Monday, June 29, 2009

Yet another massive "anti-terrorism" eh, I mean "anti-extremism" exercise.

More details emerged on the third Sino-Russia joint military exercise with 1300 troops from both sides participating. This is considerably less than the 2005 exercise where over 10,000 troops (8000 Chinese and 2000 Russian) including marines and paratroopers assaulted an “extremist” controlled runaway island off coastal China.

While the 2005 exercise showcased the latest development, it also exposed some of the underlying weaknesses of the PLA in areas such as rigid command structures, lack of experience in complex mechanized airborne drops, lack of initiative by junior officers to adapt and overall poor communication between service arms. The Russian military also showcased long range bombers such as Tu-22m and TU-95 hoping to land export orders from China, but no deals were made. Overall, it was an expensive dog-and-pony show that exposed weakness rather than strength.


The 2007 show demonstrated the first PLA deployment of the JH-7 and WZ-9 to Russia with a PLA battle- group of 1600 troops in a combined armed maneuver that tested long-distance mobility and logistic support. For many it was considered to be the first such demonstration of power projection outside of China. With a reduced OPOBJ; instead of an island, they assaulted an extremist controlled town, the PLA seemed to perform better than 2005. However, the PLA’s Type92—the mainstay of PLA’s wheeled APC—was shown to be underpowered in rough terrain, and joint operation planning with the Russians was not well coordinated. Members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization also took part in the 2007 show with a total of 6500 troops and 80 aircraft from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

It will be interesting to see what is in store for this year.


Russia, China To Hold Military Exercises July 22-26 - Report


MOSCOW (AFP)--Russia and China will hold joint military exercises next month, a top Russian military official said Monday, as the giant neighbors work towards tighter cooperation.

"The head of the Russian and Chinese military delegations agreed that 1,300 soldiers from each side would participate," said the deputy army chief Lieutenant General Sergei Antonov, adding 20 Russian war planes would take part.

The massive five-day exercises, dubbed Peace Mission 2009, are to focus on anti-terrorism and will take place on both countries' territories July 22-26, Antonov told the ITAR-TASS state news agency. The two countries are in their third round of talks to hammer out the details of the joint manoeuvres, he said.

Russia and China made a show of their strengthening ties last month when Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Moscow for a major bilateral summit. The friendly diplomacy is a marked change from the later decades of the Cold War era, when the Soviet Union and China clashed for supremacy in the Communist world.

In recent years, the countries have taken great strides to step up trade and put old rivalries behind them, ending a decades-long dispute over their 4,300- kilometer border just last year.

The two held joint exercises in 2005 and 2007 under the auspices of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional security group consisting of China, Russia and four Central Asian states.

Russia has also been the main supplier of arms to China since the two countries normalized relations in 1989 - the same year Washington imposed an arms ban on Beijing.







China to launch drill with Russia

english.chinamil.com.cn 2009-03-18

  BEIJING, March 17 -- China and Russia will launch a joint anti-terror drill in Northeast China this year, a defense official has said.

  "The defense ministries of the two countries are currently discussing details of the drill," Qian Lihua, director of the Ministry of Defense's foreign affairs office, said.

  The drill, the second between the two troops, is aimed at promoting bilateral strategic partnership, Qian said.

  It will also mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Russian diplomatic ties, he added.

  The first such drill was held in Vladivostok in Russia and East China's Shandong in August 2005.

  In 2007, the two countries joined a multinational anti-terror drill that also brought together Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

  Qian said China will hold more exercises with its neighbors this year, as it is keen on promoting high-level military exchanges. He, however, did not elaborate.

  China has strengthened military ties with its neighbors by participating in regional exercises, Qian said.

  Since 2002, the country has joined 17 military exercises and four ground training drills with its neighbors.

  The country has sent teams to observe military drills in India and Pakistan, as well as "Cobra Gold" drills between Thailand and the United States.

  China and Australia will strengthen cooperation in fighting terrorism, disaster relief and peacekeeping, Chen Bingde, chief of the general staff of the People's Liberation Army, said yesterday. He made the remarks during a meeting with Australian Chief of the Army Ken Gillespie.

  (Source: chinadaily.com.cn)

Sunday, June 28, 2009

North Medical 01.

North Medical 01.


This photo of North Sea Fleet’s latest medical ship(more like a boat), North Medical 01 illustrates perfectly which naval fleet PLA planners are putting their money into; by comparing North Medical Ship 01 to South Sea Fleet’s latest medical ship 866 Daishandao, the contrast could not be any sharper.

North Sea Fleet’s North Medical 01 is based on the proven Hainan class gunboat design with a displacement of 400 tons and top speed of 30 knots. It is fast, small, reliable, geared as an ambulance for rescues missions in the yellow Sea. For large scale shipborne emergency surgeries, North Sea Fleet has the training ship Shichang under its command with medical modules that can be loaded onboard on an ad hoc basis.

South Sea Fleet’s Daishandao medical ship, on the other hand, has 10,000 tons of displacement with more than 500 beds, eight surgery rooms and can accommodate 40 major surgeries a day.


You know what they say: size does matter.


North Medical 01.





Daishandao





Shichang with medical modules

Thursday, June 25, 2009

China to build world's largest amphibious aircraft

There is no reason to get excited; it is just a larger version of the old SH-5: a seaplane that has a production run of only 4 copies. I found it odd that AVIC calls the Dragon 600 project a "commercial production." Oh my!! Is that a large Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD) Sensor in your tail or are you just happy to see me?!




JL (Dragon) 600


SH-5



China to build world's largest amphibious aircraft
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-25 16:48

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2009-06/25/content_8323684.htm

The development and production of the Dragon 600, intended to be the world's largest amphibious aircraft, has received government approval, AVIC General Aircraft Company Ltd said Wednesday.


The Dragon 600, which would be as large as an Airbus 320, could be used for tasks such as emergency rescue, fighting forest fires and sea patrols, said Hu Haiyin, deputy general manager of the company.

Hu said that market research indicated a domestic market for 60 such craft in the next 15 years.

The research and design stage would last for four years, with commercial production to begin in at least five years, Hu said.

The company's facilities are southwest of the Zhuhai airport. The first construction phase is scheduled for completion in 2012 and the company plans to have 1,500 employees.



Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Red Flags and Smiles.

