Chinese Navy (PLAN) News & Discussions

[LKJ86]

Via www.81.cn

 

[LKJ86]

Via CCTV and @沉默的山羊 from Weibo

 

[samsara]

From weig2000/SDF:

pop3 leaked some information about PLAN's latest build plan:

如图所示 as shown in the figure (screenshot) 2020.11.14:

054B明年启动; (054B will start next year)
054A后续再上20艘，黄埔12艘、沪东8艘; (20 more 054A, 12 by Huangpu, 8 by Hudong)
055现在已知16艘; (total 16× 055 as known currently)

052D、071、075都会上批量，如075目前总数8艘。 (052D, 071, 075 will continue with batch production, for instance, total 8× 075 as known currently)

076现在尚未走完程序，后续不详。(076 still in the process, the follow-up is not clear)

NOTE: The "total" (number) used in above context, as in the case of the Type 055 and Type 075, includes both the existing warships and the new ones to be built. So total 16× 055 mean there will be 8 more to be built... same for 075. I use "more" when I mean the new ones to be built.

Some adjustments/corrections are made directly upon the original text based on the subsequent feedbacks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then some knowledgeable commentary from Bltizo/SDF (better known as Rick Joe in Twitter, The Diplomat, etc):

Thanks for the translation as always.

My thoughts...

- Amphibious warship expansion is reasonable and expected. I wonder if any of the 075 production will feature improvements. Total of 8× 075s would easily be the world's 2nd largest LHD fleet by a long shot and within spitting range of the USN.

- Continued production of 055, 052D is reasonable, not unexpected, but I wonder how far he is projecting forwards. Specifically, we are all expecting at least an 055A to emerge around 2025 and potentially an 052E depending on what 054B looks like... so I'm not sure how many years forwards he's thinking here.

- Concurrent production of a bunch of new build 054As as well as 054Bs at the same time does make me wonder if 054B is a meaningfully larger ship than 054A (>5000 or even >6000 tons). After all, simultaneously building two ship classes of similar weight class wouldn't make that much sense imo. OTOH, it might mean that 054B is expected to field so much new additional technology they want a sufficient frigate backup just in case there are delays with 054B. Or both. If 054A production is meant to continue at HP and HD I also wonder where 054B will be done.

- The new build 054As are also interesting, and an additional 20 (!!) 054As is quite a significant development, increasing the current in service fleet by a whopping 2/3rds. I think the 054A really does strike a balance between being blue water capable but also being sufficiently small and cheap to be also very suitable for robust near-waters/regional missions. After all, an 054A is basically as capable as the most capable surface combatant from any navy in Southeast Asia in service today. But building another 20× 054As (that will likely extend production to 2025 at least) also makes me feel like it should feature at least some upgrades from current ships. It's probably too much to expect 054A to be equipped with the UVLS or the new radar intended for 054B, but I feel like the Sea Eagle radar and the overall HHQ-16 SARH fire control system could be upgraded -- if they're really going to commit to a fleet of 50× 054As overall then upgrades to the entire class's weapons systems and sensors and FCS should be inevitable, and the PLAN of the early 2020s should have a much more mature MIC to draw upon for the weapons and sensors suite than the PLAN of the mid 2000s when 054A was first produced.
Some sensible improvements might be replacement of Sea Eagle with a new small/medium size AESA (maybe the one intended for the Pakistani 054A/Ps, or similar?), the pursuit of an ARH [active radar homing] guided HHQ-16 (they almost definitely won't be quad packing the new 3-5 missile in the 054A's VLS and the HHQ-16 is a large enough missile that with upgrades can become a SAM with 100+ km range, perhaps a worthwhile upgrade for a 50 strong ship fleet which the 054A/Ps will benefit from as well).... and at the very least extension/redesign of the helipad and hangar to accommodate Z-20F.

- The distinct lack of mention of carriers is noted, and seems deliberate. Fair and understandable.

- The mention of 076 is of course useful because, further confirming/entrenching that it is a real project. I don't think we had any lingering doubts, but reconfirmation is always useful given the sort of ship 076 is meant to be and how fast the information about it first came out.

(bold amplification is mine)
----------------

Noted as well the feedback from @lcloo there:

The exact translation of this "054B明年启动" is 054B will commence next year.

