December 15, 2014 Sandeep Unnithan - India Today

Four decades after the 1971 India-Pakistan war, India's intelligence agencies are once again scanning a stretch of coastline in southern Bangladesh. Cox's Bazar was rocketed and strafed by INS Vikrant's fighter aircraft to cut off the enemy's retreat into the Bay of Bengal. Today, 43 years later, it sets the stage for China's dramatic entry into India's eastern seaboard.

Assessments from the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and naval intelligence say the Bangladesh Navy will station two ex-Chinese Ming-class submarines on bases that are less than 1,000 km away from Visakhapatnam, home to the Indian Navy's nuclear powered submarine fleet and the Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) missile test ranges at Balasore.

The developments on India's Arabian Sea flank are equally ominous. Intelligence officials say that over the next decade, China will help Pakistan field submarines with the ability to launch nuclear-tipped missiles from sea. Submarines, analysts say, are China's instrument of choice to not just challenge the Indian Navy's strategy of sea domination but also to undermine India's second-strike capability. These developments have been accompanied by a flurry of Chinese submarine appearances in the Indian Ocean this year-Beijing sent two nuclear submarines and a conventional submarine. Two of them made port calls in Colombo, triggering concern in New Delhi.

Toehold in the Bay

"No one interested in geopolitics can afford to ignore the Bay of Bengal any longer," geopolitical analyst Robert Kaplan wrote in a seminal essay in Stratfor in November. "This is the newold centre of the world, joining the two demographic immensities of the Indian subcontinent and East Asia." For India, the Bay of Bengal is the launch pad for a 'Look East' policy that has received renewed attention under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Indian Navy is enhancing force levels at its Visakhapatnam naval base even as it has begun building a secret base for a proposed fleet of nuclearpowered submarines at Rambilli, south of Visakhapatnam. Equipped with the 700-km range B05 submarine launched missiles, the Arihant-class submarines will have to patrol closer to the shores of a potential adversary. But equipped with the 3,500-km range K-4 missiles currently being developed by the DRDO, the Arihant and her sister submarines can cover both Pakistan and China with nuclear-tipped missiles from within the Bay of Bengal, providing the "robust second-strike capability" as stated in India's nuclear doctrine.

Inputs suggest Bangladesh has acquired land and fenced locations at the Kutubdia Channel near Cox's Bazar and the Rabnabad Channel near West Bengal. Kutubdia, intelligence officials say, is likely to feature enclosed concrete 'pens' to hide submarines. The possibility of Chinese submarines using this base provides a fresh equation to the strategic calculus.

"Our submarines become susceptible to tracking from the time they leave harbour," says veteran submariner and former Southern Naval Command chief vice-admiral K.N. Sushil (retired). "But a far more worrying strategy is China's ability to be able to threaten our assured second-strike capability. That effectively tips the deterrence balance."

Chinese Han-class submarine Changzheng 2 in Colombo.West Coast Worries

Of greater long-term worry to Indian analysts is a strategic submarine project China finalised with Pakistan in 2010. Intelligence sources say this three-part programme will transform the Pakistan Navy into a strategic force capable of launching a sea-based nuclear weapons strike. Pakistan will build two types of submarines with Chinese assistance: the Project S-26 and Project S-30. The vessels are to be built at the Submarine Rebuild Complex (SRC) facility being developed at Ormara, west of Karachi. Intelligence sources believe the S-30 submarines are based on the Chinese Qing class submarines-3,000-tonne conventional submarines which can launch three 1,500-km range nuclear-tipped cruise missiles from its conning tower. A Very Low Frequency (VLF) station at Turbat, in southern Balochistan, will communicate with these submerged strategic submarines. The Project S-26 and S-30 submarines will augment Pakistan's fleet of five French-built submarines, enhance their ability to challenge the Indian Navy's aircraft carrier battle groups and carry a stealthy nuclear deterrent. "Submarines are highly effective force multipliers because they tie down large numbers of naval forces," says a senior naval official.

