Chinese Naval Export: News, Views, Pics & Videos

@sahureka this is my reading as well, for reasons known to ID MOD they feel the need to build up forces quickly, hence the J-10B, 053H3, 039A etc. However i would logically expect them to put in orders for brand new fighters, corvettes and subs, that will inevitably take longer to fulfill, hence the second-hand stopgap. They might even return the second hand ships/planes in a buy-it-back kind of deal once the new ships/planes arrive, but this is just a theory.

mack8 said:

@sahureka this is my reading as well, for reasons known to ID MOD they feel the need to build up forces quickly, hence the J-10B, 053H3, 039A etc. However i would logically expect them to put in orders for brand new fighters, corvettes and subs, that will inevitably take longer to fulfill, hence the second-hand stopgap. They might even return the second hand ships/planes in a buy-it-back kind of deal once the new ships/planes arrive, but this is just a theory.

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Nah, knowing ID's MOD, this whole 2nd hand thing is due to horrible planning and is a big waste of money. Oh, and don't forget the corruption SOP.

They have previous experience buying ex-Dutch Van Speijk frigates as Ahmad Yani Class (which essentially was Dutch built Leander class - from the 1960s!). Then they replaced the steam turbine for diesel, as well as all the missiles. But AFAIK there's no update to the CMC, radar, or ASW systems. So they're reliant on whatever the Dutch last did with those sensors 40 years ago. And they're still operational!

So you can bet if the 053H3s are purchased, they're going to live the same old age as the old Van Speijks, basically the successor if you will.

lcloo said:

I think Indonesia's purchase of type 053H3 is a stop gap measure while their own domestic shipyards are trying to improve their production quality and quantity. Indonesia has the most capable shipyards among the ASEAN countries.

If they have major overhaul, these type 053H3 may last another 10 to 15 years.

IMO type 053H3 hull's sea keeping is quite good for its size, it impressed upon me much during the search for the missing MH370 in 2014, watching on TV how it cut through the waves steadily at high speed to the search area without bumping up and down.

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The last type 053H3 was commissioned in 2005, so "only" 20 years old ... I believe they will be overhauled before delivery to Indonesia. Also type 03H3 are not used regularly after the type 054/A widely used, so likely still have have many years life left. I think they will last ~20 years