June 24th 2009 marks the first goodwill visit to China by a Vietnam’s People Navy (VPN) task force composed of two minesweepers. Led by the deputy chief of staff, the task force visited the HQ of PLAN’s South Sea Fleet at Zhanjiang after the completion of the 7th joint Sino-Vietnam South China Sea patrol.

Ironically, the joint patrol occurred during a recent fishery dispute when Vietnam issued strong protest against a Chinese imposed fish ban as reported by BBC (Here) Of course there are still issues to be addressed but it seems they are working on diplomacy as both step up patrols. The joint patrol allows the VPN to enforce the fish ban and while avoiding sensitive and possibly poisonous issues of sovereignty on disputed territories.

Speaking of which, the USS Impeccable and Victorious ignored such fishing ban while trolling for "large steel" fish.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7941425.stm
The tensions have been stoked by rival claims to parts of the South China Sea.

China has been enforcing an annual fishing moratorium since 1999 in order to conserve stocks, but this year's has been seen by many as extremely tough.

.........

There are increasingly open calls in Vietnam for the government to "stand our ground" in territorial matters.

But with the latest message, it seems Hanoi prefers to attempt a diplomatic resolution for the time being.











To recap, I posted the following back in March 16th.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Red Capitalists of the world UNITE!


http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2009/03/red-capitalists-of-world-unite.html

With all those excitement surrendering the recent "routine operations in international waters" according to Washington or "like a spy" according to Beijing, the recent warming of Sino-Vietnam relations seems to be overlooked. Both governments (and Republic of China as well) issued protests against Philippine’s recent Baseline Bill (Here). In their view, the bill upsets the 2002 ASEAN agreement on South China Sea Declaration on the Conduct.


Recent major Sino-Vietnam related events I am aware of:

They agreed to "properly handle South China Sea dispute" In January 2008 (Here)

Joint "survey of fishery resources and joint naval patrols" In June 2008 (Here)

Formed "a strategic cooperation pact between state-run China National Offshore Oil Corp and PetroVietnam" in Oct 2008 (Here)

Resolved of the 840miles of border dispute in Dec 2008 (Here)

To today’s shocker of (Here) "to advance the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership" by Pham Quang Nghi. Not sure I know what is that statement means in real life and I do understand one has to be careful when reading government’s PR release. However, they seems to be friends, a major far cry from 30 years ago.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

PLA Navy uses new generation of marine geo-information system

Interesting news from PLAdaily today, makes you wonder how many "civilian survey ships" PLAN used in order to build this new system.




PLA Navy uses new generation of marine geo-information system

english.chinamil.com.cn 2009-06-23

  The reporters saw at the China Nautical Book Publisher that with the input of relevant marine environmental data by the operator, a new generation of marine geo-information system can automatically generate a piece of digitalized multi-media nautical chart.

  With the bird's-eye-view charts, sea-lane traffic charts and seabed relief charts of various perspectives offered by the system in real time, the various postures of maritime battle field, military strength, sea routes and the attacking objectives will vividly come into view of the commanders. With such elements as depth of water, current speed and direction of current offered by the system, the missile and torpedo can directly aim at and implement precision attack on the targets, effectively improving ship survival capability and the attack accuracy of the ship-based weapons.

  It is said that since the system started operation, it has successfully supported such major missions as Chinese naval warships' global navigations, formation visits and escorting operations in the waters off the Somali coast and become an important part of the information-based technical support system of the PLA Navy.

  The new generation of the marine geo-information system is composed of 20 sub-systems including information collection and processing, digital nautical chart drawing up and production of digital nautical chart of international standard.

  The database of the system has collected various technical documents, standards, calculation materials, achievement drawings of the PLA Navy and the civilian departments in the process of oceanic investigation, measurement and oceanic drafting since the founding of the People's Republic of China and the domestic and foreign marine environmental materials over the years in such aspects as hydrology, meteorology, navigation, magnetism, gravity and satellite remote-sensing.

  The digital nautical charts offered by the system can display the real object images of various above-water and under-water dangerous elements in long voyage in real time and can guide the ships to safely evade the dangers with the help of the voice prompt.

  While assisting the ships to realize automatic navigation, positioning and operation in long voyage, the system can also assemble thousands of digital nautical charts within the scope of the whole world to offer an optimal interface and platform for human-machine interaction.

  By Cai Nianchi and Chai Yongzhong

  (Jun 23, PLA Daily) Editor: Chen Jie

Monday, June 22, 2009

Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl.

Few days ago I blogged the following about JH-7A "Growler" and generated some interest from some of you. Here is a follow up.


Wednesday, June 17, 2009

http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2009/06/jianjiji-hongzhaji-7a-fighter-bomber.html

Jianjiji Hongzhaji-7A (Fighter-Bomber aircraft 7A)- JH-7A “Growler”

There were a number of reports by Chinese sources suggesting that the JH-7A has been selected to perform an Electronic Attack (EA) role similar to Boeing’s EA-18G Growler which was confirmed by recent CCTV photos. The JH-7A is perfect for the Growler role: it has a twin-engine and a weapon systems officer (WSO) in an elevated rear tandem seat; a large external store load of 6500 kg; a long ferry range of 3650 km, and more importantly, a domestic airframe and electronics suite that can be modified at will.

The JH-7A, like other EA aircraft in service elsewhere, has highly classified capabilities and operations, but judging from different types of EA Pods known to be available, the JH-7A can adjust its mission to perform multiple EA roles. Having a dedicated growler in an escort role will surely enhance any PLAN maritime strike package. (Search your local Craigslist for this hot new escort service!)





"Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl."
Notice JH-7 number 81667 (original version, I was wrongly identified it as the newer JH-7A) carried two different types of pods under its wings and followed closely by a KD88 ASM armed JH-7 (81769). Clearly, those two riders are working as a team. "There's too much confusion" or "No reason to get excited"?


(click on the photo to see an enlarged version)













It is all my fault, now I just can't get this song off my head


All Along The Watchtower
"There must be some way out of here," said the joker to the thief,
"There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief.
Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth,
None of them along the line know what any of it is worth."
"No reason to get excited," the thief, he kindly spoke,
"There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke.
But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate,
So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late."
All along the watchtower, princes kept the view
While all the women came and went, barefoot servants, too.
Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl,
Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl.
Copyright ©1968; renewed 1996 Dwarf Music

Sunday, June 21, 2009

A follow up on an earlier blog entry

On May 10, 2009, I posted the following rant about Pakistan army's Al Zarrar MBT.