What is to be commenced can mean several things. Does it mean commence of
1) the building program, i.e. preparation of tooling and requisition of machinery, component contracts tenders will be carry out and will be closed xx months later etc. OR
2) cutting of steels in shipyards.

The continual construction of type 054A indicate that, although the 054B program has started, the actual steel cutting work may take place a year or two from now. The design of 054B may be completed (or may be not) at this moment. Also, they will need to do validation tests on the ship design as well its components before steel cutting.

Based on the US' recent experiences on problems faced on war ships employing new technologies, I believe PLAN will take a cautionary steps like building two ships for evaluation in actual running on the open seas, finding and correct any flaws before proceeding with the follow-up production.

Therefore the building of twenty 054A from next year onwards does sound reasonable and in line with conservative approach of PLA tradition.

 

[LKJ86]

From weig2000/SDF:

pop3 leaked some information about PLAN's latest build plan:

View attachment 688317

如图所示 as shown in the figure (screenshot) 2020.11.14:

054B明年启动; (054B will start next year)
054A后续再上20艘，黄埔12艘、沪东8艘; (20 more 054A, 12 by Huangpu, 8 by Hudong)
055现在已知16艘; (total 16× 055 as known currently)

052D、071、075都会上批量，如075目前总数8艘。 (052D, 071, 075 will continue with batch production, for instance, total 8× 075 as known currently)

076现在尚未走完程序，后续不详。(076 still in the process, the follow-up is not clear)

NOTE: The "total" (number) used in above context, as in the case of the Type 055 and Type 075, includes both the existing warships and the new ones to be built. So total 16× 055 mean there will be 8 more to be built... same for 075. I use "more" when I mean the new ones to be built.

Some adjustments/corrections are made directly upon the original text based on the subsequent feedbacks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then some knowledgeable commentary from Bltizo/SDF (better known as Rick Joe in Twitter, The Diplomat, etc):

Thanks for the translation as always.

My thoughts...

- Amphibious warship expansion is reasonable and expected. I wonder if any of the 075 production will feature improvements. Total of 8× 075s would easily be the world's 2nd largest LHD fleet by a long shot and within spitting range of the USN.

- Continued production of 055, 052D is reasonable, not unexpected, but I wonder how far he is projecting forwards. Specifically, we are all expecting at least an 055A to emerge around 2025 and potentially an 052E depending on what 054B looks like... so I'm not sure how many years forwards he's thinking here.

- Concurrent production of a bunch of new build 054As as well as 054Bs at the same time does make me wonder if 054B is a meaningfully larger ship than 054A (>5000 or even >6000 tons). After all, simultaneously building two ship classes of similar weight class wouldn't make that much sense imo. OTOH, it might mean that 054B is expected to field so much new additional technology they want a sufficient frigate backup just in case there are delays with 054B. Or both. If 054A production is meant to continue at HP and HD I also wonder where 054B will be done.

- The new build 054As are also interesting, and an additional 20 (!!) 054As is quite a significant development, increasing the current in service fleet by a whopping 2/3rds. I think the 054A really does strike a balance between being blue water capable but also being sufficiently small and cheap to be also very suitable for robust near-waters/regional missions. After all, an 054A is basically as capable as the most capable surface combatant from any navy in Southeast Asia in service today. But building another 20× 054As (that will likely extend production to 2025 at least) also makes me feel like it should feature at least some upgrades from current ships. It's probably too much to expect 054A to be equipped with the UVLS or the new radar intended for 054B, but I feel like the Sea Eagle radar and the overall HHQ-16 SARH fire control system could be upgraded -- if they're really going to commit to a fleet of 50× 054As overall then upgrades to the entire class's weapons systems and sensors and FCS should be inevitable, and the PLAN of the early 2020s should have a much more mature MIC to draw upon for the weapons and sensors suite than the PLAN of the mid 2000s when 054A was first produced.
Some sensible improvements might be replacement of Sea Eagle with a new small/medium size AESA (maybe the one intended for the Pakistani 054A/Ps, or similar?), the pursuit of an ARH [active radar homing] guided HHQ-16 (they almost definitely won't be quad packing the new 3-5 missile in the 054A's VLS and the HHQ-16 is a large enough missile that with upgrades can become a SAM with 100+ km range, perhaps a worthwhile upgrade for a 50 strong ship fleet which the 054A/Ps will benefit from as well).... and at the very least extension/redesign of the helipad and hangar to accommodate Z-20F.