Steel sharks on silk route

Speaking in Indonesia's Parliament last October, Chinese President Xi Jinping articulated a "21st century Maritime Silk Road". His vision calls for investments in port facilities across south and south-east Asia to complement a north Asian route. This year, the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) put steel into Xi's vision. In February, a Shangclass nuclear-powered attack submarine made China's first declared deployment in the Indian Ocean. This was followed by port calls made by a Han-class submarine in Colombo to coincide with a state visit by President Xi and a visit by a Song-class conventional submarine in November.

China's heightened activity in the Indian Ocean region is underscored by investments in a new port in Gwadar at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, a container facility in Chittagong and Kyaukpyu port in Myanmar. "Such developments have sharpened China's geopolitical rivalry with India, which enjoys an immense geographic advantage in the Indian Ocean," says Brahma Chellaney of the Centre for Policy Research. "Aspects related to their (Chinese) deployment in international waters are part of securing their maritime interests," Navy chief Admiral Robin K. Dhowan told journalists in Delhi on December 3.

China's new military posture reflects the 'Malacca dilemma' faced by the world's largest oil importer. Close to 80 per cent of China's crude oil imports of 11 million barrels per day, the life blood of its economy, is shipped through the narrow Malacca Strait. Any disruption to this could threaten its economic growth. "Hence, China's economic interests in the Indian Ocean have now taken on an overt military dimension," says an intelligence official.

Naval intelligence officials who correctly predicted that China would use anti-piracy patrols as a pretext for deployments in the Indian Ocean feel vindicated. Their prognosis of this game of 'weiqi'-a game of Chinese chess which uses encirclement, is gloomy. "A full-scale Chinese deployment in the Indian Ocean is inevitable," an admiral told India Today.

"You can only watch it and prepare yourself for it." The preparations include acquisitions of long-range maritime patrol aircraft such as the US-made P8-I Poseidon, investment in anti-submarine warfare and inducting new submarines and helicopters to fill up critical deficiencies in force levels.

Measured Response

China's submarine thrust into South Asia coincides with Narendra Modi's renewed emphasis on securing India's perimeter. "India's response has to be nuanced, a mixture of coercion and largesse," says Jayadeva Ranade, a former RAW official and member of the National Security Advisory Board. While the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government scoffed at encirclement theories, the new Government is clearly concerned over the creeping Chinese presence.

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval voiced India's concerns at the 'Galle Dialogue' in Sri Lanka on December 1. He cited a 1971 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution mooted by Sri Lanka calling on the "great powers to halt further escalation and expansion of their military presence in the Indian Ocean".

India's defence diplomacy has been severely limited by its inability to offer military hardware to offset the Chinese presence. Over half the military hardware of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are of Chinese origin. In 2008, India called off a plan to transfer the INS Vela to the Myanmar Navy when it discovered the vintage Russian-built submarine was past its service life.

When plans to transfer hardware materialise, they are too feeble to make a difference-a solitary helicopter such as the one gifted to Nepal by Modi in November and a small ex-Indian naval patrol craft gifted to Seychelles recently. Often, there is a demand for capabilities where India itself is deficient. Bangladeshi officials stumped Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) officials last year when they asked India, and not China, to provide submarines. The Indian Navy is down to just 13 aging conventional submarines. The MEA suggested Bangladesh buy Russian submarines instead. Their efforts are yet to bear fruit. It is a gap China willingly fills.

03.12.2014 Par Philippe Barret – lenouveleconomiste.fr

Officiellement, le budget militaire de la Chine est de 130 milliards de dollars. Mais certains experts occidentaux y voient une sous-évaluation délibérée et l’estiment à 300 milliards de dollars.

À la fin des années 1990, l’Onu avait encouragé la Chine à convertir une partie de la production de ses entreprises de défense vers le civil. Et cet encouragement a été suivi d’effet. Les entreprises militaires chinoises ont volontiers consenti à cette réorientation partielle de leurs activités : autant de chiffre d’affaires, autant de bénéfices en plus.

