKPTboat

I'm sure everyone's noticed htta while China is busy building a "Blue water" navy, it has let its fleet of Fast attack craft and Patrol boats weaken. Many of the boats are nearly 20 years old, and production of FACs has virtually ceased apart from the catamaran. Is this wise? Becaue it seems that the Chinese FAC fleet has fallen on bad times. in my opinion, while it should concentrate on a blue water navy, China should not neglect its FACs. Any other opinons?

But the need for those FACs has largely disappeared. They were designed for a completely different era, when China was worried about being attacked by Taiwan (and perhaps even the US). Why do you need FACs when the PLAAF's jets can project power over a far wider area? The fear of the kind of invasion/attack they were designed to protect against has gone. So really I would just scrap most of the current lot and replace them with something more 21st century.

What China needs is a modern patrol force more like a Coastguard than anything to stop an invasion fleet. Anti-piracy, anti-illegal fishing, things like that.

Originally Posted by FuManChu

But the need for those FACs has largely disappeared. They were designed for a completely different era, when China was worried about being attacked by Taiwan (and perhaps even the US). Why do you need FACs when the PLAAF's jets can project power over a far wider area? The fear of the kind of invasion/attack they were designed to protect against has gone. So really I would just scrap most of the current lot and replace them with something more 21st century.

What China needs is a modern patrol force more like a Coastguard than anything to stop an invasion fleet. Anti-piracy, anti-illegal fishing, things like that.

By "modern partol force" I assume you mean patrol boats. But as I have said, China is letting its littoral fleet go down the drain in alot of cases. Most of its patrol boats are antiquated. A littoral fleet may still be vital. I believe that if China does go to war over Taiwan, the U.S. may use Navy SEALS to sabotage its bases in the Taiwan straight. U.S. warships will be used to transfer these units, so an up-to-date fleet of patrol boats or FACs will be required to put a stop to any suspicous activity by the U.S. navy off the Chinese coast. Aircraft cannot be used for everything - they have their faults to. China may also need a littoral fleet for managing internla affairs like you said, such as drug smuggling, piracy, etc.

So:

1. Sell off or scrap the useless assets.
2. While building a new fleet of patrol vessels.
3. Plan for a modest number of FACs for intercepting any heavily-armed boats on criminal activities.

Western navies have also given up the need for FACs

Since China has the money and the technology, it should concentrate on building a blue water navy.

Originally Posted by sino52C

Western navies have also given up the need for FACs

Since China has the money and the technology, it should concentrate on building a blue water navy.

But I think China has actually been building up on its own coast guard formations. Recently we saw many photographs of new coast guard vessels, of both PLAN and PLA, and the logistical framework to support them (the FAC carriers, the new oilers, the repair ships).

As for blue water, I believe the opposite, that China should stick to a brown water doctrine. Why? Because in short to medium term China will not be able to compete with the American Navy or navies of regional powers far from her shores, so perforce to keep the sea routes open for China she must rely on other than brute force means, and more is spent on building up of a blue water navy will heighten tensions, cost much, probably be obsolete when built, and worst of all, probably won't even do the job even then. So the solution is to keep strong sea denial capability close to China, a very small experimental blue water division for to test doctrines and weapons, and just keep the head down.

There is still an international market for fast attack craft the chinese should atleast consider the viability of designing and exporting FAC. There are plenty of areas in the world where FAC capabilities will excel at eg Mallacca striats, Persian gulf, Straits of Aden, Mediterian etc. and also closer to home.

I am wondering the viability of adding stealth or RAC features. I believe there is a high end market for these crafts esp with radar signature is nil or resembles a small boat e.g similiar to fishing boats.