Sunday, May 10, 2009

http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2009/05/sad-end-of-type-59-in-pakistan.html
TV captures of a knock-out Al Zarrar MBT (updated Norinco Type 59) during the recent fighting in Pakistan’s Swat valley.

Apparently, Pakistan Army did not take the lessons learned by the US army in Iraq and Sri Lankan Army’s operation against Tarmil Tigers by protecting its AFV with an anti-RPG layer of metal-frame such as US Army’s Strykers’s "slat armor" implementation. Metal-frame provides some protections against HEAT projectiles as these would detonate away from the main body.

Since most of Pakistan army’s equipments have Chinese origins, it will be interesting to see how well they perform in combat.




Looks like they learned their lessons and added a metal-frame around their Chinese MBTs in addition to other "structure improvements" such as an overhead cover (I know, I hate fighting a war under the sun too, all those sweat really mess up my hair, ding, now I have to do my nails again)





Making PLAAF’s quartermaster happy.

Making PLAAF’s quartermaster happy. (A special thanks goes to Mike Little)


Making PLAAF’s quartermaster happy.

A recent photo release of a J-7G(2?) sporting a new WP14 (Kunlun) engine and pilots wearing Tk-14 helmets (with helmet mounted sighting units removed) is noteworthy; it might be signaling that the PLAAF’s journey down the path of equipment consolidation is nearing its goal, especially for its second line fighters such as of J-7 and J-8. All the later models of J-7 and J-8 having the same type of engine and Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (SRAAM) might seem logical, but is complicated by the PLAAF’s long history of dependence on foreign technologies and frequent geo-political shifts. This has resulted in islands of technologies from different origins, American, Soviet/Russian, British, French, Italian, and Israeli, just to name a few.

The WP14 ( Kunlun ) turbojet engine is a two-shaft turbojet engine with three compressor stages now powering both the J-7 and the twin-engine J-8. It was described as “the first jet engine to be designed and developed entirely in China ” during it was first public display at the 2002 China Airshow. The J-8D was the first Chinese fighter to be equipped with the WP14, since installed in all follow-up J-8 models such as the F and H. Now, the J-7G is being refitted with the WP14, which makes it the single engine for both types of aircraft, thus greatly reducing the quartermaster’s workload. The WP14 took 20 years to develop and while it is not state-of-the-art by any means, inside China the project is regarded as a major milestone for its domestic aircraft engine program.

The predominant PLAAF SRAAM is currently the PL-8 for fighters such as J-7, J-8 and J-10 (and FC-1). However, since the 1989 Paris Air Show, China ’s Luoyang Electro Optical Center has been marketing the capable PL-9C SRAAM with technologies imported from the Russian AA-11 Archer. This is equipped with an advanced seeker that offers a 60-degree off-bore-sight capability in addition to a helmet mounted sighting system that tracks pilot head position in order to target weapons. It has been a mystery why the PLAAF never adopted the PL-9C in large numbers but continues to improve existing stocks of PL-8s. Part of the reason might be that the PLAAF does not want to field three different types of SRAAM (PL-5, PL-8, PL-9). Also, most of the PLAAF radars are based on Israeli designs; for example, the J-7G’s KLJ-6E radar is based on Elta EL/M2001 radar. The PL-8 used with it is based on Israeli’s RAFAEL Armament Development Authority’s Python-3 missile, while there might be problems integrating the Russian-based PL-9 with an Israeli-based radar. This is not only an issue with the J-7, as later models of the J-8’s KLJ-1 radar are also based on Israeli Elta EL/M 2035 multi-mode pulse Doppler radar. Finally, in 2004 the PL-8B’s seeker was reported to have helmet mounted sighting capabilities and the recent photos confirm this development, which may also explain the PLAAF’s decision not to adopt the PL-9.

Having a smaller set of equipment to support reduces the PLAAF’s logistical complexity and allows greater flexibility in deployments.


Photo of a J-7G(2?) sporting a WP14 engine.



Recent photo release of pilots wearing Tk-14 helmets (with helmet mounted sighting units removed) and a close up of PL-8B SRAAM



Tk-14 helmet with helmet mounted sighting unit


Another PR photo of a Tk-14 wearing J-7G driver.





J-7G's KLJ-6E radar


A pair of J-7G from PLAAF's 37th Air Division (Xinjing)

WZ-9 with FCR

A WZ-9 spotted with a dome Fire Control Radar.

Since WZ-9 locks both amour protection and firepower of a modern attack helicopter, this likely to be a testbed serving as as component platform for the more advanced dedicated attack-helicopter project of WZ-10.





An update on Sino-US military relations.

Reading the two articles published today by FT and WSJ, reinforce my believe (faith?) that juxtaposition in South China Sea is a source of a concerned but in the grand scheme of geo-politic related to DPRK, Pakistan and Afghanistan, it is rather minor.


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124545705106832957.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

* ASIA NEWS
* JUNE 20, 2009

U.S. and China Work Together to Rebuild Afghanistan



By MICHAEL M. PHILLIPS in Momaki, Afghanistan, and SHAI OSTER in Beijing

The U.S. and China have formed an uneasy alliance in the effort to build stability in Afghanistan.

In a valley long known as a Taliban haven, American troops live alongside Chinese road workers. The troops put their lives on the line protecting the workers. The workers put their lives on the line building a road the U.S. military desperately wants completed.

"Asphalt is ammunition," says Lt. Col. Kimo Gallahue, commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 87th Infantry Regiment, quoting a phrase popular in the military. "Roads are one of the biggest needs in this province."
[US China Work Together to Rebuild Afghanistan] Michael M. Phillips/ The Wall Street Journal

U.S. soldiers like Lt. John Donovan, left, provide security for Chinese workers like Wang Shangkeui in Afghanistan.

The Chinese are in Afghanistan mostly to make deals. "This is business -- we can work in Afghanistan or any other country," says Wang Shangkuei, an engineer for China Railway Shisiju Group Corp., a state-owned company with a $50 million contract funded by Italian aid money to grade and pave 33 miles of two-lane road past Momaki village in Wardak province. But, he says, "if there's fighting, we can't do the work."

