Rising Sea Dragon in Asia (PLAN) 2014 Update

Introduction:
2013 was another very busy and very significant year for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), or simply the Navy of the People's Republic of China. Again it cannot emphasized enough how important the building program, the training activities, and the deployments that have all gone on in this last year are to the to the future of the PLAN and its ability to project power, defend and assert its influence, and, as a blue water fleet, to carry that influence across the seven seas. In fact, in 2014, more than at any other time in history, the PLAN has been doing just that.

The PLAN has sent task forces out in this last year on deployments around the south American continet into the Atlantic Ocean. Again and again on anti-pirating missions into the Gulf of Aden. Into the South China Sea in increasing numbers with large task forces centered on their new Amphibious assault vessels, their type 71 LPDs, and now for the first time in a joint task force consisting of their aircraft carrier and one of these LPDs. They have now ventured with surface action groups into the Mediterranean Sea and conducted operations in concert with the Russian Navy there. They have also conducted their own exercises in the Western Pacific Ocean in the last year beyond the second island chain, and in concert with the Russian Pacific fleet, conducted the largest joint naval exercises in Sea of Japan that the two nations have ever conducted together.

Those exercises, called Joint Sea 2013, were held between July 5th and July 12th, 2013. China contributed four destroyers, two frigates and a replinishment vessel to the exercises. Russia contributed a Slava class cruiser, four more destroyers, three frigates, two corvettes, a nuclear powered attack submarine, and a replensihement vessel. Shore based aircraft, numerous helicopters based on the ships at sea, special operations soldiers from the ships at sea, and other elements of both nation's military also took part in the exercises which simulated anti-submarine warfare, the take-over and recovery of vessels at sea, and close manuervering drills. Both nations considered the exercises a success and very worthwhile.

PLAN Carrier Exercises and Operations:
In 2014 the Chinese Navy continued to exercise and train the Liaoning, CV-16, in operations utilizing the carrier in various formations, and continuing to train its airwing personnel and qualify the J-15 aircraft in various flight characteristics, including more take-off and landing exercises, more armament variations, and progressively more difficult situations. To date no full night time operations have been documented, but they may still have occurred and just not been released to the public.

A fully marked up J-15 was first seen on deck, and it is clear that at least LRIP production of the J-15 is in progress if not full production, as numerous full painted and worked up J-15s have been seen in flight exercises ashore. It is expected that in 2014 more of these prodcution aircraft will be exercised on the Liaoning. It is expected that by the end of 2014, twenty-four of these J-15 aircraft will have been produced, and that six to twelve of those aircraft will be regularly operating off of the Liaoning deck by the end of the year.

In addition, during 2013, the Liaoning was sent into the South China Sea to exercise with a Task Force consisting of Yuzhao Class LPDs and escorts consisting of two Type 052C guided-missile destroyers and two Type 054A guided missile frigates. This exercise was highly photographed and documented, and then published by the PLAN. The Chinese public received it very well and with a great deal of pride. During those exercises, there was an incident when a US Ticonderoga class cruiser, in an effort to get close to the task force and record the event electornically and perhaps photgraphically, was intercepted by LST type vessles which manuevered close in to the US vessel and apparently hazarded the US vessle to the point that the US protested the action. In the end, there was no damage to any vessel although the protest was officially lodged.


PLAN continues Serial Production of Type 052D Gudied-missile Destroyer:
The new Type 052D Guided missile destrpoyer continued in serial production this year, as the back log of completed Typpe 052C destroyers were outfitted and worked up for commissioning. The first Type 052D destroyer, with what will apparently be pennant number 172 and named Kunming, was taken out for builder's sea trials during the early fall, and then returned to the shipyards for final otutfitting. The second unit appears almost ready for builder's trials and the thrid unit is outfitting. The fourth unbit appears almost ready to launch. it is now estimated that twelve of these destroyers will build. When added to the six Type 052C destroyers that werre built, this will give the PLAN a ttoal of eighteen of these very capanble AEGIS-like guided missile detroyers with what appear to be powerful APAR radars, vertical launch missile tubes (48 on the Charlie models and 64 on the Delta units.
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The Type 52D appears to be set up to carry multiple missile type in their VLS as well, supposedly including quad packed medium ranged surface to air missiles like the US Navy ESSM, and surface to surface missiles as well, though they have not been seen in operation yet. These vessels continue to be priduced at an impressive build rate, and are contributing to a continued shift in the balance of naval power in the western Pacfic.

