The Chinese navy has done a lot of modernization in the past 20 years, but some areas have been lagging behind others. Even while China was still buying large ticket items from Russia, there was a lot of talks on China's growing submarine force and anti-ship missiles. Not only did the imported ships have some over-hyped supersonic missiles, the domestic built ships and aircraft were also equipped with a fairly modern YJ-83 missile. The path to modernization in ASuW is relatively small compared to other areas, so it was not surprising that PLAN made the largest jump here at first.
By 2005, Chinese navy was in the midst of inducting Type 052C and 051C capable of providing anti-air area defense. Even including the interim Type 052B class, this was a very significant jump from point defense in most of the surface combatants to having ships capable of detecting multiple aircraft and missiles at long distance, processing them on the combat system and engaging them with modern long range vertically launched surface to air missiles. As Type 054A started to proliferate in Chinese navy and becoming the backbone of many flotillas, this became no longer an area of weakness. With more Type 052Cs joining service and the first Type 052D being commissioned, Chinese fleet has now become modernized in the area of AAW.
The one area that PLAN has always lagged is in ASW. For a long time, most of the surface combatants only had hull sonar and some ASW rockets. By the turn of century, the new ships have been installed with Yu-7 torpedo. However, China's limited number of naval helicopters mean that only a limited number of ships can travel with ASW helicopters. Since helicopters are rotated between ships, that would limit the ships training with them and their effectiveness. Before the induction of 054A, China's most advanced ASW assets were diesel submarines and Type 037 sub chasers. They are both limited to littoral waters and cannot be expected to escort a fleet. Even in littoral water, they are limited by their own noisiness and lack of speed or range. The 093s could be useful in blue waters, but they are also very loud.
Type 052As were China's most well equipped ASW ships until Type 052C came along. The Type 052C destroyers were the first of surface combatants to be installed with the new generation of Towed array sonar and acoustic decoy. The Type 052s had their original imported French variable depth sonar replaced with this new towed array sonar. The induction of Type 054A really brought a lot of added ASW capabilities. They were also equipped with towed array sonar and acoustic decoy in the back along with bow mounted sonar in the front. Lack of permanent naval helicopter remains to be an issue, but at least they can launch ASROC type of missiles from VLS. That really extended the range of engaging submarines when a helicopter is not available for such duty. Even so, the passive TAS by itself has limitations and is still more suitable for littoral water.
In the past year or so, a new generation of home grown variable depth sonar has been developed. One of those versions has been installed on Type 056, which should be able to replace Type 037 sub chasers for littoral ASW duties. With the existence of helipad that can land Z-9 helicopter, installation of Yu-7 torpedoes and this new VDS, it should be a huge leap over the Type 037s that are retiring from service. An improved version of 054A has also come out recently with this new variable depth sonar installed next to TAS (position of acoustic decoys on earlier 054As) and the new 11 barrel CIWS. This combination of active VDS and passive TAS is installed on the most recent 4 054As (2 each from HD and HP shipyard). Although more of this type could be built, my guess is that they are just testing out this new ASW combat suite and CIWS for the next class of ships. The new Type 052D destroyer (No. 172) is also fitted with this new combination of active/passive sonar in the back along with a bow mounted sonar in the front. It is also said to be able to launch a longer range ASROC type of missiles from VLS than Type 054A. All of this should give Type 052D very balanced combat capability in ASuW, AAW and ASW. A new type of ASW helicopter based on the developing Z-20 project is needed to really allow this ship to hunt and engage modern submarines. Of course, Chinese navy does have a new ASW helicopter in Z-18F, but it is probably too large to be carried in the hangar of Type 052C/D. However, Z-18F should be able to serve on CV-16 along with large future combatants likes Type 055 and LHD/LPD classes. Z-18F is larger than other ASW helicopters like SH-60, NH-90 and Ka-28. It can carry more sonobuoy and has more snobuoy openings than SH-60. It can also carry dipping sonar along with up to 4 Torpedoes. The rest of the electronics and combat system has been upgraded from Z-8 with a new large surface search radar and modern MAWS and RWR antennas. It also has the range to really hunt modern nuclear submarines. That's why it is expected to be a part of the air wing of CV-16 and future Chinese carriers.
