MY 2013 REPORT ON THE CHINESE NAVY (PLAN)
(Click on any image for a larger picture)
2012 was a huge year for the People's Republic Army Navy, the PLAN. It cannot be emphasized enoguh how important the activities that have gone on in this last year are to the future of the PLAN and its ability to project power, defend and assert its interests, and to, as a blue water fleet, get out beyond the 2nd island chain in the western Pacific and carry their influence to many other places on the seven seas.
PLAN Commissions & Begins carrier flight qualifications on its first aircraft carreir, CV-16, Lioaning:
After over a decade of anayliss, design, and then serious refit, and after launching their carrier late last year, the PLAN commissioned its first aircraft carrier, the which was the former Soviet Varyag purchased from the Ukraine, and then put it to sea and began carrier operations qualifications and training with their new fleet defense strike fighter, the J-15, Flying Shark. These are both very critical events and are, of course tied directly together. The Liaoning is a 65,000 ton conventionally powered aircraft carrier with an angled deck, an arrested landing system, and a ski-jump take-off assist bow to allow its large and capable aricraft of becoming airborne without the use of a catapault. The carrier can carry up to fifty aircraft and has two large, deck-edge elevators for transporting aircraft between its deck and its hangar. The is called STOBAR (Short Take off, Barrier Arrested Recovery) operationas and can be very effective given the right aircraft. The carrier is adequately defended from close in attack with its three Type 1030 CIWS, which are ten barrelled, 30 mm gatling guns that operate like the US 20mm Phalanx system to target incoming anti-ship missiles or aircraft. It also has four FL-3000N missiles systems, each carrying 18 missiles (72 missiles altogether) for anti-air defense. These systems look and act like the US Rolling Air-Frame Missile Systems (RAM) that are used to protect large US vessels, including US Aircraft carriers. This vessel, once it is fully operational with two squadrons of J-15 fighters and other aircraft, will be a significant game changer in the western Pacific. Outside of the United States, no other nation in the Western Pacific has such a powerful aircraft carrier. The Indians are now building three carriers to counter what is expected to be several more PLAN carriers over the next decade.
PLAN begins J-15 flight qualifications and Training:
The J-15 fighter is a supersonic, multi-role fighter similar to the US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet. It is based on the Rusian SU-33 naval aviation fighter, but has been significantly upgraded and is a new build by the Chinese. The Chinese aircraft has AESA radar, it has significantly more high strength, light-weight composit material in its air frame, it has a glass cockpit utilizing the latest Chinese electronics for its interface to the pilot, and the aircraft is capable of both air to air, and air to surface operations, Very manueverable with a very good thrust to weight ratio, the aircraft is capable of carrying ten anti-air missiles of varying types and ranges in the fleet defense role, but can also be armed for air to surface combat duties carrying a number of smart/guided munitions and missles as well as free-fall, unguided bombs. 24 such aircraft are expected to operate off of the carrier. Right now, the PLAN has built at least eight initial aircraft, and is believed to be in at least low operational production of the aircraft. It is expected that the PLAN will have all 24 aircraft available for this carrier by 2014-2015. It is also expected that production will continue because the Chinese have indicated that in the near future they will build at least two more large, indegenous carriers, if not more. The ability this will give the People's Republic of China to project power is significant and not to be underestimated. It is expected a two-seat version of this aircraft will be developed and that a Electronic Warfare version of the aircraft will be forthcoming.
PLAN reveals new enhanced Guided Missile Destroyer:
The PLAN continued serial production of its guided missiles destroyers in 2011. Since that time they have produced four more of these vessels bringing their total inventory to six. It appeared that a seventh and eigth were under construction, but when the first of these was launched, it was immediately apparent that the PLAN had produced a significantly enhanced version of the Type 052C on the same hull. The new destroyer appears to be in the same weight class range as the Type 052C of 7,000-7,200 tons, and is also powered by a CODOG system consisting of two Gas Turbines and two Deisel Engines. The gas turbines are the license built and improved QC-280 engines (from the DA80 Ukrainian gas tubines), and the diesels are Shaanxi diesel engines. The licence built gas turbins are produced entirely in China, with no exported parts. The new vessels are called the , and have the following new enhancements:
- A larger, more powerful Phased Array Radar system.
- A new VLS system with a forward 32 cell capacity and an aft 32 cell matrix, making for 64 total VLS cells as opposed to the 48 missiles carried by the Type 052C. The aft matrix replaces the eight cannister launched surface to surface missiles carried by the 052C.