Re: Rising Sea Dragoin in Asia (PLAN) 2104 Update

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PLAN continues Serial Production, but approaching end of Type 054A Guided-missile Frigate build:
The Type 054A guided-missile frigate has become the modern work-horse of the Chinese Navy. After commissioning the two Type 054 guided-missile frigates in 2005, which were the first truly modern and capable frigates the PLAN had produced, the PLAN improved them signifanctly in anti-air capability with a 32 cell VLS system, better CIWS, and a better anti-surface missile. They then began churning this improved version out in 2006 in two shipyards at Huangpu and Hudong.

Since that time, in the space of seven years, they have produced ninteen of these very capable frigates, which displace about 4,000 tons each, and have sent them throughout the western Pacific, into the Gulf of Aden on Anti-Piracy missions, and now into the Mediterranean Sea. 2014 has been a particularly banner year for their exercises and deploments in this regard. They are very modern, and very capable, and they are making the presence of the PLAN felt. What is widely believed to be the last vessel will be launched soon, and it is widely believed that an improved, Type 054B variant of the vessel will then follow.


PLAN kicks serial production of Type 056 Patrol vessel/Light Frigate into high gear:
In 2012 this author reported on the beginning of a new class of patrol craft/light frigate that the PLAN had started building. They were building them in four shipyards and had launched the first few vessels in the second half of 2012. In 2013 this continued with a vengence. By the end of 2013 and to this date, ninteen of these 1,450 ton vessels had been launched, and the 20th is about to be launched. Ten of them are already commissioned. The PLAN has shown no inclination of slowing up this production anytime soon.

These vessels are the Chinese version of a Littoral Combat Ship and they are very well armed for the task. No "mission modules" on these vessel. No 500-600 million dollar cost. They carry four very effective and daangerous long range missiles to attack other ships. They carry a very effective 8-round anti-air missile launcher very similar to the US Navy RAM launcher. They have a rapid fire, dual-purpose 76mm main gun, and have two 30mm autocannons. They also have a landing pad (but no hanger) for an ASW or SAR helicopter and carry two triple launch torpedo tubes. These would be very dangerous foes in the littoral waters, and the Chinese are building them very rapidly. As it stands, they would be more than a match in weaponry for the US Navy LCS vessels which cost 3-4 times as much and do not carry the anti-surface combatant weaponry to match them.

It is expected that the Chinese will build anywhere from 36-50 of these vessels over the nest three or more years.

Re: Rising Sea Dragoin in Asia (PLAN) 2104 Update

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PLAN continues to progress in its Nuclear and convetniona submarine building programs:
The Chinese shipyards continue to produce submarines of three varities. Nuclear attack submarines, nuclear ballistic missile submaries, and advanced air independent conventionally powered diesel/electric submarines. The Type 093 nuclear attack submarines seem to have either been completed either at four or six units and construction has now moved on to a new class, the type 095. It is expected that this newer submarine will finally begin to achieve the more quiet standards that the PLAN has established as requirements, hoping to achieve a quietness equivalent to the later units of the US Navy Los Angles class boats that have eluded them to this date. The Type 095 appears to be a larger displacement than the Type 093 and to have a propulsor duct over the prop.

The four Type 094 Jin Class ballistic missile submarines are now active with the fleet and are slated to begin ballistic missile patrols in 2014. They were in fact shown off for the first time in 2013 by the PLAN. Each of these vessels carry twelve JL-2 intercontinental ballistic missiles with a 8,000-12,000 kilometer range. But the PLAN is also moving forward in this regard with construction of the Type 096 Tang Class SSBN which will have 16 missile tubes.

In addition to these nuclear submarines, the PLAN continues to move agressively forward with its conventional submarine forces. More new Type 041, Yuan Class SSK conventional submarines have also been produced in 2013, bringing the total of this class up to at least twelve boats. Late in the year, a newer variant was also seen that may represent an altogether new class with additional stealth features. With the twelve Yauns and the new boat, the 13 Songs and twelve Kilos, the PLAN now has thirty eight very modern and capable covnetionally powered diesel electric submarines, at least thirteen or more of which are air-independent powered units which are extremely dangereous combatants in the littoral waters of the western Pacific.


PLAN adds more large Fleet AOR replensihment vessels:
The PLAN continues to build up its logiticical capabilities while it adds all of the surface and sub surface combatants. During 2013, two more large Type 093 and 903A Fuchi Class replenishment vessels were added. Pennant numbers 989 and 990 were launched and christened. There are now four of these newer class replensihment vessels in the Chinese fleet. Each displaces 23,000 tons. The PLAN also has one 37,000 ton Fusu class replenishment vessel and two 22,000 ton Fuqing class replensihment vessels in service.