What's happening in Afghanistan is an extreme example of the way the U.S. and China must work with each other around the globe. China needs the U.S. to protect global trade routes vital to Beijing's export-oriented economy. The U.S. needs China's investment to boost unsteady, but strategically important, economies. Chinese companies were among some of the earliest to re-enter Iraq.

This month, the Afghan foreign minister visited China to generate interest in oil, gas and iron-ore concessions. He and his Chinese counterpart agreed to study ways to open up commercial traffic on their 47-mile shared border -- located in a remote mountain region and largely inaccessible -- such as building a road through the area.

China's biggest foray into its neighbor's economy so far is a $3 billion deal for two Chinese companies to develop the huge Aynak copper deposit in Logar province, south of Kabul.

As part of the deal, China Metallurgical Group and Jiangxi Copper Group agreed to build schools, clinics, markets, mosques and a power plant. The Chinese companies say they will also build a railway expected to link Afghanistan with China, via Pakistan, and open a rail route to the north from the mine. The Afghan government predicts the project will generate 6,000 jobs.

"It is very safe to conduct the project in Afghanistan because the Americans are guarding us," says Pan Qifang, board secretary of Jiangxi Copper.

The Afghan Ministry of Mines recently said it will seek bidders to explore for oil or gas in northern Afghanistan and to exploit an estimated 1.8 billion-ton iron-ore deposit in the Hajigak mountains, located west of Momaki along the road that is now under construction. The Chinese are expected to be among the bidders.

As of 2008, Chinese companies had 33 infrastructure projects valued at $480 million under way in Afghanistan, not including the big copper mine, according to Chinese Commerce Ministry data.

Eleven Chinese aid and commercial workers have been killed in the country since 2004, scaring off some Chinese companies, according to the Commerce Ministry. Chinese exports to Afghanistan measured $152 million in 2008, down 10.4% from a year earlier.

China Railway Shisiju started work in 2006 on the new road past Momaki.

As the Taliban-led rebellion intensified last year, militants had free run of the valley. In June 2008, they kidnapped a Chinese engineer, who was rescued by Afghan forces after nearly a month in captivity.

The Chinese stopped work for almost three months because of the security situation, built a little more, then stopped again for the winter.

In February, a company of Lt. Col. Gallahue's men -- the first wave of the coming troop surge -- entered the snowy valley and established a fragile peace.

Part of that mission means keeping the valley safe enough for road work to continue. "This road will provide easy access to Kabul," says Capt. Matthew Thom, 31 years old, from Beaverton, Ore. The paved surface will also make it harder for the insurgents to plant bombs, the soldiers hope.

A platoon of U.S. soldiers occupies a hilltop outpost overlooking the Chinese compound, whose walls were chipped by bullets during an insurgent attack last year. The soldiers can keep an eye on the Chinese company's quarry and offices.

"We work on the days when the security situation allows us to, and if it doesn't allow us to, we stop work," says Mr. Wang, the Chinese engineer. So far, the company has finished just 11 of the project's 33 miles.

He says American officers call periodically to urge the engineers to speed up.

"They've got their end-state, and we've got our end-state," Lt. Col. Gallahue says of the Chinese. "They may not be exactly the same, but they're not working against us. At least not yet."
—Kathy Chen, Davide Berretta and Sue Feng contributed to this article.

Write to Michael M. Phillips at michael.phillips@wsj.com and Shai Oster at shai.oster@wsj.com



http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/32398f08-5e46-11de-91ad-00144feabdc0.html


US and China set to resume military talks

By Kathrin Hille in Beijing and Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington

Published: June 21 2009 14:55 | Last updated: June 21 2009 14:55

The US expects its highest-level bilateral military meeting with China in 18 months to be dominated by discussions about containing North Korea.

China suspended the military sessions in protest over weapon sales to Taiwan approved by the Bush administration. The Obama administration has been eager to rebuild links, in part to find ways to prevent incidents at sea between vessels of the two navies, which have been frequent over the past few months.

Michele Flournoy, US undersecretary of defense for policy, will visit Beijing for two days of defence consultation talks with Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the People’s Liberation Army’s general staff, from Tuesday, in the first such session since December 2007.

“North Korea will factor in very strongly,” a senior US defence official told reporters. “The recent activities by North Korea of course occasioned a UN Security Council resolution. And the activities are of great concern to China. So I expect that we will be having extended discussions, on matters where we can find common interest and co-operate.”

Following North Korea’s recent aggressive posturing, China has taken a tougher stance towards its reclusive neighbour, reflected in its support for sanctions against Pyongyang.

However, it remains unclear to what extent Beijing is ready to take more radical measures such as forced inspections of North Korean ships suspected of carrying cargo related to weapons of mass destruction.

The US defence official said China was expected to operate within the guidelines of the UN Security Council resolution, and such ship inspections were covered by it. But Beijing has stated before that it believes the proliferation security initiative – the effort launched by the US that includes the ship searches - to be partly at odds with UN principles.

“We would hope that China would use whatever influence they have with North Korea to convince them to change their behaviour,” the official said. “We also continue to look to China to continue and expand their support for the UN Security Council resolution that we all agreed to.”

As Ms Flournoy prepares to address this issue, the Pentagon has sent a warship to shadow a North Korean vessel suspected of carrying illegal arms in an effort to shine the spotlight on countries that facilitate weapons proliferation.

The USS McCain is following the Kang Nam, a North Korean vessel suspected of carrying arms.

"The thinking is to shine the light on states 'flagging' the ship and states giving them port call permission," the official told the Financial Times.

Ms Flournoy is scheduled to travel to Tokyo and Seoul later in the week for consultations on North Korea.

The US continues to demand that the PLA be more transparent about its spending and its strategic goals. To enhance mutual understanding about this issue, Washington hopes to convince Beijing to send more senior PLA officers to the US for regular dialogue.

The two sides have had a military maritime consultative agreement since 1997 but US officials have complained that it has failed to help prevent incidents. “We would hope to reinvigorate those discussions,” the defence official said.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009

Friday, June 19, 2009

They Sure Don't Make Them Like They Used To

Thank you DOR for this heads up; tonight, the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Hong Kong kicks off the 60th Anniversary of moving here (from Chongqing, Nanjing and lastly Shanghai). Founded in 1943, the club has the distinction of being the only venue in which the leaders of the KMT and CCP (Chiang and Mao) were photographed together, in 1946.






