IN REVIEW by Eric Wertheim Velopments During the Past Year
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Copyright © 2018, Proceedings, U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis, Maryland (410) 268-6110 www.usni.org he proliferation of sophisticated naval weapons and technology has Treached fever pitch during the past few years. Sales of advanced submarines, long-range antiship weapons, and cut- ting-edge surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) WORLD have provided asymmetric capabilities to all interested parties. Modern navies must now come to grips with these chal- lenges, and they must be prepared to face even the most advanced military threats anywhere and everywhere they operate. NAVIES This review of the world’s navies presents a snapshot of activities and de- IN REVIEW By Eric Wertheim velopments during the past year. It is ar- ranged by region, with nations discussed alphabetically under each subheading. AUSTRALIA/ASIA Australia’s first new 7,000-ton Ae- gis-equipped guided-missile destroyer (DDG), HMAS Hobart, was commis- sioned into service in September 2017. Two others, the Brisbane and Sydney, are planned for service by 2020. As the Hobart-class DDGs join the fleet, they are replacing upgradedAd - elaide-class frigates, including HMAS Darwin, which was decommissioned in December 2017. The Australian Navy has been working to upgrade all eight of its Anzac-class frigates with active phased-array radars and other improve- ments. The Anzac class eventually will be replaced by nine future frigates be- ginning in the mid-2020s. The German OPV-80 design has been selected for Australia’s 12 new 1,760-ton offshore patrol vessels, with construction set to (ZENG TAO) AGENCY/ALAMY NEWS XINHUA begin on the new OPVs in late 2018. In 2017, the first steel was cut for wart, are expected for delivery in 2019 attack helicopters and UH-1N utility he- Australia’s Pacific patrol boat replace- and 2020 respectively. licopters for use on the Canberra class in ment (PPB-R) vessels. Nineteen will be Australia plans to acquire 12 new the future. delivered between 2018 and 2023 for do- 4,500-ton French-designed submarines The use of unmanned aerial vehi- nation to 12 Pacific island nations. Aus- to replace the six existing Collins-class cles (UAVs) also is increasing in the tralia also is enhancing its own coastal boats. These 12 diesel submarines are ex- fleet, and some warships are deploying security and in 2017 commissioned two pected in service from the early 2030s. with new unmanned Scan Eagles as well Cape-class 190-foot patrol boats under a Two 27,000-ton Canberra-class am- as manned MH-60R Seahawk helicop- lease agreement. phibious assault ships recently entered ters. Australia has begun receiving its Two new replenishment vessels are service. They suffered some early pro- first Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime pa- planned for the near future, both of pulsion difficulties, but the problems ap- trol aircraft, and 12 P-8As currently are which will be built in Spain and based pear to have been corrected by late 2017. planned for delivery through 2020. Addi- on the Cantabria class. These new oil- Australian defense forces reportedly are tional P-8As are expected to be ordered ers, to be named the Supply and Stal- considering acquisition of AH-1Z Viper in the future. A total of 7 MQ-4C long- 62 PROCEEDINGS | MARCH 2018 The 55,000-ton Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning was operational with the Peo- ple’s Liberation Army Navy in 2017. More and larger aircraft carriers are in development. range Triton UAVs also are planned for technological advantages. As its power to the Liaoning, the Project 001 will be service beginning in the early 2020s. projection capabilities continue to grow, larger and faster and is expected to carry Bangladesh became a full-fledged naval assets reach further into the Indian roughly 40 percent more aircraft than the submarine operator in 2017 with the trans- Ocean region as well as the South and Liaoning. The Project 002 aircraft carrier fer of two aging Ming-class (Project 035) East China seas. China’s first aircraft car- currently is in the final stages of develop- diesel-powered boats from China. China rier, the 55,000-ton Liaoning, now is op- ment and will be bigger than its two pre- also delivered two newly constructed 211- erational, and speculation has shifted to decessors, displacing 85,000 tons. The foot guided-missile patrol craft that are future carrier designs. Current plans in- Project 002 is expected to be fitted with a based on its own Type 056 corvette. Ban- clude two domestically designed and new Chinese version of the electromag- gladesh has ordered two additional Dorn- built non-nuclear carriers known as the