- A standard VLS System that will allow for anti-air, anit-surface, anti-submarine, and other missile types to be commonly launched from the same VLS cells..
- A new 130mm main gun that appears capable of firing extended range munitions. This replaces the 100mm main gun on the Type 052C vessel.
- An aft FL-3000N close-in anti-air missile launcher with 18 cells. This replaces the aft Type 730 CIWS gun system, while retaining the forward Type 730 CIWS.
- A helicopter hanger for one medium sized ASW, SAR, or ASuW helicopter located in the center of the deck house just forward of the helo landing pad. The earlier hanger was off set on the port side.
At this point it is not known which anti-air missile the new DDG will carry, but it is safe to presume, with the more powerful PARs that the missile will also have increased range to take advantage of it. The second such vessel has also been launched and a thrid is in advanced stages of construction with components for a fpourth buld already having been identified in the shipyard. It is anticpated that the PLAN will build 8-12 of these vessels, bringing them to a total of 18 very modern and very capable AEGIS-like vessels. These vessels are ideally suited to be the primary air defense vessels for their high value assets like the carrier(s) and their large LPD amphibiuos assault ships. In conjunction with their new Type 054A FFGs, the PLAN will soon be capable of operating very significant Carrier Strike Groups that are very well defended.
PLAN continues Type 054A, Jiangkai II FFG production:
The PLAN completed its 15th and 16th at their HP and HD shipyards this year. It was expected that a lapse in building would occur and that the next batch build would be an improved version. However, late in the year it became apparent that the PLAN was building their 17th Type 054A, although it might in fact be an improved version. It is not far enough along to determine yet. Then, another, 18th was discovered building in January, so serial production continues. Now it is anticpated that both HD and HP shipyards will continue building more of these frigates. They are a very strong, balanced, mulit-funtion guided missile frigate. They have a 76mm main gun, a 32 cell VLS system for medium range anti-air warfare missiles, eight large surface to surface missile located in cannisters amidships, a helicopter landing pad and hangar space for one medium sixed ASW/SAR/ASuW helicopter like the Chinese Z-9C or impotrted KA-28 helicopter.
These vessels are very capable combatants and will continue be a significant addition to any PLAN CSG, ARG or SAG. The PLAN has been using these vessels extensively, usually sending a SAG consisting of two of them at a time with an AOR vessel in attendance, to the international anti-pirating mission off of Somalia.
PLAN Introduces and beings mass production of the new Type 056 Offshore Patrol/Littoral Combat Vessel:
The PLAN commissioned its first Type 056 OPV early in the year. Initially it was thought that the PLAN would build two of these and test them before tweeking them and improving them and then going into serial production. Instead, first at two, and then ultimately at eight different shipyards they began producing these vessels in serail/mass production. To date, 10 have already been launched and it is expected that the PLAN will now build at least 36 or more of these vessels to replace their numerous old, antiquated and aging smaller Jianghu and Type 037 class frigates.
These vessels displace over 1,300 tons, are almost 300 ft long, carry a 76mm main gun, four cannister launched surface to surface missiles, two auto-fire 30mm guns similar to the US Mk-38 Mod 2 Bushmaster 25mm system, an eight cell FN-3000L missile system on the aft deck house, and have a landing pad for a helicopter, but no hanger. They will be ideally suited for offshore, litoral patroling along China's very long coast line, where litoral waters, and warfare rasie significant concerns. These vessels appear to have a data link capability and will clearly work in conjunction with other OPVs, land or ship based ASW helos, and in concert with a potential "controlling" larger vessel (ie. a Type 054A frigate or one of China's many new Destroyers) in patrolling and combating any agreesors in the litoral regions.
PLAN introduces J-31 Strealth fighter, sutiable for carrier operations:
The Chinese unveiled a prototype aircraft, called the J-31 which surprised many analysts. This aircraft is the second 5th generation prototype revealed by the Chinese in the last two years. Last year their new J-20 aircraft was revealed and now three prototypes of that aircraft are flying. This aircraft is smaller than the J-20, but is still powered by two engines. It's overall design, outside of being a two engine aircraft, is somewhat similar to the US F-35 Joint Strike fighter. There appears at this point to be no STOVL version of the aircraft. It is clearly going to be a multi-role fighter, like the F-35, while the J-20 appears more suited and designed for the air dominance role, like the F-22. Analysts both in Asia and the United States believe this aricraft will utlimately be used by both the Chinese Air Force (PLAAF) and the Chinese Navy (PLAN).
For the complete report, including other developments (and a lot more pictures),
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