In case you wonder, this is how their grandson/great grandsons turned out:
Chiang Demos , a noted womanizer, now designs covers for PS3 Games. Mao Xinyu is now a Major General with the PLA, in charge of a desk, become a standard internet joke.





I can imagine what family dinner table lectures must be like in both the Mao and Chiang families: Son, when I was your age, I was fighting those Japanese devils all by myself, with no help from those damn Yankees and Ruskis and that commie-bandit/nationalist traitor who pretended to be in the war with me, I might add. Look at your now, you, and your IPod and your fancy cars, aiyiyi, when I was leading the Long March/Northern Expedition, I was barefooted and walked uphill both ways, in the snow! You don't even know why your mother is so upset, kids now-a-day.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

War On Extremism, can’t have a foreign policy shift without it.

War On Extremism, can’t have a foreign policy shift without it.

It's official! The first Joint SAF (Singapore Armed Force) PLA counter-terrorism training exercise is code named “Cooperation 2009," marking a new level of Sino-Singoporean relations. The 9 day training exercise begins today in Guilin and lasts until June 26 (Here).

Singapore has strong military ties with the ROC (Republic of China). Since 1975, Singapore has been training troops in Taiwan under the code name of “Operation Starlight.” During its peak in the 1980s 15000 troops were trained annually. Singapore also maintains a strong military relationship with the US and allows availability of the Paya Lebar airbase and Sembawang Wharves. Singapore also plays a support role in the ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Coincidentally, the government of Singapore is also a strong supporter of the PRC's (People’s Republic of China) “One China Policy” and actively promotes cross-strait diplomacy championed by “Minister Mentor” Lee Yuan Yew, which puts Singapore in an awkward position. When the PRC offered Hainan Island in 2001 as an alternative training site, Singapore turned it down and refused to make public comment, fearing it may complicate its delicate position. Singapore then turned down joint military exercises requested by the ROC (Here)

Until recently, Singapore continued this balancing act of keeping harmonious relations with the ROC and the US while strengthening it’s economic ties with the PRC. During Prime Minister Wen's November 2008 visit to Singapore, the construction of a second industrial park (an eco-city) in Tianjin was agreed upon. It will be modeled after the successful Suzhou Industrial Park. For a small island state of Singapore, having access to large industrial real estate is critical for future growth.

In 2004, Singapore’s stance on the “One China Policy” was questioned in public by the then ROC pro-independent president Lee Teng-hui after Singapore’s failure to support its UN bid. For many, this diplomatic spat was seen as a departure between Singapore and the ROC: a trend that has been developing for sometime as Singapore seeks to expend its economic and cultural ties with the PRC. “Operation Starlight” is slowly being scaled down and is now under low profile. Singaporean troops in ROC wear ROC Army uniforms and are permitted limited leave to prevent local interaction. The bulk of Singapore's military training is now being conducted in Australia’s Shoalwater Bay. In January 2008, Singapore signed the first Sino-Singapore defense pact to formalize existing armed forces exchanges while pledging to work together on humanitarian assistance (Here)

Two recent events have greatly reduced the difficulty of Singapore’s balancing act. First, the US focus on “fighting extremism” coupled with the current economic downturn brings the Sino-US relationship to its closest in recent memory (minor juxtaposition in South China Sea not withstanding). Second, the election of Ma Ying Jeou to the presidency of ROC brings back the traditional Chinese concept of “Make Money, Not War” resulting in an easing of cross-strait tension. These two events give Singapore an opportunity to enhance security cooperation with the PRC without upsetting the ROC. Surely, no one would object to nations banding together to fight extremism, right?


SAF, PLA in joint exercise
FOR the first time, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has teamed up with China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) to conduct a joint counter-terrorism (CT) training exercise.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_392196.html

The nine-day exercise, which is held in Guilin, China, starts on Thursday and ends on June 26.

Codenamed COOPERATION 2009, the joint CT training exercise will involve 60 participating troops each from the SAF and the PLA. It will focus on the conduct of security operations for major events and consequence management concepts related to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Explosive (CBRE) threats.

The SAF's participating troops are from the 2nd People's Defence Force and the SAF CBRE Defence Group. They will exercise with personnel from the PLA Emergency Response Office and Guangzhou Military Region.

Said the Ministry of Defence: 'COOPERATION 2009 marks the first bilateral training exercise between the SAF and the PLA, and underscores the progress made in the defence relationship between Singapore and China following the signing of the bilateral Agreement on Defence Exchanges and Security Cooperation in January 2008.

'COOPERATION 2009 also serves to enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between the SAF and the PLA, which interact regularly through exchanges of visits, courses, seminars and port calls.'




China, Singapore hold joint anti-terror training exercises

english.chinamil.com.cn 2009-06-19

  BEIJING, June 18 (Xinhua) -- China and Singapore are conducting a joint anti-terrorism training exercise in Guilin in the southwest Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, military sources said Thursday.

  The drill, "Cooperation-2009", involves 61 soldiers and officers of the People's Liberation Army and 61 of their Singapore counterparts, Huang Xueping, spokesman with the Ministry of National Defense, told Xinhua.

  The exercise started Thursday and will conclude June 26.

  The exercise will conduct simulations of an attempt by international terrorists to attack an expo using radioactive contaminants, biological and chemical weapons.

  The task forces will conduct joint training and seminars to improve their ability to detect and handle those threats, the spokesman said.

  The joint training exercises were arranged by defense authorities of the two countries, and they represent the PLA's first joint operation with foreign forces in security maintenance, Huang said.

  The exercise would improve the forces' ability to deal with multiple security threats and help maintain peace and stability in the Asian-Pacific region, he said.

  China's military took part in security operations during the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games last summer. The PLA deployed some 179,000 personnel from its army, navy and air force around and near the capital.


Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Jianjiji Hongzhaji-7A (Fighter-Bomber aircraft 7A)- JH-7A “Growler”

There were a number of reports by Chinese sources suggesting that the JH-7A has been selected to perform an Electronic Attack (EA) role similar to Boeing’s EA-18G Growler which was confirmed by recent CCTV photos. The JH-7A is perfect for the Growler role: it has a twin-engine and a weapon systems officer (WSO) in an elevated rear tandem seat; a large external store load of 6500 kg; a long ferry range of 3650 km, and more importantly, a domestic airframe and electronics suite that can be modified at will.

