The rise in the number of submarines being operated in Indo-Pacific waters has naturally led to a corresponding need for platforms, particularly maritime multi-mission rotorcraft, to deal with them.
Since 2014, China has launched more submarines, warships, principal amphibious vessels and auxiliaries than the total number of ships currently serving in the navies of Germany, India, Spain, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom,” stated Nick Childs, senior fellow for Naval Forces and Maritime Security, International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), on 1 May 2018 in a blog entitled: “China’s naval shipbuilding: delivering on its ambition in a big way.”
According to a briefing held at the Asia Society in Hong Kong by David Shear, the former US assistant defence secretary for Asian and Pacific security affairs on 21 March, 2019, the South China Morning Post reported that “an estimated 228 full-sized submarines [were] operating in the East and South China Seas – a number that is expected to rise to 300 within a decade.”
While many nations are ensuring that they have a “me too” submarine capability, Henry Boyd, a research fellow for Defence and Military Analysis, also at the IISS, suggested in an October 2017 blog that the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) will “focus on improving quality rather than expanding quantity” and would retain a total number of submarines around 58. This total was likely to comprise: four nuclear powered ballistic submarines (SSBNs); six attack submarines (SSN/SSGN); and around 48 diesel-electric powered submarines (SSK). However, more recent reports suggest that there is an ambition to have double the number of SSBNs to allow two to be at sea at any one time (working on the recognized principle that a total of four are required to ensure one is constantly deployed).
Republic of Korea Navy
There has been a reaction throughout the Indo-Pacific region to the increased focus on submarines activity with a corresponding need to find, fix and if necessary attack them.
Denne historien er fra May 2019-utgaven av Asian Military Review.
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Denne historien er fra May 2019-utgaven av Asian Military Review.
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SMART MUNITIONS INCREASE MARKET SHARE
Top attack munitions are now widely developed for different artillery calibers with varied ranges.
NEXT GEN NVGS - A CLEAR IMPROVEMENT
Fused and enhanced night-vision technology will make the difference to soldiers fighting at night.
MILITARY ROTORCRAFT DEVELOPMENT - NO MORE ‘STOVEPIPES'
New rotorcraft are going to come with new abilities founded on open systems that provide easier upgrade paths and cheaper through life costs.
INDO PACIFIC UAV DIRECTORY 2021
The development of unmanned aerial vehicles is growing apace, especially in China. New longer range ISR platforms are also on the procurement list of several nations.
TIME TO RESET TRILATERAL RELATIONS
United States President Joe Biden has made it a top priority of his Administration to repair and re-energize global alliances during its first year in power. This is a necessary strategic and political calculus made in light of growing global security, public health, and environmental challenges that will require cooperation and multilateral contributions. President Trump’s ‘America first’ policy did much to undermine confidence in such relationships over his time in office.
SOCPAC KEEN TO SHARE JOINT DOCTRINE AND TRAINING
The return of Great Power competition means that US SOCPAC is more than ever seeking joint training opportunities with regional special forces.
MARINE ENGINE POWER - NOT JUST ABOUT KNOTS
Navies not only want more engine power, there are also coming under increasing pressure to become environmentally conscious.
AMPHIBIOUS FORCES
New amphibious concepts are re-shaping marine forces to break the A2AD defensive line.
SPACE V AIRBORNE ISR OR MIX AND MATCH
Owning satellite based ISR for military use is still an exclusive ‘club’, but airborne ISR still provides that most countries need.
SHIPBUILDING - A NUMBERS GAME
While experience grows among Indo-Pacific naval designers, order numbers remain crucial to keeping costs down and yards in business.