netic aircraft launch system rather than a ier Do-228NG aircraft to boost maritime Project 001 and Project 002. The Proj- ski-jump. patrol and surveillance capabilities. ect 001 was launched in the first half of This past year China opened its first China’s naval forces continue to make 2017 and is expected to enter service in overseas military base—in Djibouti— great strides, rapidly eroding Western the early 2020s. Similar in appearance and is expected to increase use of the MARCH 2018 | PROCEEDINGS 63 Chinese-funded port at Gwadar, Paki- 26th 4,000-ton Jiangkai II-class (Proj- should begin construction in the early stan. China reportedly has doubled the ect 054A) guided-missile frigate entered 2020s and be armed with the new JL-3 size of the People’s Liberation Army Ma- service in January, and its 37th Jiangd- SLBM. A sub-launched variant of the rine Corps from 10,000 to 20,000 troops, ao-class (Project 056) 1,500-ton missile 290-nm range YJ-18 antiship missile is and long-term plans call for an increase corvette also joined the fleet. under development to arm the Shang- to 100,000 marine personnel. China New auxiliary vessels are supporting class (Project 093), Song-class (Project launched its fifth Yuzhao-class/Proj- these increased operations. The first of a 039), and Yuan-class (Project 041) sub- ect 071 17,000-ton amphibious transport new 41,000-ton class of Project 901 re- marines. Production of the Yuan-class is dock, which is expected to commission plenishment ships entered service, while reported to have restarted after a pause this year. a second unit of the class is planned for of several years; at least three new boats Construction of a new 35,000-ton big- delivery later this year. A sixth 6,000-ton were seen fitting out in early 2017. deck amphibious ship (Project 075) is re- Project 815 intelligence collection ship India has been building its naval and portedly under way. The Project 075 is entered service in January 2017, with an defense ties with neighbors while look- expected to have well decks to operate additional unit launched during the sum- ing to boost naval exports and strengthen the new Yuyi-class (Project 726) air-cush- mer; more are expected. A large 50,000- its industrial base. The first 8,000-tonVi - ioned landing craft under construction. ton dual-use, civil-military heavy-lift sakhapatnam-class (Project 15B) DDG China’s surface combatant fleet has ship also became operational early in is expected in the near future, with a total been expanding. Its first new, 10,000- 2017 and is able to transport up to 10,000 of four units due by the mid-2020s. The ton Renhai-class (Project 055) guid- tons of outsized cargo. first of as many as seven new 6,700-ton ed-missile cruiser (sometimes classified According to the U.S. Department of Project 17A frigates, improved variants as a destroyer) was launched in summer Defense, China has completed six of the of the Shivalik class (Project 17), began 2017. Project 055 armament is thought Shang I/II-class Project 093/093A nucle- construction last year. to include at least 112 vertical launch ar-powered attack submarines (SSNs), India will acquire from Russia up to system cells, advanced SAMs, land-at- and a new variant—the Project 093B— four 4,000-ton Admiral Grigorovich– tack cruise missiles, and the 290-nau- is thought to be under development. Up class (Project 11356M) frigates, based on tical-mile range CH-SS-NX-13/YJ- to 14 next-generation Project 095 SSNs the Talwar-class (Project 11356). India’s 18 antiship missile. Two Project 055s may also be planned for the future. Four third Kamorta-class (Project 28) antisub- are reported to be under construction, Jin-class (Project 094) nuclear-powered marine warfare (ASW) corvette entered and it appears at least four are planned. ballistic-missile submarines (SSBNs), service in October 2017, and additional China’s sixth Luyang III–class (Proj- armed with JL-2 submarine-launched sisters are planned. India also is expected ect 052D) destroyer was commissioned ballistic missiles (SLBMs) have been to acquire as many as 16 new shal- this past July, and the 13th unit of the completed, and a fifth is thought to be low-water craft for ASW patrol duties. class was launched that same month. under construction. Development is also The first two of five planned 1,500-ton The People’s Liberation Army Navy’s under way on the Project 096 SSBN that Project 21 naval offshore patrol vessels (NOPVs) were launched in the summer of 2017. The fourth and final 325-ton im- Indonesia took delivery of the frigate proved Car Nicobar–class patrol craft Raden Eddy Martadinata in 2017. entered the fleet this past year. New utility landing craft are enter- ing service, and long-term plans call for acquisition of several large amphibi- ous ships.