As a whole, the hardware for ASW in PLAN has definitely modernized, but they still lack in many areas. While they finally have a Y-8 maritime patrol aircraft, it's still years behind P-3C and serving too small in number. While Z-18F is a nice addition, a Z-20 or Z-15 based ASW helicopter is badly needed for ships in the class of Type 052D and 054A. And finally, the biggest help to Chinese navy would be newer and quieter nuclear submarines with more powerful sonar. Until that happens, the Chinese navy would always be in a place of danger when it comes to underwater warfare.
Sunday, August 31, 2024
Friday, August 29, 2024
An Unreasonable Approach to American Seapower
“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”
― George Bernard Shaw, Man and SupermanOver the course of the past month, I have written two pieces that attempt to lay out my case for a larger, more powerful Navy and the resources necessary to accomplish it. In "The Paradox of American Naval Power" I made an argument that the Navy's ability to meet crisis response requirements has a perverse impact on its readiness to address the growing threat of great power conflict. In "CNO's Losing Battle to Avoid a Hollow Navy" I made the case that even the ability to meet crisis response requirements is in jeopardy as we attempt to squeeze more presence out of a declining force.
The response to both pieces has been gratifying, with some excellent criticism and some welcome support.
One consistent response set is worth addressing. I have a number of correspondents who are incredibly intelligent, thoughtful, and eloquent, who have written me emails or who have included me in email debates they've had among themselves, who take issue with my arguments from the perspective of their own rational and reasonable ideas for how the Navy could more effectively spend the resources that it is given. Their ideas uniformly reflect deep insight, experience, and a dedication to problem-solving. Essentially, their arguments boil down to support for the "capability vs. capacity" approach, and they assume that I am firmly in the "capacity vs. capability" camp. They see the nation's current fiscal condition and the likely resources that the Navy will receive they generally associate themselves with the CNO's approach, which is to privilege capability. They believe that I would privilege capacity, and in doing so, make us less ready over time.
In addition to these (largely civilian) correspondents, there is the OPNAV Staff, one of the most talented amalgamations of human beings with whom I have ever been associated, and the overwhelming majority of them come to work every single day with one underlying goal in mind: how can the Navy spend these dollars in the most effective manner possible? This is good, honorable, and necessary work, it is work that I have done myself in a past life, I know how to do it, and it is work that I would someday welcome doing again. I honor these individuals, and the nation is very, very fortunate to have them.
However, I am not interested in a "capacity vs. capability" discussion, and nothing I write should lead anyone to believe that I am. There are plenty of really smart people already filling that space. Truth be told, if I were interested in that discussion, I would agree with the capability over capacity crowd. But I am irrational and unreasonable. I wish to argue for MORE resources for the Navy in order that it can become larger, more powerful, and more capable. I think this way not because I think big powerful navies are really neat, but because I think a big, powerful Navy is the table stakes for a nation such as ours, with its far flung interests and its favorable geography. I believe such a Navy is warranted even more so when the nation faces fiscal challenges, as there is no element of military power (and by this I mean Seapower, broadly understood) that more effectively protects and sustains our interests. There is no element of military power that is as flexible and adaptable across the full range of grand strategies as Seapower, with clear mandates for a powerful and capable fleet contained in offshore balancing, cooperative security, selective engagement and primacy.
It does not escape me that my position is more extreme than most, nor that it is not particularly helpful to those engaged in the above discussion (how to spend what the Navy gets most effectively). So be it. If I find myself in my dotage an intellectually lonely old man who made wild claims that are ultimately proven wrong, I pray for the poise to admit it and the good spirit to congratulate those whose ideas prevailed. In the meantime, I will continue to push for more--for three deployment hubs, not two. For an INCREASE in the number of carriers (to 13), rather than a decrease (to 9 or 10); for sixty SSN's; for a plethora of unmanned vehicles on, under and above the water; for twelve Amphibious Ready Groups; for more and more capable air wings.
