Speculative Reports on PLA Navy’s new submarine ‘
A submarine attached to a submarine flotilla with the navy under the PLA Northern Theater Command bears off a port for the maritime combat training drills on March 23, 2022.
Western media reported on Tuesday that China recently launched what seems to be a new or upgraded class of nuclear-powered attack submarine, citing analyses based on satellite images.
Though some experts that the reports are only speculative. Commercial satellite images taken from April 24 to May 4 confirm that a probable nuclear-powered attack submarine was in dry dock at a shipyard in Northeast China, and the boat was later seen mostly submerged in the same place after the dry dock was flooded, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
It could be a new type of vessel, or it could be an upgrade of an existing model, as the vessel’s shape resembles the profile of a Type 093 submarine, Reuters said. A Pentagon report released in November, said that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy was likely to build in the next few years a new attack submarine with vertical launch tubes for cruise missiles.
Chinese media say that Western reports are only speculative and aim to hype the “China threat” theory, as No conclusion can be drawn from the photos. Though it is but natural and necessary for China to develop more advanced submarines as part of its plan to modernize its military.
China’s attack submarines are evolving to tackle a growing range of potential demands, from protecting ballistic missile submarines and the aircraft carrier battle groups to tracking enemy ships, Reuters said. China is now facing serious external threats from countries like the US and its allies, so it is developing strong enough military capabilities and comprehensive national strength.
As per Chinese reports In 2021 alone, there were 11 citing of US Navy SSGNs in the Seas South of Chinese Coast, with an obvious intent to deter China, according to a report released in March by the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative, a Beijing-based think tank. US submarine activities were so intensive that they resulted in an accident – the Seawolf-class nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Connecticut suffered an underwater collision in the South China Sea in October, 2021.
Under the framework of the AUKUS alliance, the US and UK are going to provide six SSGNs to Australia by 2035, for the first time in an attempt to contain China, even at the risk of nuclear proliferation.
Then India is already operating 3x Nuclear powered Submarines armed with Nuclear armed submarine launched ballistic missiles. In next few years three more bigger SSBNs with SLBM of intercontinental range should also be joining the Indian Navy. Also much before 2030, the Indian Navy should be getting the first of the six planned indigenous SSGNs. Prior to that the Indian Navy,may certainly be operating may be up to four SSGNs to be leased / purchased from Russia.
With the above, the Indian Navy will be able to secure the IOR from the Chinese Navy.
