Article on PLA's Modernization Growing Pains

An interesting article on China's defense modernization:


The essential points made by this article can be summarized as follows:

• China has fielded two new Type 94 ballistic missile submarines in the past year, bringing the total number for this class to three. However, the first of the three is reportedly back in dock for repairs - leaving only two operational at the present time.
  
• According to this article, the PLAN has been dissatisfied with the performance of the Type 94. Sea trials of the ballistic missile that was expected to arm the submarine - the JL-2 - were only partially successful, and the missile has not yet been approved for active service. This means that the Type 94 is currently an empty shell, useful only for field trials. The PLAN is also reported to be unhappy with how loud the Type 94 is, and how easily it can be tracked and intercepted.
  
• Also according to the article, production of the Z10 assault helicopter has been halted, due to suspended deliveries of the Canadian-produced engine. The Canadian manufacturer was reportedly misled regarding the eventual use of the engines supplied, and has halted further deliveries at the request of the US government.
  
• The article also claims that the development of the Z10 was aided by the Italian helicopter manufacturer Agusta/Westland. If true, this would signal a major breakdown in US efforts to maintain the European arms embargo against China.
  
• Finally, the article sites ongoing problems in China's development of an alternative to Russian-supplied AL-31F engines, to equip Chinese J-10 and J-11 fighters. According to this author, "The WS-10A has not been successful and is difficult to maintain."

I would have liked to have seen some additional sources cited by the article's author. The author's bio describes him as a "one of America's leading experts on cyber technology," and an ex-Defense Department contractor:


Taken in sum, I'd have to take many of the article's assertions with a grain of salt. I did find the claim that Italy's Agusta had been involved in troubleshooting the design of the Z10, however, most interesting.

The guy must be basing his assumptions from GE. None of the docks showed an 094 sitting there. The only sub in the dock was the Xia, and that image was on 2005., The Xia is getting a major refit. As a matter of fact, there are no 3 094s in service. That is one in service, two in the piers for refitting (as of May-September 2007, likely finished as of October 2007) and one that just came out of the factory (May 2007) and the last one should be in the drydock getting finished up.

JL-2 appears to have been tested since 2000. I don't really see technical problems but currently the 094s are not doing deterrent patrols. It is likely that the subs will only be loaded if the def con level goes up.

Nuclear subs are relatively noisy and even a 688 class can be detected. I don't think the 094 is in the same generational class as the latest pumpjet subs like the Vanguard class.

Z-10 is a civilian helicopter. WZ-10 is the attack helicopter. Don't mistake the two. PW is correct, they sold it for civilian purposes and that is how it was used. The PLA won't use imported engines if they know the supplies can be cut.

The WZ-10 does not look like something from Agusta.

WS-10A is already developed, and is in production. Production however is a bit slow. Maintenance does not appear to be the problem, production to quota is.

isn't there some concern with the perfromance with the WS-10A? the russian engine being superior. is WS-10A ready for single engine configuration?

It is already being tested on J-10s, while its previous version, the WS-10 without the A, had already been powering the first J-10 prototypes including the very first one. The original WS-10 was however outperformed by the AL-31FN in terms of thrust and spooling time.

Its good to see market competition because Salyut is trying hard to retain the J-10 market by offering even more powerful versions of the AL-31FN, which may outperform the WS-10A. In other words they are trying to do a repeat of what happened long ago. Competition is always good.