At the shipyard of China Shipbuilding Industry Corp. (CSIC) in Wuhan on September 9, the launching of a non-nuclear submarine of a new design took place, Janes Navi International reports, citing Chinese sources.
This is the third non-nuclear submarine project created in China since 1994. According to Western experts, the rapid build-up of China's submarine fleet will lead to a new round of the arms race in the non-submarine segment in the Southeast Asia region.
The first fuzzy images of the new design submarine first appeared on September 10 on the popular Chinese web resource CALF. Then experts considered them to be another Internet hoax, but two days later clearer photos were published confirming the reality of the project.
The new submarine, which does not exceed the size of the 3000-4000-ton submarine of the Type-041 Yuan class, bears similarities with Russian projects, including a larger hull with a stern section similar to the Project 667 Lada submarines, an elongated wheelhouse and retractable hulls mounted on the hull. rudders.
The characteristics of the submarine were not reported. There are suggestions that the elongated wheelhouse could house anti-ship cruise missiles, air defense systems or a new rescue capsule for the crew. In 2008, at the air show in Zhuhai, the Chinese corporation CASIC demonstrated a new smaller version of the C-705 anti-ship missile, which, taking into account its overall characteristics, can be placed in the wheelhouse of a new submarine. In addition, the submarine is likely to have a new design double hull for increased survivability.
According to reports, some Chinese Yuan-class submarines are already using an air-independent propulsion (AIP). In addition, it is known that China has developed projects for fuel cells and exhaust gas recirculation systems, similar to those used in the French air-independent power plant type MESMA (Module d'Energie Sous-Marine Autonome). Thus, it is likely that the new submarine could also be equipped with an AIP propulsion system.
In the period from 1994 to 2006. The Chinese Navy purchased from Russia eight Project 636 submarines and four Project 877EKM submarines. In addition to purchasing Russian nuclear submarines, China adopted 13 domestically developed nuclear submarines of the Type-039 "Song" class in 1994-2004. According to experts from the US Defense Ministry, the Chinese Navy will build up to 15 more Yuan-class nuclear submarines. Construction of five boats began in mid-2010. Such a rapid growth of China's submarine fleet has already provoked a response from the countries of the Southeast Asian region.
In July, there were reports that Japan would revise existing plans for the development of the Navy with the aim of increasing the number of submarines from 16 to 20 units. According to experts, the extension of the service life of the existing nuclear submarines will, if necessary, increase it to 25 units.
In addition to the nine Type-209/1200 submarines built under the German license, the Republic of Korea plans to build nine Type-214 submarines by 2020 as part of the KSS-2 project, after which it intends to adopt up to six submarines under the KSS-3 project. At the end of 2009, Vietnam signed a contract for the purchase of six non-nuclear submarines of project 636 from Russia, the delivery of which is expected in the period from 2013 to 2019. As part of the C-1000 program being implemented by Australia, the fleet is to receive 12 submarines of a new design, which will replace six Collins-class submarines. In 2005, Singapore purchased two Archer-class submarines from Sweden. This year, the Malaysian Navy received the second non-nuclear submarine of the "Skorpen" class. Indonesia plans to acquire several submarines by the end of this decade. The Thai Navy intends to purchase two used submarines on the secondary market. The implementation of Taiwan's intentions to purchase up to eight new submarines from the United States is in question. The problem is that American shipbuilders have not built conventional submarines for a long time, and European countries have not sold their nuclear submarines to Taiwan due to fear of complications in relations with China.