I aim to help define the Navy that the Nation needs, not the Navy that the Joint Force needs. If those two are the same, then I hope to have the wisdom to see it. If they are not, I wish the same on others.
On this subject, I prefer to be The Unreasonable Man.
Bryan McGrath
Tuesday, August 26, 2024
Saturday, August 23, 2024
Tuesday, August 12, 2024
Warship "Survivability"
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| LCS-Inspired Frigate/Corvette Variants (Lockheed Martin) |
Much of the recent discussion of the
current Littoral Combatant Ship (LCS) program and the proposed new frigate
FF(G)X involves the “survivability” of both classes. Numerous senior civilian
and uniformed officials have called for the FF(G)X to be “more survivable” than
the current LCS. Casual observers may not know how much information goes into determining this feature of a
warship design. Before the Second World War and for some time after,
“survivability” was primarily concerned with how many “hits” of a certain size
projectile a warship could sustain and still be mission capable. In the postwar
era, the concept of survivability changed based on a new ethos in surface
combatant design, the advent of nuclear weapons, and advances in detection, communication,
weapons, and countermeasure technologies. In fact, a warship’s active and
passive defenses against attack from aircraft, cruise missiles and underwater
weapons have effectively replaced armor and other elements of physical
resistance to damage, making a warship’s “survivability” more akin to a combat
aircraft than past combatants.
The
current Navy "survivability" instruction promulgated in 2012 is relatively effective in
measuring this new concept of “survivability”, but other so-called X factors
can play significant roles. The geography of a theater of combat and the
weather there can change the perception of a warship’s relative “survivability.
Today’s reasonably “survivable” surface combatant can equally be tomorrow’s
“iron coffin” if it sustains damage in a remote location or in a worsening sea state. Before moving forward with
a design for a “survivable” successor to LCS, senior civilian and uniformed
officers should specifically determine exactly what that concept means both for
present classes of surface combatant, the projected FF(G)X and those designs
that follow. The November 2012 instruction is a step in the right direction,
but more must be done to accurately measure the survivability of current combatants. A
first step would be upgrading the current Ship Self Defense Test Ship (currently
the ex USS Paul F. Foster) to one of
the current or former CG-47 class cruisers and conducting realistic weapon
testing against its active and passive defensive systems. They are the heart of
real warship survivability and ought to be rigorously evaluated against actual
weapons.
The present (November 2012) Navy
instruction on warship survivability makes a significant change from its
predecessor in that:
“The previous version of this instruction, dated 23 September
1988, established the policy that “Survivability shall be considered a
fundamental design requirement of no less significance than other inherent ship
characteristics.” This basic premise has not changed although survivability is
now considered in terms of capabilities
vice characteristics.”
Survival “capabilities” are divided into the
categories of susceptibility, vulnerability and recoverability. While the
physical structure of ships is still part of the survivability “triangle”, the
ship’s capability to resist attack occupies a much larger part of its overall
combat rating. This revision is a welcome change. Over the course of the Cold
War and especially the last 20 years, weapons have grown more accurate and potentially lethal. A surface combatant’s survivability now rests more on active and passive systems to avoid or resist attack than physical structure
or armor. This demand is reflected in
the susceptibility component. The vulnerability and recoverability components
still emphasize the ability of a ship to survive initial effects of attack, but
the trend toward more powerful antiship weapons and more electronic rather than
armor-laden warships makes avoiding attack the primary method of survival and
continued mission accomplishment in a wartime setting.
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| HMS Sheffield |
 |
| USS Stark |
Other factors that affect
survivability are often omitted by experts. The geography and weather
conditions of a naval battle can significantly impact
survivability. The Oliver Hazard Perry
class frigates are often cited by LCS opponents as more “survivable” as
evidenced by recoverability of the USS
Stark and USS Samuel B. Roberts
after they sustained missile and mine damage. Both crews performed heroically
in saving their respective ships, but the relatively calm waters of the Persian Gulf, and proximity
to friendly bases significantly aided in the retrieval of both ships. Compare
this with the experience of the British destroyer HMS Sheffield lost during the 1982 Falklands War. The ship’s
firemain system was wrecked beyond immediate repair at sea as a result of
battle damage, but remained upright and stable for 5 days until the weather
deteriorated. The ship took on a severe list while under tow to South Georgia and
sank soon after the weather worsened. Sheffield
might have survived had she sustained the same damage in the Persian Gulf
rather than the South Atlantic.
