Re: Type 054 FFG status
Needless to say, I fear that even PLAN itself underestimates submarines.
The PLAN has the largest submarine fleet in East Asia, and the third in the world. It has 10 Songs, 12 Kilos, 2 Yuans, 2 Type 093s, 1 Type 094, and a handful of modernized Mings, which ALL are substantial vessels, and this does not include the Hans, older Mings, and Romeos.
To summarize, PLAN has a bloody powerful submarine fleet, even if half her boats are considered obsolete. 20+ of them can fire cruise missiles (Song with its YJ8X and Kilo with its Club). China also has a lot of modern torpedoes like YU-5 and imported Russian models.
Yet, perhaps China has placed too much confidence in her submarine fleet to deter other submarines. In time of war, eventually not always will submarines meet submarines, not all PLAN subs can be tied down for escorting surface flotillas, and PLAN will need all the subs it can get for offensive missions, not for escorting PLAN surface ships. This leaves the void of how PLAN surface ships may defend themselves from enemy subs.
Of course, all new combatants have torpedoes and VDS, as well as the helicopter. But most of the Jiangweis, Ludas and Jianghus do not carry torpedoes, which leaves them almost defenceless at close range.
China does not have the numbers of helicopters to ensuure that each vessel with a hangar can carry one, and PLAN aircraft capable of ASW patrols are rather limited, with only a few Y8X and a handful of aging Z8s/SH-5s. With so few aircraft, I doubt PLAN could even maintain 24hour coverage to defend its numerous bases let alone combat groups.
The YU-6 is simply aged to 1970s technology, and is highly inferior to the latest MK46 designs carried by US and Western platforms. Yes, SS-N-14 and Stallion are old, and so are ASROC. But PLAN needs something for its surface vessels to hit submarines at a good range.
While weapons are half the problem, sensors would be the other half. Not enough ships have VDS or modern sonars, and I'm skeptical on how well PLAN pilots are in performing ASW patrols or dipping sonars.
If USN can field up to a dozen SSNs against PLAN, (which in theory it can deploy in very short time from Pearl Harbour, Japan, Guam, and othe bases). These SSNs all can fire subharpoons, tomahawks, and the deadly long range MK48 torpedo. These SSNs are multirole platforms, and are difficult to hit and find, because they are quiet, fast, long range, and manned by some of the best submariners in the world. PLAN cannot depend on just her submarines to act as a shield against enemy subs. Eventually, PLAN's surface flotilla must find ways to defend itself from enemy subs without relying on friendly subs to do the job.
With concentrated spending, all Ludas and Jiangweis can carry YU-7 torpedoes, more Z-9s or Helixs can be bought, ensuring there are more than enough helicopters for all surface ships that can carry em, that friend-foe identification be improved to ensure that no friendly ships attack friendly subs or vice versa, and the CY1 ASW rocket programme be reinitiated, so that PLAN may have a ready to use ASW ranged weapon even if its obsolete.
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