Ce qui est en cause aujourd’hui, c’est la participation d’entreprises privées à la production de matériels militaires. C’est ainsi que le ministère de la Défense a invité les entreprises privées à soumettre leurs propositions à 108 appels, portant notamment sur les processeurs de données, les positionnements sans fils à courte distance, les avions d’alerte précoce et les simulateurs d’entraînement.

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2014-12-01 China Defense Blog (Source: CNTV)  

　 　China has launched its most advanced warship for export. Built by the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, the frigate, named Independent, is made for the Bangladeshi navy and is due to be delivered next year.

　　This will become the Bangladeshi navy's most advanced warship, and be a real boost to its coastal defence capability.

　 　25 knots sailing speed, anti-radar design, highly adaptable to weather and oceanic conditions, and decked out with powerful weapons.

　　The frigate "Independent" is made to be an all-rounder.

　 　"We believe this ship has very good cost performance. It can serve to protect the sovereignty and interests of a country out at sea. It can patrol, escort, protect fishing boats and conduct law enforcement," said Yang Zhigang, president of China Shipbuilding Industry Co..

　　The "Independent" is one of two vessels ordered from China by Bangladesh.

　 　Researchers at the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation have redesigned the ship's structure to suit the complex conditions of the Indian ocean.

　　"We made a new ship form. It's cross-section looks like a deep Vee. Compared to the traditional round bilge hull form, it improves the performance of the ship when there are waves, guaranteeing high sailing speed in unfavorable oceanic condition," said Sun Lianfei, chief designer of China Shipbuilding Industry Co..

　　Designers also gave a boost its mobility and survivability.

　 　"It has two engines and two propellers. They can work independently. This design makes it more reliable and durable. Its powerhouses are separately located, improving its survivability," Sun said.

　　The newly launched frigate will stay in the port for months while electronic equipment and weaponry systems are installed.

　　And after 6 months, the "Independent" will leave her mother port, and take up her post as a mighty guard on the Indian Ocean.

PEKIN, 17 novembre - RIA Novosti

Le ministre russe de la Défense Sergueï Choïgou est arrivé lundi en visite officielle en Chine où il a une rencontre programmée par le premier ministre chinois Li Keqiang, a annoncé le porte-parole du ministère russe de la Défense Igor Konachenkov.

"Lors de son séjour à Pékin, M.Choïgou aura des négociations avec son homologue chinois Chang Wanquan et sera reçu par le premier ministre du pays Li Keqiang", a déclaré devant les journalistes M.Konachenkov qui accompagne le ministre en Chine.

Et de préciser que ces entretiens porteraient sur les questions d'actualité de la politique internationale et régionale, ainsi que sur la coopération militaro-technique entre Moscou et Pékin.

Le ministre russe de la Défense Sergueï Choïgou et le vice-président de la Commission militaire centrale de la République populaire de Chine (RPC) Xu Qilang vont coprésider les travaux de la 19e réunion de la commission intergouvernementale russo-chinoise pour la coopération militaire et technique.

Formée conformément à un accord intergouvernemental du 24 novembre 1992, cette commission mixte se réunit une fois par an, alternativement à Moscou et à Pékin.

November 14, 2014 by Mike Hoffman  - defensetech.org

China unveiled its version of the U.S. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter — the Shenyang FC-31 — at the biennial Zhuhai Air Show in a surprise to the rest of the world’s aviation community.

The military aviation display comes ahead of President Obama’s visit to Beijing for the APEC summit. It also comes right before Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel had planned to visit U.S. allies in the Pacific. Hagel has since delayed that trip.

Many have speculated that China’s display of the FC-31 was meant as a show of force as the U.S. makes strides on its own F-35 program.

Rarely do the Chinese display an aircraft ahead of the completion of its development, which caused the ground swell when the FC-31 made headlines at the Chinese air show. Plenty of cameras from across the globe were pointed into the sky as foreign military leaders got their first up close look at the aircraft.