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| Ex-Japanese battleship Tosa |
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| Ex USS Washington |
Tests conducted on incomplete modern
battleships such as the ex-USS Washington
(BB 45) and the ex-IJN Tosa in the
1920’s gave U.S. and Japanese naval leaders a good idea of the survivability of
their capital ships. It is no longer useful however to merely fire weapons into
dead hulks as a method of determining a warship’s ability to survive attack. That
procedure was effective when a warship’s ability to resist attack was only
resident in its physical construction and armor (if any). New methods must be used to assess a warship's active and passive defense capabilities. One
example would involve replacing the present Ship Self Defense Test Ship (SSDTD)
ex-USS Paul F. Foster with one of the
retiring/refitting Ticonderoga class
cruisers. The Defense Department Office of Test and Evaluation
recommended the Navy build a new unmanned test ship in late 2013, but a retiring Ticonderoga would be a more accurate test platform. AEGIS cruisers were designed to defeat saturation cruise
missile attacks on carrier battle groups. Put an unmanned, fully armed AEGIS
cruiser to the test. Take it to a deserted stretch of ocean and fire increasing
numbers of antiship cruise missiles at the target until its defenses are
saturated and overcome. Up to now this
question has been one of dueling mathematical formulas. Salvo equations and
estimates of single shot probability of kill (SSPK) go only so far in
determining “survivability”. An accurate measurement of combat endurance
would either build confidence in current U.S. warship performance or force
significant change depending on what results were obtained in the test. This hypothetical test would be extremely
expensive, dangerous, and violate a number of U.S. environmental statutes, but what is the
price in determining the real “survivability” of a modern warship? The overall goal remains deterring conflict if
possible rather than actually going to war. As several British admirals and American
politicians have said over the course of the 20th century, “battleships
are less expensive than battles.”
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| Ex-USS Paul F. Foster (SSDTS) |
Survivability is a loaded term with many
possible definitions given the large numbers of potential variables used to
determine this vital warship capability. Those seeking to use survivability as
term of discussion should be careful in its employment. Furthermore, the U.S.
Navy should be given the funds and legal latitude necessary to conduct the live
fire testing needed to adequately measure this feature. While expensive and
time-consuming, such testing is necessary in measuring the survival of equally
expensive modern surface combatants.
Saturday, August 9, 2024
Past and present of China/Russia military cooperation
Two recent articles about military exchange between China and Russia. The first one is Robert Farley's article about 5 ways Russia could help China's military. The second article is about Russia looking to buy Chinese electronic military/aersopace components.
I have written on numerous occasions about what China is still interested in buying from Russia and what China would be interested in buying from Europe if the embargo is lifted. The reason is that the balance of military technology prowess has changed so much between Russia and China in the past 20 years that we have gotten to the point where Russia is looking to now buy Chinese military components. Back in 1990, the gap between the collapsing Soviet Union and China was so great that China had to pick which area of its military it had money to import. In the end, despite the army's overwhelming influence in PLA, the much greater gap in air force and navy led to purchasing Su-27s, S-300s and Sov destroyers instead of MBTs and IFVs. People talk about post TianAnMen square arms embargo as the reason that China turned to Russia, but it's quite obvious to me they would've turned that direction regardless of whether or not an embargo was in put. By 1990, China had already experienced how tightly US and other Western companies safe guarded their technology and IP after numerous projects like the J-8II Peace Pearl project. In the end, China spent $500 million without really getting any kind of industrial boost, while US got a thorough look at what was China's most advanced plane at the time (without being very impressed by it). It was with that backdrop that China turned to Russia for help after warming of the relations in the late 80s. It quickly found that Russia had very lax protection of technology compared to Western countries. On top of that, most of Russian military hardware were on fire sale after the Soviet collapse with pretty much anything available to anyone who had money for it. From there, China got a lot of support from Russians in not only the J-11 project, but all of China's indigenous projects. It's hard to imagine that China could've paid $2.5 billion to anyone else and got anywhere close to the amount of technology transfer, industrial help and advanced fighter jet that China got here. It wasn't until early 2000s that Russia started to catch on top how much China's military industrial complex was improving and how much success it was copying a lot of what Russia was showcasing at the time. By that time, China had already noticed that Russia was increasingly pitching non-existent projects requiring China to pay for development cost, so it was already slowing down purchases even though it seemed like the trade was still booming to the outside world. By 2007, the failed IL-76 purchase stopped all ongoing military cooperation between the 2 side. After that was resumed, China continued to purchase more aerospace engines and helicopters from Russia, but not many other major items. Even the much discussed Su-33 deals never came to fruition as China managed to build J-15s with Ukrainian help.