- The distinct lack of mention of carriers is noted, and seems deliberate. Fair and understandable.

- The mention of 076 is of course useful because, further confirming/entrenching that it is a real project. I don't think we had any lingering doubts, but reconfirmation is always useful given the sort of ship 076 is meant to be and how fast the information about it first came out.

(bold amplification is mine)
----------------

Noted as well the feedback from @lcloo there:

The exact translation of this "054B明年启动" is 054B will commence next year.

What is to be commenced can mean several things. Does it mean commence of
1) the building program, i.e. preparation of tooling and requisition of machinery, component contracts tenders will be carry out and will be closed xx months later etc. OR
2) cutting of steels in shipyards.

The continual construction of type 054A indicate that, although the 054B program has started, the actual steel cutting work may take place a year or two from now. The design of 054B may be completed (or may be not) at this moment. Also, they will need to do validation tests on the ship design as well its components before steel cutting.

Based on US's recent experience on problems faced on new technology war ships, I believe PLAN will take a cautionary steps like building 2 ships for evaluation in actual running on the open seas, finding and correct any flaws before proceed with the follow up production.

Therefore the building of twenty 054A from next year onwards does sound reasonable and in line with conservative approach of PLA tradition.

Via @大包00 from Weibo

 

[ILC]

Why 54 + 26 056/A? We know that there are about 71-72 Type 056 and Type 056A now.

 

[lcloo]

Why 54 + 26 056/A? We know that there are about 71-72 Type 056 and Type 056A now.

056/A may not have big guns nor big missiles but they are very important for the national security of Chinese coastlines. China has 14,500km of coastlines that has been constantly threatened by enemy submarines. (Australia once boasted that they had a submarine just outside of Shanghai port doing spy works for weeks few decades ago.)

Anti-submarine patrol in shallow waters off Chinese coasts is one of the primary tasks of 056A. Eighty 056 and 056A for 14,500km is not excessive, moreover only 056A has better anti-submarine gears, which means after deducting basic 056, less than 80 type 056A would be deployed for anti-sub missions).

Another main task for 056/A is to free all major capital ships from near coast missions. This will let type 054A frigates and destroyers to operate in the open seas and far oceans.

Majors tasks of 056 are anti-submarine patrol, general patrol, escorting capital ships while sailing in coastal shallow water (mainly against submarine attack), harbour and navy base sentry duties.

Compare with larger ships, 056A are cheaper to built and operate, and can be deployed in large numbers for the long Chinese coastlines. And only a large number of 056A can ensure all coastlines are covered.

 

[ILC]

I understand the role of type 056/A but why this graphic says there are now 54 of them, if we know there were launched about 70 up to this year.

 

[lcloo]

I understand the role of type 056/A but why this graphic says there are now 54 of them, if we know there were launched about 70 up to this year.

Sorry, I mis-understood your earlier post. Yes you are right on the numbers. I re-check again, and now I think the 54 units is referred to type 056A only. There are another 22 units basic type 056 which I think were not included in the chart, may be due to their lack of advance tow sonar gear.

So the overall existing total of type 056 and 056A should be around 76 (22 +54), including those under construction/launched but not yet commissioned.

 

[samsara]

For some who like to question about the PLA Navy's LCACs, perhaps this footage gives some ideas:

抢滩登陆！速看海军某登陆舰支队联合作战训练！
4822播放 · 16弹幕2020-11-17 14:06:23

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Da4y1p7Cg

Beach landing! Look at the joint combat training of a landing ship detachment of the Navy!

 

[LKJ86]

Via https://weibo.com/tv/show/1034:4572263312457751?from=old_pc_videoshow

 

[LKJ86]

View attachment 688842View attachment 688844View attachment 688845
Via https://weibo.com/tv/show/1034:4572263312457751?from=old_pc_videoshow

 

[LKJ86]

 

[Trailer23]

New Images Of China’s Elusive Catapult-Capable J-15T Carrier Fighter Emerge​

Featuring beefed-up landing gear and indigenous engines, the J-15T should lead to a production fighter for China’s future supercarrier.

