China, as a rising maritime power and a major player in the world, is now focusing its efforts on subsea warfare. Over 30 new submarines have been added to the Chinese navy in the past decade. Diesel-powered attack submarines, the SSBNs of today are now available. They have long-range offensive strike capability. Compared to their predecessors, the latest submarines are quieter and require less energy.
New diesel-powered attack submarine
According to reports in China, a new type d- diesel-powered attack submarine is being built. It has a unique sail design, which may increase its stealth. A photo in the report shows a group eating together and a handover ceremony of the Type 039 submarine.
Type 039C Yuan has four German MTU Diesel engines and a cylindrical bow-mounted Sonar system. This vessel is expected capable of tracking enemy ship and protecting People's Liberation Army Navy aircraft carrier wargroups. It is expected to be equipped with air-independent power, or AIP. This allows the ship's to cruise longer, and recharge its batteries. The Chinese navy currently has the largest fleet of AIP submarines.
Long-range offensive strike capabilities
The Chinese navy is investing heavily in its submarine fleet, with the intention of increasing the offensive capabilities of these vessels. The SSBNs must be able to withstand extreme conditions in order for China to remain credible. Although Beijing has made great efforts to make its nuclear submarines more resilient, there are still many challenges.
To date, the Chinese Navy has 41 modern diesel submarines. They are most often equipped with cruise missiles or torpedoes. These submarines can strike target surface vessels at a range of 10 to 20 miles. This distance is well beyond what the sensors of the target vessel can detect.
Bastion strategy
The bastion strategy is an approach to submarine deployment that the Chinese government has not yet officially acknowledged, but many military analysts believe Beijing has been systematically implementing it. The South China Sea's north and central areas are sufficiently deep for large nuclear submarines to be accommodated. They are also naturally sound-resistant because of their salt content and high temperature, which is a good thing for Chinese SSBNs. You can also receive surface and aerial protection from the submarines.
To protect its nuclear submarine fleet, Soviet Union used a strategy called "bastion" during the Cold War. The bastion concept refers to an area that is heavily patrolled and surrounded by friendly shorelines. In the case of the Soviet Union, the Sea of Okhotsk and Barents Sea served as bastions for their submarine fleets. The strategy remains important to the Russian Northern or Pacific Fleets.