That brings us to the current state of cooperation between the 2 countries. The most recent deals have been AL-31FN/RD-93 engines, Mi-171E/26 helicopters and refurbished IL-76 transports. The 5 items in Farley's article are aerospace engine, Tu-22M bombers, leasing of Akula subs, S-400 SAMs and ballistic missiles. Outside of Tu-22M, I would agree with all of the other items, although China would be interested in the more advanced Tu-160. Aerospace engines and S-400 have already been proposed to China and have high likelihood of been purchased. The other items are all strategic and Russia have been reluctant to share them with China in the past. With the current international climate, Russia is relying more and more on China as it becomes isolated, one wonders if Russia would change it's mind. China would certainly gain a lot from a similar Akula II leasing deal like India got. I would imagine Tu-160 and Yasen class attack subs are completely off limits.
I have been reading for a while that China has been trying to sell electronic components to Russia for it's military products. One of which was T/R modules for Russia's AESA radar. According to the article, the Russian space agency is looking to purchase several billions of dollars of such components from China, which would be a wide range of products. Maybe this could start military export from China to Russia in other areas where Russian manufacturers have simply fallen behind like in building naval ships. Although, I would say it's far more likely that Russia would purchase subsystems and components.
So things have certainly changed in the past 20 years and the recent change in Russia's isolation around the world has seemingly pushed military cooperation even further in China's direction.
I have written on numerous occasions about what China is still interested in buying from Russia and what China would be interested in buying from Europe if the embargo is lifted. The reason is that the balance of military technology prowess has changed so much between Russia and China in the past 20 years that we have gotten to the point where Russia is looking to now buy Chinese military components. Back in 1990, the gap between the collapsing Soviet Union and China was so great that China had to pick which area of its military it had money to import. In the end, despite the army's overwhelming influence in PLA, the much greater gap in air force and navy led to purchasing Su-27s, S-300s and Sov destroyers instead of MBTs and IFVs. People talk about post TianAnMen square arms embargo as the reason that China turned to Russia, but it's quite obvious to me they would've turned that direction regardless of whether or not an embargo was in put. By 1990, China had already experienced how tightly US and other Western companies safe guarded their technology and IP after numerous projects like the J-8II Peace Pearl project. In the end, China spent $500 million without really getting any kind of industrial boost, while US got a thorough look at what was China's most advanced plane at the time (without being very impressed by it). It was with that backdrop that China turned to Russia for help after warming of the relations in the late 80s. It quickly found that Russia had very lax protection of technology compared to Western countries. On top of that, most of Russian military hardware were on fire sale after the Soviet collapse with pretty much anything available to anyone who had money for it. From there, China got a lot of support from Russians in not only the J-11 project, but all of China's indigenous projects. It's hard to imagine that China could've paid $2.5 billion to anyone else and got anywhere close to the amount of technology transfer, industrial help and advanced fighter jet that China got here. It wasn't until early 2000s that Russia started to catch on top how much China's military industrial complex was improving and how much success it was copying a lot of what Russia was showcasing at the time. By that time, China had already noticed that Russia was increasingly pitching non-existent projects requiring China to pay for development cost, so it was already slowing down purchases even though it seemed like the trade was still booming to the outside world. By 2007, the failed IL-76 purchase stopped all ongoing military cooperation between the 2 side. After that was resumed, China continued to purchase more aerospace engines and helicopters from Russia, but not many other major items. Even the much discussed Su-33 deals never came to fruition as China managed to build J-15s with Ukrainian help.