12 novembre 2014 par Jacques N. Godbout - 45eNord.ca

Au moment où le président des États-Unis Barack Obama est à Pékin pour le sommet Asie-Pacifique, la Chine a dévoilé son nouvel avion de chasse furtif, qui pourrait bien concurrencer le F-35 américain, lors du salon aéronautique de Zhuhai qui se tient du 11 au 16 novembre.

Le Président Xi Jinping veut renforcer les forces armées de Chine, les entreprises chinoises de défense et l’armée de l’air de l’Armée populaire de libération.

La Chine espère que les J-31 avions furtifs très attendus, développé par l’AVIC (l’Aviation Industry Corp of China ), premier fabricant d’avions du pays, fers concurrence avec le matériel de fabrication américaine sur les marchés d’exportation.

Le J-31 a effectué une démonstration, mais n’a pas été exposé ensuite au salon aéronautique où on ne pouvait voir qu’une maquette du nouveau chasseur chinois.

Un porte-parole de l’AVIC, Fu Mingyao, a cependant déclaré que l’entreprise m’entend pas commencer à faire la promotion de l’appareil maintenant, mais deux autres démonstrations du J-31 sont toutefois prévues pendant le salon.

«Les experts prédisent que le J-31 fera des incursions rapides dans le marché international à l’avenir, et saura sans doute voler la vedette au F-35», avait écrit le Quotidien du Peuple, organe du parti communiste chinois, en août dernier, ajoutant que l’avion serait particulièrement intéressant pour les pays qui sont exclus des exportations d’armes américaines.

Le J-31 est d’environ la même taille que le F-35.

Le chasseur furtif chinois de 5e génération destiné à l’exportation, sera équipé d’un propulseur russe RD-93, a pour sa part annoncé au salon aéronautique Sergueï Kornev, chef de la délégation de l’Agence russe d’exportation d’armements (Rosoboronexport), cité par l’agence officielle russe Ria Novosti.

«On estime que le J-31, équipé de propulseur russe RD-93 et destiné à l’exportation, est capable de concurrencer l’avion américain de cinquième génération F-35 sur les marchés régionaux», a indiqué le responsable russe.

«Le programme es ambitieux, mais tout à fait réaliste, surtout si l’on tient compte du coût élevé du F-35 et de certains problèmes lors de sa mise au point», a estimé Sergueï Kornev.

La Chine a jusqu’à maintenant mis au point deux chasseurs de cinquième génération, le J-20 et le J-31, capables, selon lui, de rivaliser avec le F-35 américain et le T-50 russe.

Les avions furtifs devraient en outre permettre à la force aérienne de la Chine, une armée de l’air principalement territoriale actuellement, de développer la capacité à réaliser des deux opérations offensives et défensives.

L’avion furtif, disent les analystes, permettra ainsi à la Chine de mieux projeter sa force dans les mers de Chine orientale et de Chine du Sud.

Sécurité La Chine a mis au point une arme laser capable de détruire en vol des drones légers

03/11/2014 latribune.fr 

La Chine a trouvé une parade à la menace des petits drones qui survolent des sites protégés. Pékin a développé une arme laser capable de détruire en vol des drones légers.

La solution est radicale... mais efficace. Alors que des drones continuent de survoler des centrales nucléaires françaises, la Chine a mis au point une arme laser capable de détruire en vol des drones légers, a rapporté lundi la presse, quelques jours avant le forum de l'Asie-Pacifique pour lequel Pékin renforce ses mesures de sécurité. Ce dispositif a un rayon d'action de deux kilomètres et peut atteindre une petite cible aérienne, évoluant à basse altitude, moins de cinq secondes après l'avoir localisée, a précisé l'agence Chine nouvelle en citant un communiqué de l'Académie d'ingénierie de Chine.

Les médias d'Etat ont diffusé des photographies du système, composé d'un gros cube mobile, recouvert d'une peinture motif camouflage, sur lequel est fixé un canon émettant le faisceau laser. L'agence Chine nouvelle a aussi publié des clichés d'épaves de drones, détruits en vol.