The JH-7A, like other EA aircraft in service elsewhere, has highly classified capabilities and operations, but judging from different types of EA Pods known to be available, the JH-7A can adjust its mission to perform multiple EA roles. Having a dedicated growler in an escort role will surely enhance any PLAN maritime strike package. (Search your local Craigslist for this hot new escort service!)


Photo of a JH-7A from PLA Naval Air Force 16th Fighter-Bomber Regiment, 6th Naval Air Division (Shanghai) with a pair of EA pods.





Other JH-7A EA photos and CCTV captures.




China on this year’s Paris air show.

China traditionally shies away from international spot light in major international military related events such as the Paris Air Show and prefers to deal her customers on a one-on-one basis and this year is no exception. On this world’s largest and most important air show, China only sends display models of L-15 and FT-2000 trainer , FC-1 fighter, in addition to four types of munitions (LS-6 GPS guided bomb, SD-10A MRAAM, PL9C and PL5EII AAMs)

For a country that conducted over 650 billion in currency swap deals (here) since the current economic downturn, put out a huge naval display in Qingdao, and ranked 5th in arms export, and for “some reason” China is still “passive” in world’s military affair with Pakistan, Russia and Turkey as the only known joint-R&D partners in military technologies. (EU’s arms embargo not withstanding)


The only big news release of the current show is that Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation has been invited to became a supplier to China’s civilian aerospace program (here) , again, that is not possible only 2 years ago.

All quiet and nothing to see, for those who are interested in PLA affairs, Zhuhai 2008 was a much better show in all aspect.







Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Latest hearings from USCC

If you're having a tough time sleeping, (I am kidding) here is the latest hearding from US Congress's US-China Economic and Security Review Commission on "The Implications of China’s Naval Modernization for the United States" and of course the usual suspects from CNA, US Naval War College and International Assessment and Strategy Center are there.

Professor Peter Dutton's paper on Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and China's 'unique' view offers a timely backgrounder for those who follow recent events in the South China sea; another month, another USN-PLAN collision (TM). He also took time to define what he mean by 'unique' and its relations to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).


http://www.uscc.gov/hearings/2009hearings/hr09_06_11.php



Hearing on “The Implications of China’s Naval Modernization for the United States”

Thursday, June 11, 2009
Room 562 Dirksen Senate Office Building
First Street and Constitution Avenues, NE
Washington, DC 20510

Hearing Agenda: (PDF)

PARTICIPANTS’ BIOS and TESTIMONIES: (Click on a name to read Participants Bio's in an HTML page. View a Testimony in HTML or PDF view by clicking the associated link with each individual. Some Participants may not have a Bio or Written Testimony. )


Hearing Co-Chairs: Vice Chairman Larry Wortzel and Commissioner Peter Videnieks

Commissioners’ Opening Statements

  • Opening Statement of Vice Chairman Larry Wortzel (HTML)(PDF)
  • Opening Statement of Commissioner Peter Videnieks (HTML)(PDF)

Panel I: Congressional Perspectives

Panel II: Strategic Impact of PLA Naval Modernization

Panel III: Operational Activities of the PLA Navy

Panel IV: Technical Developments of the PLA Navy

Panel V: Views from Former Secretaries of the Navy

Air force of Guangzhou MAC organizes open sea exercise

The following two PLA daily articles reinforce what we already know; PLA is training to extend its line-of-control in the South China Sea in time of war by both air and sea elements. In addition to having the C3I capability to mange a 100 aircraft maritime strike/patrol package, they also moved the CP to a naval ship and build up logistic support in dual-course, while those attempts are not impressive by NATO standard, but it is their first acknowledgment in open sources related to this new found capability.

The bottom line; it has been a long time planning for the PLA to have a multiple-layers of defense parameters manned by aircraft, submarine, and surfaces warships around the South Sea Fleet to protect it’s transport fleet in case they have to deal with "internal problems of a run-away province". Such planning is based on the hard lesson learned from the 1996 Dongshan "missile test"; they had to swallow their pride, when US deployed two aircraft carriers to the Taiwan Strait to stop the "missile provocation" and PLA was powerless mount a response. After 13 years of patient build up, can today’s PLA stop a US carrier task force near China’s Taiwan Strait? Let’s hope we will never find out.

Another item to note, PLA did not utilize their AWAC to perform command functions in this exercise. PLA’s AWAC fleet was used to coordinate hundreds of helicopters and civilian and military transports during the Sichuan Earthquake; clearly it has the capability to direct a 100 aircraft fleet, hopefully we can see them in action during the next exercise to form a more complete assessment.


Photo from PLAdaily of a South Sea Fleet task force taken during a 17 days exercise in June.



Air force of Guangzhou MAC organizes open sea exercise

english.chinamil.com.cn 2009-06-15

  Recently, the attack and defense confrontation and open sea combat actual-troop exercise of the air force of the Guangzhou Military Area Command (MAC) in complicated electromagnetic environment was staged. More than 100 different types of warplanes took off from several airports at the same time and flew to the designated targets on ground and the depth of the open sea to carry out open sea patrol and systematic attack and defense exercise.

  In the exercise, the air force of the Guangzhou MAC integrated the existing information-based command means and collaborative training platform and established a mobile commanding team on board of the warship. Through the information-based platform, the commanders can learn such information as the location, height and speed of each warplane and issue orders to any warplane, adjusting military strength in an easy way.

  The exercise showed that such training subjects as combat patrol and systematic confrontation in open sea and maneuver tactics airdrop of the aviation troops can be carried out in a multiple of air spaces and at different directions at the same time by relying on the information-based command platform.

  By Li Guowen and Zeng Baoyu

  (Jun 15, PLA Daily) Editor: Chen Jie





PLA Navy develops warship remote maintenance support system

english.chinamil.com.cn 2009-06-15

  Since the operation of the "technical support system for the remote maintenance of warship equipment" developed by the Armament Department of the PLA Navy, it has accomplished the equipment support tasks for a multiple of major maritime exercises and warship visits and become an important part of the information-based technical support system of the equipment of the PLA Navy.

  How to realize rapid rush repair of the warships in long-distance navigation? To tackle this problem, a research institute of the Armament Department of the PLA Navy has finally built a military-civilian integrated technical support system and information network for remote maintenance covering naval warships, warship equipment support organs and support agencies at all levels, relevant higher learning institutions, research institutes and local industrial departments by relying on the naval and national defense communication network, offering a reliable information-based cooperation platform for realizing the precision support for warship maintenance in open sea.