That brings us to the current state of cooperation between the 2 countries. The most recent deals have been AL-31FN/RD-93 engines, Mi-171E/26 helicopters and refurbished IL-76 transports. The 5 items in Farley's article are aerospace engine, Tu-22M bombers, leasing of Akula subs, S-400 SAMs and ballistic missiles. Outside of Tu-22M, I would agree with all of the other items, although China would be interested in the more advanced Tu-160. Aerospace engines and S-400 have already been proposed to China and have high likelihood of been purchased. The other items are all strategic and Russia have been reluctant to share them with China in the past. With the current international climate, Russia is relying more and more on China as it becomes isolated, one wonders if Russia would change it's mind. China would certainly gain a lot from a similar Akula II leasing deal like India got. I would imagine Tu-160 and Yasen class attack subs are completely off limits.
I have been reading for a while that China has been trying to sell electronic components to Russia for it's military products. One of which was T/R modules for Russia's AESA radar. According to the article, the Russian space agency is looking to purchase several billions of dollars of such components from China, which would be a wide range of products. Maybe this could start military export from China to Russia in other areas where Russian manufacturers have simply fallen behind like in building naval ships. Although, I would say it's far more likely that Russia would purchase subsystems and components.
So things have certainly changed in the past 20 years and the recent change in Russia's isolation around the world has seemingly pushed military cooperation even further in China's direction.
Tuesday, August 5, 2024
The Adults are Heard From: National Defense Panel 2014
Last week brought with it the release of the National Defense Panel's Assessment of the 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) entitled "Ensuring a Strong U.S. Defense for the Future". It is well-written, straightforward, and quite readable. Most importantly though, it represents the CONSENSUS view of a bi-partisan group of defense and national security experts that we are moving toward a "high risk" military force as the result of dangerous cuts in defense spending. First, a story. Back in the olden days when I was part of a team writing strategy for the Navy, we were exposed to a quiet study done by an outside organization on how the Navy was viewed by policy elites on both sides of the political spectrum. Interviews with a few dozen former Deputy, Under, and Assistant Secretaries from State, Defense, and Treasury revealed a high level of convergence on America's role in the world and the view of the Navy's importance to it. I remember reading the study and making the comment to colleagues that "the adults are in charge" when it comes to these matters, irrespective of political party. Such were the quality of those who served on this year's NDP.
What the study in part reflected was what many view as the "Post WWII security consensus" that has guided this nation's national security policy. The NDP Panel describes it thusly:
"Consistently now for nearly seventy years, no matter which party controlled the White House or
Congress, the United States has followed a policy of deep global engagement and leadership
undergirded by a military capable of forward defense and effective global power projection.
Americans judged that such a policy was the best way to preserve and protect this favorable
international order that served their interests. We believe this logic still applies in an enduringly
uncertain and increasingly hazardous world. This is because an international order favoring
American interests and values - and those of our allies and partners and indeed all nations who
wish to join - is not simply self-generating and self-sustaining. It cannot be left to the mercies of
states and non-state groups that have different agendas. Rather, it requires leadership, global
engagement, and military strength - and the only country with the power, credibility, and
dynamism to play that role is the United States." (p.10)
Increasingly, that consensus is fraying. On the right, some treat the defense budget as if it were simply another domestic spending program worthy of cutting--rather than the organizational product of a sworn Constitutional duty. On the left, some view the defense budget as a bloated anachronism in our modern, global, networked, world, worthy of raiding to fund ever-increasing social outlays. In the past, these were fringe views, and the above consensus dominated. Not so much today.