18th November, 2020

Recently revealed video provides, for the first time, a clear, up-close look at China’s future carrier-based multirole fighter, the Shenyang J-15T, which is derived from the Russian-made Su-33 Flanker-D. Unlike previous Chinese carrier variants of the Flanker, this one importantly features the modifications required to operate from its future catapult-equipped carriers.

The video appeared on China’s Weibo social media platform around November 17, 2020, before being fairly quickly removed, and was brought to wider attention by Andreas Rupprecht, an expert on Chinese military aerospace and friend of The War Zone who tweets as @RupprechtDeino. It originates from a Chinese TV news report from an unnamed naval air station, which Rupprecht subsequently identified as Huangdicun. This is the shore base for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) J-15 fleet, where its carrier aviators undergo training and qualifications.

A crudely annotated still from the news report highlighting the WS-10 engines on a J-15T.​

The short report shows three J-15 carrier fighters, two of which appear to be prototypes for the long-awaited catapult-capable J-15T version. The two aircraft in question are both painted in operational PLAN gray colors. Interestingly, they are also powered by indigenous engines, the WS-10 turbofans that also power other Chinese advanced Flanker derivatives, as evidenced by the different appearance of the exhaust nozzles. Previous J-15s utilized Russian-supplied AL-31 engines.

A satellite view showing a J-15T prototype at the end of the runway at Huangdicun in 2017.​

Outwardly, the J-15T can be readily identified by its strengthened nose landing gear, which is of a distinctly different design from the standard J-15. It has a longer and wider shock-absorbing oleo strut, plus a launch bar to hitch it up to the catapult. The aircraft’s main landing gear is also beefed up. All of this is required to cope with the stresses of catapult launch and arrested recovery on a flattop.

Rupprecht assesses that the two gray-painted aircraft are both J-15Ts, but only one can be confirmed as such from the video and they remain in the background of the clip throughout the report. They are parked next to each other and both have the black-and-white circular photo-calibration markings used to help determine test data during trials. Until now, only one J-15T prototype was known to exist, but there were also rumors that a second had been built.

Meanwhile, in front of the two gray jets is one of the better-known early prototypes of the J-15, which retains its yellow primer that now looks extremely worn. The presenter states that one of the aircraft seen in the video has been retired from flight-testing and training activities, but doesn’t say which one. It is presumably this older jet. Prototype number 552 was one of two J-15s that performed the first official landings and take-offs back in November 2012 aboard the PLAN’s first aircraft carrier, the revamped Soviet-era carrier Liaoning, which was originally acquired by Beijing from Ukraine.


Work on a new version of the J-15 adapted for catapult assisted take-off but arrested recovery, or CATOBAR, configured carriers was first reported in late 2014. The Liaoning, in contrast, has arresting cables for aircraft recovery, but no catapults, and is instead equipped with a “ski jump” take-off ramp on the bow.

The first prototype J-15T reportedly took to the air for the first time in July 2016. In November 2016 it was reported that a J-15 — perhaps a second J-15T prototype — launched successfully for the first time from the ground-based electromagnetic catapult facility at Huangdicun, a Chinese equivalent to the troubled Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) for the U.S. Navy’s Ford class carriers. It seems that parallel tests were also conducted using the steam-powered catapult that’s also found at Huangdicun.


It’s unclear when the CATOBAR-compatible J-15T will enter production for the PLAN, but, so far, there have been three batches of standard-series J-15s, with work on the last of these ongoing, to provide the backbone of the air wings for the Liaoning and sister vessel Shandong, a locally-built derivative of the original Soviet design, which also lacks catapults. With that in mind, it seems likely that the fourth production block will comprise CATOBAR aircraft, which will perhaps be designated J-15B.

While the latest “reveal” of the J-15T must have been approved by the PLAN and, therefore, can be considered at least “semi-official,” it’s interesting to compare the progress made by this variant with construction work on the Type 003 aircraft carrier. This will be the PLAN’s first carrier with catapults, very possibly the electromagnetic types, and it’s currently taking shape at Shanghai’s Jiangnan Shipyard.