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PRC Air Force continues to add significant new equipment across the board.:
While the PLAN continnues to progress across the board, which is the principle point of this site, it would be remiss not to at least mention the corresponding progress and achievements of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) at the same time. It too continues to make marked progress across the board. In 2013, the PLAAF made significant progress in numerous areas including all of the following (which touches on some of the highlights, but not all):


- First flight of a new J-10B prototype fighter/bomber which represents an improved indegenous J-10 aircraft.
- Continued production and induction into service of new build Xian H-6K bombers.
- The revelation of the new prototype Chengdu J-20 Stealth Fighter number "2011".
- First flight of the new medium lift Harbin Z-20 helicopter based on the US Black Hawk design.
- Full production of the new Harbin Z-19 scout helicopter.
- Introduction of the Shenyang J-16 Strike fighter based on an improved J-11BS and SU-30MKK design.
- Continued production and induction of the CAIC (Changhe Aircraft Company) Z-10 attack helciopter.
- The revelation of a new Xian Y-20 heavy lift transport.


Summary:
In 2013, the People's Republic of China continued to make steady and significant progress in their naval modernization and buildup. Their numbers of new, modern and qualitatively advanced vessels are growing very steadily. This growth and the quality of the vessels themselves has become a source of great pride for the people of China. It has also not gone unnoticed by the other nations in the region.

From Japan who is continuing to add new vessels (including quasi-aircraft carriers) and capabilities, to the Koreans who are adding more Se Jong destroyers, Dokdos and submarines, Australia who is doing the same, to the Philippines who would like to do the same but is cash strapped, to Vietnam who is adding new Kilo submarines of their own, to the United states with the Pacific Pivot. As a result, the Chinese build-up and expansion is producing a veritable naval arms race in the Western Pacific. Even outside of the Pacific, India is procucing it own new AEGIS-like destroyers, new advanced frigates, nuclear attack submarines, and aircraft carriers. On the aircraft carrier front, notably Indian launched its onw first indegenous carrier hull in 2013 and acquired its own refit Russian carrier, the old Kieve class Gorshkov which was modernized into a STOBAR carrier and refit into the Virkamaditya, launched and has now sailed to India and is working up its airwing of Mig-29K aircraft and their own Tejas light Attack Aircraft.

Over the next ten years this trend will not only continue...it will intensify as all of these trends produce more and more surface combatants, submarines, aircraft carriers and their airwings for these various nations to ensure the integrity of their interests and protect their sea lanes and pathways to the resources they require.

With more and more naval power being available to these nations, the potential for historical maritime tensions and flair ups, as we have witnessed to some extent in 2013 with the tensions over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands and the new Chinese ADIZ in the area, will continue to cretae a potential for friction between these nations as they develop their operations and policies, and put these assets to sea and exercises them.

As they do, we can only urgre the leaders and representatives of the respective nations to use caution, reason, and statesmanship to resolve their differences in the event issues or any crisis, and only resort to military measures as amatter of last resort.

Great job Jeff! As a carrier watcher I'd like to see faster progress on the operations aboard CV-16. To me they are spinning their wheels. I see little progress. Of course I'm not going out to sea with the ship.

..too bad we can't see inside those shipyards to see if an indigenous CV is being built.

Re: Rising Sea Dragoin in Asia (PLAN) 2104 Update

Jeff Head said:

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Great job Jeff!

Great summary Jeff !

Based on launch dates at shipyards the PLAN in 2014 should be able to commission:

8 x Type 056
3 x Type 054A
2 x Type 052C
1 x Type 052D

Now for 2014 i would like to see the production J-15 on the deck of the Liaoning, the J-10B inducted into the PLAAF and the first Type 052D commissioned into the PLAN.

Keep up the great work Jeff!

Great update as always, Jeff.

A small correction: the J-10B is not the first flight of a "prototype" but rather a production model -- namely, the J-10B itself is in mass production/ready to enter service.
Also, the SSN situation is still dubious, at this stage, some highly regarded PLAN sub base watchers maintain there are only the two original 093s that have been built. And of course no one knows what 095 may look like.


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Also, I should mention that I appreciate your very even handed and unbiased approach of assessing the PLA's modernization and military "controversies". (Of course, any reader of your posts over here on SDF would be able to see that is not isolated to only updates on your website)

Great job!, Jeff.

Was wondering if it's a good idea to put all your Rising Sea Dragon updates series in one thread. It would be great to read back the yearly updates to track the history/progress of PLAN. I know after some years, it would be a very good read.