What the NDP Assessment does is bring into sharp relief the sizable mismatch between that seven decade consensus and the resources programmed to achieve it. More specifically, the study states simply that the strategic aims of the Quadrennial Defense Review it was impaneled to assess are unattainable within current budget levels. Apportioning responsibility in equal measure to Capitol Hill and the White House, the Panel advocates AS A START a return to the Gates 2012 budget baseline while repealing the 2011 BCA and its pernicious offspring, the Sequester.
Our nation's fiscal crisis was not caused by defense spending and it will not be solved by raiding it. Worse yet, doing so will only exacerbate the crises underway. The NDP puts it so: "Attempting to address America’s budget woes through defense spending cuts is dangerous and ultimately self-defeating. In this economically interdependent but poorly integrated and unstable world, an America less capable of global leadership will soon become a poorer America less capable of meeting its other federal priorities."
In a nation that seems to want bi-partisan approaches to policy making and problem solving, the NDP report reaches common sense conclusions and reminds us of the symbiotic relationships among security, military power, and economic prosperity. This report should serve as the entering argument for the next administration's national security team, no matter who is in charge.
Bryan McGrath
Sunday, August 3, 2024
Israeli Naval Forces Coastal Combat in Gaza
Global demographics shifts will increasingly drive wars towards highly-populated, urbanized coastal areas. Israel's ongoing Operation Protective Edge demonstrates a number of lessons for future littoral warfare in this environment. As learned in over a decade of COIN operations, perhaps most important is a need for significant intelligence assets - eyes on target - required to engage aimpoints precisely in cities where the enemy is closely embedded with the population.
Despite a large volume of coverage on the conflict in Gaza, very little attention has been paid to the naval side of the war. The IDF has released some interesting combat footage, though. The first video below demonstrates some of the unique cooperation between the ship (which appears to a be a Sa'ar 4.5 Hetz missile boat talking to its HQ) and Southern Command ground forces as the vessel engages an enemy mortar site with its 75mm gun.
Despite a large volume of coverage on the conflict in Gaza, very little attention has been paid to the naval side of the war. The IDF has released some interesting combat footage, though. The first video below demonstrates some of the unique cooperation between the ship (which appears to a be a Sa'ar 4.5 Hetz missile boat talking to its HQ) and Southern Command ground forces as the vessel engages an enemy mortar site with its 75mm gun.
An active video information campaign closely linked with combat operations is also vital in a world of instantaneous global communications where every citizen with a smart phone is a potential reporter. Something I find interesting in these videos is the dialogue. For example, the line "mortars are being launched towards Israel" and similar language in other IDF videos seems to suggest that these units may have received some guidance on specifically articulating the threat as their footage would be used in information operations. Contrast this professional language to some of the unprofessional, profanity-laced gun-camera footage leaked early-on during OIF that embarrassed US forces. I would hope by now that we've learned as a military that all radio/data transmissions are being recorded, at all times, and that if we do it right, communications incidental to combat can support overall campaign messaging.
In the video below, a Hamas rocket launcher is engaged with some sort of electro-optically guided, ship-fired missile (Spike?). Of interest is the verbal terminal guidance, "left, left, left, left" just before the missile hits its target. Clearly this sort of precise targeting - which was out of the visual line-of-sight of the ship - required close coordination with ground and air forces. Press reporting shows that both UAVs and Israeli commandos have supported targeting for air and naval engagements during the current conflict.
Dozens of strategic direct action missions into Gaza have been launched by the IDF's Shayetet (Flotilla) 13 naval commando force. In a politically-charged place like Gaza, occupation forces are not palatable and maritime raids, be they surgical special operations or larger scale punitive Marine operations, remain an important tool for ground-force commanders.
The final video is a follow-up to a previous post regarding the failed Hamas naval commando unit infiltration. Apparently, Israel's Navy was also actively engaged in targeting at least some of the five intruders from the water.
The opinions and views expressed in this post are those of the author alone and are presented in his personal capacity. They do not necessarily represent the views of U.S. Department of Defense or the US Navy.