Un système de défense clé

Ce système de défense est appelé à jouer un rôle clé à l'occasion d'événements majeurs organisés dans les sites urbains, a-t-elle ajouté. Pékin accueille la semaine prochaine le Forum de coopération économique Asie-Pacifique (Apec), une réunion au sommet pour laquelle la capitale chinoise s'apprête à fortement renforcer ses mesures de sécurité.

23/10/14 7sur7.be (Belga)

Les autorités chinoises ont mobilisé plus de 1.200 soldats et déployé deux avions de chasse, en réaction au vol non autorisé d'un drone privé réalisant des études topographiques, non loin de l'aéroport de Pékin, ont indiqué jeudi des médias d'Etat.

Trois hommes ont été inculpés par la justice à la suite de l'incident, survenu en décembre dernier mais révélé récemment, a précisé le China Daily. Selon les procureurs ayant instruit l'affaire, 1.226 membres de l'armée, 123 véhicules militaires, 26 techniciens spécialisés, deux hélicoptères et deux avions de chasses, avaient été rapidement dépêchés sur les lieux pour intercepter cet aéronef non identifié apparu sur les écrans radars. La police a arrêté les deux hommes qui manipulaient le drone, tandis qu'un troisième a confessé ultérieurement sa part de responsabilité, selon le journal.

Tous trois travaillaient pour une entreprise de technologie aéronautique, et le drone de 2,6 mètres d'envergure qu'ils faisaient voler ce jour-là était destiné à des usages d'études topographiques et de cartographie, a ajouté le China Daily. En raison de ce drone et de la mobilisation qui avait suivi, 10 vols au départ de l'aéroport de Pékin avait été retardés, provoquant des pertes financières de quelque 18.000 yuans (2.300 euros) pour la compagnie Air China, à en croire le quotidien.

La Chine interdit strictement tout vol d'aéronef -avec personne à bord ou télécommandé depuis le sol- sans autorisation préalable de l'armée, des autorités de l'aviation civile et du bureau local de contrôle du trafic aérien.

27 October 2014 By PAUL KALLENDER-UMEZU

TOKYO — Japan’s response to Chinese anti-access/area-denial threats rest on three planks: increasingly large helicopter carriers, next-generation 3,300-ton Soryu-class submarines and new Aegis destroyers.

This strategy is further enhanced by plans to deploy 20 Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft as replacements for the P-3C, and upgraded SH-60K sub-hunting helicopters.

When integrated, this will create a much more capable fleet able to expand its role beyond being a simple “shield” to the US Navy’s “spear,” analysts said.

Data from AMI International shows that the Izumo-class helicopter destroyers (22DDH) and the Soryu-class submarines are the leading programs for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), both in budget and importance to Japan’s maritime security, according to Bob Nugent, affiliate consultant at AMI.

Japan unveiled the first of the two planned Izumo-class ships on Aug. 6, 2013 — the largest Japanese warship since World War II — which will be able to carry 15 helicopters. In 2009 and 2011, the Navy also commissioned two new third-generation Hyuga-class helicopter destroyers, each capable of deploying 11 helicopters. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Gen. Chang Wanquan (L), state councilor and Chinese defense minister with Australian Defense Minister David Johnston (R) in Beijing on October 13, 2014. (mod.gov.cn/Li Xiaowei)

13-10-2014 Par LIANG Chen - French.china.org.cn

Le ministre chinois de la Défense nationale, Chang Wanquan, s'est entretenu avec son homologue australien David Johnston lundi à Beijing.

M.Chang a indiqué que les relations militaires bilatérales ont connu un développement sain et stable depuis que les deux pays ont établi en 2013 un partenariat stratégique de confiance et de bénéfices mutuels.

Les forces armées des deux pays ont maintenu de fréquentes visites de haut niveau et les dialogues stratégiques bilatéraux ont bien fonctionné. Les échanges professionnels et la coopération entre les deux parties ont porté leurs fruits, a affirmé M.Chang.