  The system integrating a multiple of technical resources scattered in naval and local industrial departments in the network platform enables rear technical experts to directly offer technical support to the front. Therefore, it has tackled the space-and-time restriction of site rush maintenance, ensured warship navigation at the time of overcoming malfunctions, resulting in improvement of maintenance and support efficiency, reduction of maintenance and support expenses and increase of the warship availability and battle effectiveness.

  By Jiang Yi and Chai Yongzhong

  (Jun 15, PLA Daily) Editor: Chen Jie










Monday, June 15, 2009

Million-man swim! well, more like 100.

"million-man swim"............ is now funnier than ever, who says Chinese militaries lack sense of humor.

China, Taiwan approve swim through military zone
Mon Jun 15, 2009 2:31pm IST

http://in.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idINTRE55E1JB20090615?sp=true


TAIPEI (Reuters) - Authorities in China and Taiwan, political rivals once on the brink of war, have agreed to remove underwater military barricades and let 100 people swim from one side to the other, Taiwan officials said on Monday.

The 8.5-km (5.2-mile) swim, billed as the latest symbol of peace between the two sides as well as their first military agreement, is set for August 15 between the southeast Chinese city of Xiamen and Little Kinmen, an outlying Taiwan-controlled island.

"The bigger meaning is that this is a competition for peace," Kinmen County Magistrate Lee Zhu-feng told a news conference. "We want peace, not war."

Military officials have agreed to remove anti-ship landing barricades, which stand as testament to a skirmish between the two sides five decades ago, county officials said.

Protected by coast guard boats from both sides, about 100 professional swimmers, 50 from each side, will go one way from Xiamen through the warm but choppy waters.

Next year another 100 swimmers, 50 from each side, plan to do the route in reverse in what could become an long-term annual event, organizers said.

In 1958, China bombed the islands of Kinmen, also known as Quemoy, for weeks as it tried to seize them. Kinmen has strategic and military value and remains heavily guarded. The main island of Taiwan is about 160 km (100 miles) from China.

The barricades are spikes mounted at an angle on cement bases and designed to spear warships headed toward shore.

China has claimed Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong's Communists won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists (KMT) fled to Taiwan. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule, by force if necessary.

Since Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou took office in May, the China-friendly leader has eased tension with Beijing through trade and transit deals, although military distrust lingers.

(Reporting by Ralph Jennings; Editing by Ken Wills and Sugita Katyal)

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Global Times Strikes Back

The article "China revives production of JH-7 strike aircraft "http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=181808 " is making around in the normal internet channels and has been rebutted and discredited as most of the claims are either incorrect or outdated. The news here is not the article, but rather Global Times' response.

Here are some examples:questionable claims stated by the article.

Meanwhile, in another development, Russia and China have clinched a deal to
have more Su-27SK fighters assembled at a Chinese aviation plant for China's
Air Force.

The $ 1.4 billion deal involves a contract for the fighters to be assembled
at the Shenyang Aircraft Making Factory in Shenyang, Liaoning province.The
contract was signed by Chinese defence officials and managers of Russia's
chief arms exporter, Rosvoorouzhenie.


The following up Su-27SK deal was canceled in 2006 only after a short 96 production run by Shengyang Aircraft company in favorite of the domestic J-11B program.


The official said that it was likely that China would want to put new engines on the JH-7 in the 2004-2006 time frame, but that these dates were not fixed.


China has received the last batch of Rolls-Royce Sprey MK202 turbofan engines between 2004 and 2004 and installed them to the improved JH-7A program.


In another development, a group of Chinese officials visited Moscow in August 2000 to negotiate the purchase of Russian-built A-50 early warning aircraft. The visit came in the wake of the failure of a similar deal between Beijing and Israel for Phalcon early warning aircraft.


Up to 4 KJ-2000 AWACS already in service since 2003.



The article is too lame to be commented here initially; but to my surprise, Global Times fires back a rebuttal. Global Time, is a newspaper operated under People's Daily which launched back in April 2009 as China's attempt to win greater influence abroad thought media.

At any rate, the rebuttal is news by itself as Chinese media normally shy away from direct response against specific articles and stay in the "He says, She says mode". They picked on a low hanging fruit this time, let's see if they will became more aggressive over time. As a side note, they published two front page articles related to Tiananmen on June 4th 2009. (Here) (Here)




Chief Designer: China able to fix Flying Leopard's turbofan alone
http://www.globaltimes.cn/www/english/military/china/2009-06/436643.html
* Source: Global Times
* [14:09 June 12 2009]


Flying Leopard. Photo: chinamil.com.cn

By Liu Chang

Reports on China's intention to cooperate with aircraft engine makers in the UK and France to improve the performance of the turbofan of PLA fighter bomber JH-7, are denied by the chief designer of the aircraft, Chen Yijian, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering. According to Chen, China has also already fixed problems with the JH-7 turbofan, Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao reported.

Also known as the Flying Leopard, JH-7 initially used the WS-9 Qinling turbofan, which were from turbofans produced by the Rolls-Royce Spey company in the UK. But after years of research, China has fixed problems with the turbofans of Flying Leopard on its own, according to Chen.

Chen went on to say that China's research on turbofans is still lagging behind compared with some other countries, especially the turbofans of large aircrafts. China has been calling for more research talents to help solve this problem. He said the third generation of China's fighter bombers, including the J-8 series, J-10 series and the Flying Leopard, have taken shape of a combatant power, and will appear in the Military Parade to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the nation.

According to Ta Kung Pao, China began research on the WS-15 Qinling-2 Turbofan in 1998. The Qinling-2 Turbofan is an improvement on the WS-9 turbofan, with increased pre-heating temperatures on the turbines and reduced weight for greater efficiency. Tests on the Qinling-2 Turbofan in October 2008 were successful. It is now technically competitive to the late M53-P2 engine from France.


Friday, June 12, 2009

Will China play a more "direct" role in both the Pakistan and Afghanistan conflicts?


During the past two days, both Afghanistan (Here) and Pakistan (Here) are sending envoys to China to ask for China’s "direct" help in their fight against militant. The previous attempts to draw China into the conflicts by both NATO (Here) (Here) and US (Here) met with little success as China preferred to stay in the background and aid only in forms of financial and hardware support.