Saturday, August 2, 2024
More on US/China naval dialog and J-20 project
In my last post, I talked about China's participation in the Rim PAC 2014 exercise. As this was happening, Admiral Greenert, Chief of US naval operation, made a visit to China and was the first US (possibly first foreign) service member to visit CV-16 Dalian and speak to its crew member. You can see the DOD article here.
Admiral Greenert had what seems to be a good overview and very frank conversations with his Chinese counterpart Admiral Wu about the near future of Chinese naval aviation program. I don't think it's a surprise to Chinese naval followers that they are building another STOBAR carriers similar to CV-16 before moving on to a more modern design. And it's certainly not a surprise that he saw all of the Russian equipments ripped out and replaced with brand new Chinese ones, because that's what we've seen from all of the TV reports. Even so, I really do encouraged at the increased level of communication and discussion between the two sides even though they have feel like they are dealing with possible adversaries. That's the kind of discussions that will hopefully eliminate or at least reduce miscommunications in the future. Greenert also visit a 039B (Improved Yuan) class submarine and some other ships in the North Sea Fleet around where CV-16 is based. The 039B that he boarded was one of the most recently commissioned PLAN submarine, so it certainly seems like Chinese navy is not holding back. From that, I get 2 thoughts:
There has also been more news coming out on the J-20 project. The new prototype No. 2012 has made its maiden flight. From all the pictures I've seen so far, it seems to have minimal changes from Prototype No. 2011. The word is No. 2013 and 2014 will also be coming out sometime this year for test flights. So, I think they will now start comprehensive flight testing programs. On SDF, one of my fellow PLA watcher compared the first 2 flying J-20 prototypes (no. 2001 and 2002) to YF-22 while comparing this new batch of prototypes to the F-22 EMD program. It took over 5 years from the first flight of F-22 EMD prototype to the first production F-22 being delivered to Nellis AFB. I would say it will probably take similar amount of type for the first production batch of J-20s to be delivered (so around second half of 2019). Even though the Russians have been saying production version of PAK-FA will be delivered in 2016, I think there is a good chance that won't happen and we will see the 2 aircraft enter service at around the same time.
Admiral Greenert had what seems to be a good overview and very frank conversations with his Chinese counterpart Admiral Wu about the near future of Chinese naval aviation program. I don't think it's a surprise to Chinese naval followers that they are building another STOBAR carriers similar to CV-16 before moving on to a more modern design. And it's certainly not a surprise that he saw all of the Russian equipments ripped out and replaced with brand new Chinese ones, because that's what we've seen from all of the TV reports. Even so, I really do encouraged at the increased level of communication and discussion between the two sides even though they have feel like they are dealing with possible adversaries. That's the kind of discussions that will hopefully eliminate or at least reduce miscommunications in the future. Greenert also visit a 039B (Improved Yuan) class submarine and some other ships in the North Sea Fleet around where CV-16 is based. The 039B that he boarded was one of the most recently commissioned PLAN submarine, so it certainly seems like Chinese navy is not holding back. From that, I get 2 thoughts:
- China is certainly reciprocating US efforts for greater transparency. It is also showing greater transparency in general.
- Biggest factor to the greater transparency and willingness to show what they have could be their improved hardware and professionalism. A large part of China's secrecy is due to not wanting to be embarrassed with less advanced ships and non-professional crew members.
There has also been more news coming out on the J-20 project. The new prototype No. 2012 has made its maiden flight. From all the pictures I've seen so far, it seems to have minimal changes from Prototype No. 2011. The word is No. 2013 and 2014 will also be coming out sometime this year for test flights. So, I think they will now start comprehensive flight testing programs. On SDF, one of my fellow PLA watcher compared the first 2 flying J-20 prototypes (no. 2001 and 2002) to YF-22 while comparing this new batch of prototypes to the F-22 EMD program. It took over 5 years from the first flight of F-22 EMD prototype to the first production F-22 being delivered to Nellis AFB. I would say it will probably take similar amount of type for the first production batch of J-20s to be delivered (so around second half of 2019). Even though the Russians have been saying production version of PAK-FA will be delivered in 2016, I think there is a good chance that won't happen and we will see the 2 aircraft enter service at around the same time.
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