FYATFHYRIO
2004-01-06 02:17:02 UTC
c. Subsurface Warfare
China's subsurface warfare capabilities are modest compared with Western
standards, but they are considered effective against most other East Asian
navies. The PLAN's equipment is less sophisticated, older, and noisier. Its
personnel are undereducated, the senior enlisted concept is new, and
training and exercises lack realism. China currently has access to a wide
variety of technology sources and actively engages in technology transfer to
further its antisubmarine warfare (ASW) programs. As China combines domestic
research and development with submarine-related technology acquired through
direct purchase and transfer from foreign countries, particularly Russia,
the PLAN's ASW capabilities are expected to improve over time.
The acquisition of four KILO attack submarines from Russia reportedly has
provided the PLAN with access to technology in quieting and sonar
development, as well as weapons systems. China can be expected to try to
incorporate some aspects of these technologies into its domestic submarine
construction programs, although it will take the navy many years before it
can use effectively the advanced technology now available. China's most
modern indigenously built diesel attack submarine is the SONG. It also
reportedly incorporates technologies acquired from Russia, as well as from
Western countries. The PLAN currently has five HAN nuclear attack submarines
(SSNs) in its inventory and one nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine
(SSBN)--the XIA. Beijing's next-generation nuclear submarine programs are
expected to reflect a significant amount of Russian influence. China is
believed to have good access to a wide variety of foreign sonars, to include
passive ranging sonars, flank array sonars, variable-depth sonars, as well
as helicopters equipped with dipping sonars.
The PLAN's mine stockpiles include vintage Russian moored-contact and bottom
influence mines, as well as an assortment of domestically built mines. China
currently produces the EM11 bottom-influence mine; the EM31 moored mine; the
EM32 moored influence mine; the EM52 rocket-propelled rising mine; and, the
EM-53 ship-laid bottom influence mine which is remotely controlled by a
shore station. China is believed to have available acoustically activated
remote control technology for its EM53. This technology probably could be
used with other Chinese ship-laid mines including the EM52. Application of
this technology could allow entire mines to be laid in advance of
hostilities in a dormant position and activated or deactivated when
required. China reportedly has completed development of a mobile mine and
may be producing improved variants of Russian bottom mines and
moored-influence mines. Over the next decade, China likely will attempt to
acquire advanced propelled-warhead mines, as well as submarine-launched
mobile bottom mines.
China's subsurface warfare capabilities are modest compared with Western
standards, but they are considered effective against most other East Asian
navies. The PLAN's equipment is less sophisticated, older, and noisier. Its
personnel are undereducated, the senior enlisted concept is new, and
training and exercises lack realism. China currently has access to a wide
variety of technology sources and actively engages in technology transfer to
further its antisubmarine warfare (ASW) programs. As China combines domestic
research and development with submarine-related technology acquired through
direct purchase and transfer from foreign countries, particularly Russia,
the PLAN's ASW capabilities are expected to improve over time.
The acquisition of four KILO attack submarines from Russia reportedly has
provided the PLAN with access to technology in quieting and sonar
development, as well as weapons systems. China can be expected to try to
incorporate some aspects of these technologies into its domestic submarine
construction programs, although it will take the navy many years before it
can use effectively the advanced technology now available. China's most
modern indigenously built diesel attack submarine is the SONG. It also
reportedly incorporates technologies acquired from Russia, as well as from
Western countries. The PLAN currently has five HAN nuclear attack submarines
(SSNs) in its inventory and one nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine
(SSBN)--the XIA. Beijing's next-generation nuclear submarine programs are
expected to reflect a significant amount of Russian influence. China is
believed to have good access to a wide variety of foreign sonars, to include
passive ranging sonars, flank array sonars, variable-depth sonars, as well
as helicopters equipped with dipping sonars.
The PLAN's mine stockpiles include vintage Russian moored-contact and bottom
influence mines, as well as an assortment of domestically built mines. China
currently produces the EM11 bottom-influence mine; the EM31 moored mine; the
EM32 moored influence mine; the EM52 rocket-propelled rising mine; and, the
EM-53 ship-laid bottom influence mine which is remotely controlled by a
shore station. China is believed to have available acoustically activated
remote control technology for its EM53. This technology probably could be
used with other Chinese ship-laid mines including the EM52. Application of
this technology could allow entire mines to be laid in advance of
hostilities in a dormant position and activated or deactivated when
required. China reportedly has completed development of a mobile mine and
may be producing improved variants of Russian bottom mines and
moored-influence mines. Over the next decade, China likely will attempt to
acquire advanced propelled-warhead mines, as well as submarine-launched
mobile bottom mines.