PLA needs at least 20 nuclear submarines, says admiral

[vivINDIAN]

SOURCE: WantChinaTimes.com

China does not need as many nuclear-powered submarines as the United States but it will need at least 20 to defend its maritime interests, according to Rear Admiral Yang Yi of the People’s Liberation Army Navy in an article written for the Global Times, a tabloid under the auspices of the Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily.

Yang said that a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine is by far the most powerful naval weapons system that currently exists. With the world’s largest fleet of nuclear submarines during the Cold War, the Soviet Union was able to compete with the United States and its aircraft carriers. After the collapse of Soviet Union in 1991, Yang said that the United States is now the only maritime superpower with both aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines.

Taking the Virginia-class fast attack submarine as an example, Yang said that US nuclear submarines are designed to complete multiple missions. Virginia-class subs can not only launch ballistic missiles against enemy strategic targets on the ground, but can also be used in anti-submarine or anti-ship operations, Yang said. The admiral added that each of US Navy’s four Ohio-class cruise missile submarines are also able to launch 156 Tomahawk cruise missiles, while the other 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines have the capability to wipe out a medium-size nation with 100 UGM-133 Trident D-5 missiles.

Yang believes it is unnecessary for Beijing to launch an arms race with Washington, however, as the United States has a more experience in operating nuclear submarines. It is already a miracle that China has developed a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines in such a short period of time since the 1970s, according to Yang.

In an interview with the state-run China News Service, Yang added that it is now time for the world to know the capability of the PLA’s North Sea Fleet operating from its base in Qingdao in eastern China’s Shandong province. However, Yang denied that China has the ability to produce and operate between 70 and 80 nuclear submarines like the United States.

China is one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and 20 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines is more than enough to uphold the nation’s status in the global community, Yang said. He said China should build its military force patiently and that the current submarine fleet can be used to maintain world peace while also defending the country’s national interests.

 

[Hafizzz]

China needs more than 20 subs because there is Japan in East, Indian in the South and USA in the West.

 

[xunzi]

The US has that many nuclear submarine because they are trying to rule the world. Our interest is to safeguard our local interest so 20 submarine will do the job.

 

[UKBengali]

The US has that many nuclear submarine because they are trying to rule the world. Our interest is to safeguard our local interest so 20 submarine will do the job.

The Chinese may need more than 20 eventually, say after 2030 onwards, as it would need to have the ability to guarantee it's trade routes over all the world's oceans.

20 for the next decade and half is a good number to aim for though.

 

[cirr]

No，no，no。

China needs at least 50 SSBNs and 80 SSNs。

 

[GR!FF!N]

The US has that many nuclear submarine because they are trying to rule the world. Our interest is to safeguard our local interest so 20 submarine will do the job.

actually no..USA has so many Nuclear subs because they don't use conventional powered Subs..while China has around 65-70 subs and 49 of them are conventionally powered,all the USN subs are Nuclear.but yes,your logic is true.while China has to protect relatively small maritime zone,USN has to protect virtually the all major sea routes.but in density,China is ahead by far as USN's assets are distributed all over world.

 

[bolo]

No，no，no。

China needs at least 50 SSBNs and 80 SSNs。

China has too many hostile enemies surrounding her. I think 200 nuclear subs are needed.

 

[DoTell]

I am not a nuclear sub expert. I don't know how many China needs. I'll just go back what the enemies are saying. If they say 20 is too many for China, I'd like to think we need at least 40

 

[jhungary]

If this was a buffet, I would say china need 2000, but this is not you get what you want day

The US have 17 naval base in both side of the coast, plus overseas territories deployment and foreign bases deployment, then they have the ship they had.

Now china got 1 relative short coast, with 12-15 naval bases in that coast, where the hack they found space to accommodate 100+ submarine?

The Chinese coast would be so jammed up and no ship can get thru if Chinese have what that admiral say they need.

One need to think, it's not like you need to outbuild your opponent, where are you going to put all the ship you build is also a problem....

 

[Han dominance]

If this was a buffet, I would say china need 2000, but this is not you get what you want day

The US have 17 naval base in both side of the coast, plus overseas territories deployment and foreign bases deployment, then they have the ship they had.

Now china got 1 relative short coast, with 12-15 naval bases in that coast, where the hack they found space to accommodate 100+ submarine?

The Chinese coast would be so jammed up and no ship can get thru if Chinese have what that admiral say they need.

One need to think, it's not like you need to outbuild your opponent, where are you going to put all the ship you build is also a problem....

We can put our submarines any where on this planet once the subs are built.

We have a self-imposed no foreign military bases rule and we will reverse that rule once we have the weapons to deploy.

Meanwhile we could humiliate Yankee CBG by sneaking up on them like we did and make half-baked Viets cry

 

[S10]

20 SSN/SSBN is a good number to have in the next two decades, plus at least double that number of conventional AIP subs as support. China's objective is to ensure a safe environment in the Western Pacific, without the global commitment of United States.