Providing China can master the technology involved, an electromagnetic launch system would offer several benefits to the PLAN’s burgeoning carrier air power. When working correctly, the launch system should help increase the number of sorties the carrier can generate and reduce the physical strain on aircraft, reducing demands on maintenance and logistics, as you can read about here.

An electromagnetic launch system also makes sense when taking into account reports that China’s Sharp Sword stealth flying wing unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) will be deployed aboard PLAN carriers in the future. This type of launch equipment is better able to handle far lighter aircraft, such as drones, compared to traditional steam catapults.

Whenever the CATOBAR-compatible J-15 appears in service, it’s clear that the PLAN is eagerly awaiting new fighter equipment. While this is a further development of the existing naval Flanker, rather than an all-new design, the fact it will launch from a catapult, rather than a ramp, promises to significantly increase the payload — fuel, weapons, and other stores — that it will be able to carry. Currently, the basic J-15, and Su-33 from which it is derived, have to operate reduced weapons and fuel loads to be light enough to get off the deck safely.

Amid reports of several aircraft losses, in the past, there have also been concerns about the safety of the baseline J-15, which The War Zone addressed here. As such, the new version may incorporate changes to help alleviate those reported shortcomings, which are rumored to relate primarily to an “unstable flight control system.”

In 2018, it was reported that the PLAN was seeking a successor to its J-15. While there were some suggestions that this might take the form of a navalized version of the stealthy Shenyang FC-31, this may well be the CATOBAR type now being tested in J-15T prototype form. If anything else, the new J-15s could make up a mixed air wing with stealthy fighters and drones.

There is also a two-seat J-15D version of the PLAN’s carrier Flanker that has been tested, apparently with electronic warfare jamming pods on the wingtips, similar in broad form and function to the U.S. Navy’s EA-18G Growler. While the status of this aircraft is unclear, it’s likely that any production version would feature the same CATOBAR changes introduced on the J-15T.


Potentially, production versions of the J-15D and/or J-15T for the PLAN could also incorporate some of the advanced new features that have been noted on land-based Chinese Flankers, including a possible anti-radiation missile for the suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) mission, and an ultra-long-range air-to-air missile. These, or other weapons, could greatly increase the aircraft’s versatility, and lethality, compared to the baseline J-15.

As well as the superior capabilities promised by a new version of the J-15, the PLAN urgently needs carrier fighters in general, as it aims to introduce at least four carriers in the coming years, each of which will need an air wing. Furthermore, additional aircraft will be needed to ensure a steady flow of suitably qualified pilots, some of whom, it was recently reported, are being trained as naval aviators after being recruited straight out of high school.

It’s not only new fighters that are being prepared for the future carriers. Work is also reportedly well advanced on a carrier-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, the Xi’an KJ-600. Last summer there were unconfirmed reports that this aircraft had completed its first flight, from a land base. The KJ-600 is a PLAN equivalent to the U.S. Navy’s E-2 Hawkeye and reflects the service’s ambitions to develop a more comprehensive PLAN carrier air wing. An aircraft of this type would almost certainly require a catapult launch to operate from an aircraft carrier, due to its size and weight, and the limited thrust compared with a fighter jet.

With the PLAN at large expanding at a prodigious rate, it’s likely we won’t have to wait too long to see a catapult-capable J-15 go to sea aboard China’s next aircraft carrier.

Source: The Drive

 

[ILC]

 

[samsara]

Don't be limited to the existing military equipment development. The development of China's military equipment has been far ahead of the concept of the US, and in technology, China is catching up and surpassing step by step,
such as the new concept ship of the PLA Navy.

When a new Chinese concept emerges, it will certainly have an impact on the whole world.

The development of the PLAN has always been pragmatic and practical.

In every practical and down-to-earth footprint, it is the accumulation of huge energy.

In the past 20 years, the development of the PLAN has been very conservative in the short term, but in a relatively long period of time, it has made rapid progress.

Over the past two decades, China has stepped out of the dilemma of existence & absence to the progress of partial transcendence;

From the backward state of technology, it has realized the leap of local leading.

The PLAN has made steady progress, and every step is very solid.

Listen to thunder in silence, the progress of the PLAN's equipment, which is at the forefront in the world, will be closed in the near future.