China’s previous rejection to joining the military coalition is understandable as others have noted; while China does not view NATO/US missions in Afghanistan with suspicion compare to other SOC state but allowing a military alliance to use China as a military supply route seem to undermine the Chinese Security-Umbrella that took 60 years and four wars to build. In addition, such an act violates China’s core foreign policy doctrine of noninterference in others internal affairs.

At the same time, the core Chinese military doctrine is changing with the release of the new “Outline of Military Training and Evaluation” which for the first time placed focus of Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW) role for the PLA outside of China’s boarders and Anti-terror operation is considered part of the MOOTW. China is hosting the first “Non-traditional Security Forum of Armed Forces of ASEAN, China, Japan and ROK (Here), something unthinkable just few years ago. Maybe China is ready to move out of the “hide my capabilities and bide my time” phase to the “make some contributions” phase to be inline of what Hu coined the “harmonious world” (a.k.a, making the world safe for Confucianism) in his “Go Abroad” policy shift. (Here)

It is also noted that both the Pakistan and Afghanistan’s request is coordinated and without "US/NATO involvement" which makes the request a bit more politically acceptable in China and the statement by Rehman Malik "Pakistan has handed Chinese nationals accused of insurgent activity back to China and will continue to do so" is clearly aimed at audiences in China. Judging from China's Foreign Ministry Press Release (Here), China might be ready to take a more direct role.
China is ready to further expand and deepen our cooperation in various fields on the basis of mutual benefit so as to push forward our comprehensive partnership of cooperation"
Wait and see how "direct" is "direct".



PLA sets to boost support capability for MOOTW

english.chinamil.com.cn 2008-11-14

   When addressing the closing ceremony of the PLA intensive training of logistic support for military operations other than war (MOOTW), Liao Xilong, member of the Central Military Commission and director of the General Logistics Department of the PLA, noted that it is a must to bank on the national strength, base on the nuclear capability of the troops, integrate the three services, combine the army with the people, and make rational use of the support forces and resources for the purpose of offering vigorous logistic support to military operations other than war.

  Liao Xilong pointed out that it is required to sum up the experiences of performing logistic support tasks for military operations other than war in these years and on that basis, come up with practical and useful measures in the aspects of support scheme, logistic force, material reserve, logistic equipment and logistic training. It is also imperative to have a good command of the logistic support demands for executing the main patterns of military operations other than war such as anti-terrorism, maintaining social stability, disaster rescue and relief, emergency public health events, closing and control of the border, safeguarding the maritime rights, ensuring the security of maritime strategic channels and carrying out oversea military operations with the aim to enhance the pertinence and effectiveness of the work.

  Liao Xilong went on to stress that efforts should be made to keep firm hold of the main tasks of enhancing the capability of offering logistic support for military operations other than war, improve the logistic support planning system, have in store a moderate preservation of rescue material, build a contingent of professional rescue staff, develop rescue technologies and support equipment, improve the delivery system and enhance the auxiliary facilities for engineering security.

  By Zhao Jianwei and Fan Juwei

  (Nov 14, PLA Daily) Editor: Dong Zhaohui





Here is a follow up on Malik's visit


Pak to import anti-terror equipment from China
12 Jun 2009, 1845 hrs IST, PTI

BEIJING: Facing a tide of terrorist attacks, Pakistan has inked a key deal worth $300 million with China to import specialized mobile scanners
that can detect explosives from a distance.

"We have signed agreements worth $300 million to acquire state-of-the-art equipment to combat terrorism," Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said.

The first consignment of these most needed equipments, Malik said, would be reaching Pakistan within three weeks. China is one of the major suppliers of arms to Islamabad.

"We want to ensure that our law enforcing agencies are well equipped, so that they could thwart with full force militancy," Malik was quoted as saying by the state-run APP.

During talks with the Chinese leadership, Malik assured them that it was committed to defeat the evil forces of extremism, terrorism and separatism.

He said Pakistan would start employing these equipment in the metropolitan cities under threat of terrorism, like Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi and then gradually cover the entire country.

Malik said that there was some "traces" of terrorist outfit of Xinjiang-based East Turkmenistan Independence Movement (ETIM) in Pakistan's FATA area.

The Pakistani minister was in Beijing from June 9-12 on an official visit where he met Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei on Thursday.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Pak-to-import-anti-terror-equipment-from-China/articleshow/4649710.cms


Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Type 054 for Pakistan Navy?

It has been reported by the current issue of JDW under the title of "Pakistan to receive first Sword-class frigate from China in August" that Pakistan is considering acquiring four Type 054 Class FFG after the four Sword Class (F-22P) have been delivered. I am not able to find any other sources to confirm that claim; while the sword class is not state-of-the-art, but it make sense in light of its intended purpose of replacing the old British Leander class FFG and more importantly to kick start Pakistan indigenous Warship building capabilities and know-how at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works. However, four new Type054, on the other hand, will significantly boost Pakistan's Naval power as for the first time its naval task force can operate under an area air defense umbrella.

So, if anyone can provide another creditable source of the Type054 purchase, please share.




Pakistan Navy to get first F-22P Frigate in August-09 PDF Print E-mail

http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77875&Itemid=2

ISLAMABAD, Jun 4 (APP): Pakistan Navy would receive first of four state-of-the-art Frigates F-22P type in August this year while the second one in December-09 from China. “Construction of first two ships has already been completed and will be delivered to Pakistan Navy in August and December this year after successful completion of on going trials,” a media release issued by Pakistan Navy said here on Thursday.

“Weapons systems to be installed on first ship have been successfully demonstrated at the optimum performances and ranges,” the media release said.

Construction of the third F-22P Frigate is also progressing as per schedule. This ship has been successfully launched at Shanghai on May 28, 2009 in an impressive ceremony attended by both Pakistani and Chinese dignitaries.

Construction of fourth ship was started in March this year at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works and will be delivered to Pakistan Navy in April 2013.

Pakistan Navy is acquiring four new F-22P class frigates under collaboration with China as first three ships are being constructed at Hudong Shanghai and last one at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering works.

F-22P frigates are equipped with modern weaponry and sensors.

Each ship of them will carry Anti-submarine Z9EC helicopters.

First batch of two helicopters has arrived in Pakistan.

Induction of F-22P frigates will not only enhance the war fighting potential of Pakistan Navy but will also strengthen the indigenous ship building capability of the country.