Selon lui, la Chine est prête à travailler avec l'Australie pour approfondir les échanges pragmatiques et la coopération et faire progresser les relations militaires bilatérales.

M.Johnston a assuré, de son côté, que l'Australie espérait augmenter les échanges et la coopération avec la Chine dans les domaines de la sécurité maritime, des secours humanitaires et de la prévention des catastrophes

Brussels, 08 October 2014 141008/02

General Patrick de Rousiers, Chairman of the EU Military Committee, travels tomorrow to Beijing to hold the first EU-China Dialogue on Security and Defence. This mission, the first of its kind, stems from last March's visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the EU. It was agreed on that occasion – based on the good cooperation so far – to raise the level of EU- China dialogue and cooperation on defence and security.

The General is expected to hold meetings with Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan and Chief of General Staff Fang Fenghui as well as give a speech at the PLA Defence University and participate in a roundtable with Chinese experts.

This initiative is part of the implementation of the EU-China 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation agreed by both sides at the 2013 EU-China Summit.

October 4, 2014: Strategy Page

Taiwan recently announced the retirement (real soon) of its 19 Hawk anti-aircraft missile batteries and over 900 Hawk missiles. This is apparently a message to China to brace for more formidable air defense systems. Hawk is being replaced by the locally developed Sky Bow II system. For many countries, modern versions of Hawk get the job done for local threats and is an affordable (less than $300,000 per missile) solution for air-defense needs. But as the Chinese improve their ECM (Electronic Countermeasures), especially the ECM carried by their most modern fighters and bombers, Hawk has become less of an obstacle.  Sky Bow II, using a lot of licensed American technology has much better electronics and the missile weighs 1.2 tons and has a range of over 150 kilometers. There is also an anti-ballistic missile version (Sky Bow III) that is supposed to enter service in 2015. While there is a mobile version of Sky Bow II, many of the missiles are launched from underground silos, which are much better protected from attack. The mobile version uses a box like launcher containing four missiles in sealed containers. There is a radar and control system (in a truck or underground) for every four to eight launchers. Sky Bow I and II were introduced in the 1990s and Sky Bow I is being replaced by Sky Bow II.

Each Hawk battery has six towed launchers each carrying three of the 590 kg (1,290 pound) Hawk missiles plus a radar, control center and maintenance vehicles. In the last 60 year over 40,000 Hawk missiles were produced and bought by the nearly 30 countries that used (or still use) Hawk. While Hawk has been upgraded since it entered service in 1959, some countries have gone beyond that. Back in 2011, South Korea introduced a locally designed and produced Iron Hawk II anti-aircraft missile system. This replaced three existing U.S. Hawk missile battalions. Iron Hawk II is mobile, with the radar and launchers carried on trucks. Each launcher truck has six missiles in sealed storage/firing containers. The original Hawk did not use the container system. Hawk missiles have a max range of 40 kilometers and a max altitude of 15,000 meters (46,500 feet). The search radar (with a max range of 100 kilometers) guides missiles part of the way before the missiles' own guidance system takes over for the final approach. South Korea had help from Russia in developing the AESA search radar and the Iron Hawk missiles. Because the main military threat, North Korea, is right next to South Korea, Hawk range is not a big issue.

30/09/2014 Par Patrick Saint-Paul, envoyé spécial à Taïpeh – LeFigaro.fr

Si les puissantes armées de Pékin attaquaient, Taïpeh devrait s'engager dans une guerre asymétrique.

Lâchée par ses alliés, confrontée à la montée en puissance et la modernisation à marche forcée de l'Armée populaire de libération (APL), Taïwan change sa doctrine militaire. Toujours considérée par Pékin comme une «île rebelle» qu'il n'exclue pas de reconquérir par la force, Taïpeh se prépare désormais à résister à une éventuelle invasion chinoise de façon asymétrique.

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