Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Data Figure: Russian Navy Kuznetsov aircraft carrier

reporter/Weidong Xu

Recently, the old maritime powers of Europe and Asia emerging in the construction of naval forces at sea seems to reveal a “Peter eliminate this long,” the development trend. According to the British “Jane’s Defense Weekly” website reported that the British Navy’s “Harrier” type of carrier-based aircraft on December 15 for the final “farewell performance”, then with the Air Force fighter jets with the same model in four months to complete retired. According to Agence France-Presse reported that the British Navy’s “Ark Royal” aircraft also retired this month. In addition, France, Russia has to a certain extent, a fresh start, gave up some of the original development plan. In contrast, India, Japan and other countries in the construction of naval forces is to show “gets going on” momentum.

Is the development of the Navy a “wind prevailing over the west”? The answer should be negative. In fact, when people are surprised at the old Navy “in decline”, they often neglect its inherent strategic choice.

advantage of re-insurance choice

to slash the military budget to reduce the huge budget deficit, British Prime Minister Cameron recently released a “strategic defense and Security Review “report, the” Ark Royal “aircraft carrier and the ship is equipped with the” Harrier “type of carrier-based aircraft from the British navy’s main equipment thoroughly removed.

some of the British senior officers that the decision “in the strategic and financially absurd.” But the reality is that the British Navy with the “ton output capacity,” the determination to keep the coveted “Queen Elizabeth” class large aircraft carrier, and equipment for the future of advanced F-35 carrier aircraft leave enough funding. Foreseeable future, the British Navy carrier battle group will be more powerful. Meanwhile, the combined British and French aircraft carrier program, also shows the flexibility to do more with less strategic.

The Russian Navy has experienced the confusion after the Soviet Union, but also to adjust the focus of development, one of the outstanding performance that is, striving to maintain the “Kuznetsov” aircraft carrier, accelerate the construction of “Borei “class strategic nuclear submarine, the introduction of the rule of law” Northwest Wind “-class amphibious assault ship, trying to maintain traditional strengths and the development of offshore offshore delivery capabilities combined with strategic objectives.

comprehensive survey of British and Russian naval development mode, you can find it more and more emphasis on aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, a class of large-scale platform in order to ensure the continuity of such equipment, even at the cost to make a minor sacrifice. Particularly in the financial crisis, the strategic transformation under the pressure of other issues, the old maritime powers of Europe have started to re-choose, to “encounter” tactics, maintaining a strong navy.

by its strong external force to be

range in Asia, Japan and India’s naval development model has some similarities. Both countries are to a large extent with the “external force.”

shipbuilding industry due to the level of scientific and technological strength and policy continuity, and many other factors, the Indian Navy preferred to buy foreign advanced mature platforms, weapons and technology, first from the UK to buy a “virrat” No. carrier, and later bought second-hand Russian-made aircraft carrier, hopes to build in a short time three aircraft carrier battle groups. However, due to the “Harrier” type of carrier-based aircraft aging and problem-prone, combined with continued price increases hit the Russian-made aircraft carrier, India’s aircraft carrier as a strategic line of the puppet tied to a variety of mention, by the multi-constraint. In the purchase of Russian surface ships, the rule of law “Scorpene” class conventional submarines and U.S. P-8I long-range anti-submarine aircraft, the Indian Navy may also have similar problems.

Unlike India, Japan with a special alliance with the United States, the MSDF has been developed to limit the size. In cooperation with the United States, Japan, to maximize the use of their technological advantages, to master a certain amount of initiative. In the use of mature technologies, while the United States, Japan also deeply involved in the “Standard” series of anti-missile/air defense missile production and research and development, to support Coast Guard equipment to become the first East Asia, “Aegis” destroyers and the “Standard” missile sea power. In addition, the Japanese themselves possess the military strength, so in order to create a stand-alone “on the” class destroyers and P-1 helicopter anti-submarine aircraft such advanced equipment, rather than relying solely on the US-made equipment. However, due to political and other reasons, the development of naval forces in Japan still can not escape the shadow of the United States.

visible, too with the external development of the Navy, there will always be constrained.

independence for the best

the world’s major countries, the Chinese navy’s development always seems to attract additional attention of the outside world. British “Daily Mail” on December 18, published an article that period of time since Henry VIII, the British people are proud of the Royal Navy has been reduced to a minimum size; At the same time, China is to create “the first aircraft carrier.” Reported that speculation, “the first one in the UK after launching a new aircraft carrier, China’s first aircraft carrier will also be launched in 2015, 2020, China will have 27 destroyers, 52 frigates and 66 submarines.” Although the report there are many subjective elements, but also from a side that progress and development of the Chinese Navy has caused widespread concern in the West.

The Chinese Navy already has a number of “Chinese Aegis” destroyers, 054A-type frigates and nuclear/conventional submarines. Even more unusual is that these advanced ships are designed and built by China. Some analysts pointed out that it is in long-term learning and the accumulation of China’s shipbuilding industry, military industrial enterprises to continuously strong, can provide most of the main equipment for the Navy’s choice. However, as a sea power to adhere to the concept of peace, the Chinese navy still need to continue to grow, like “sea power” theory advocates, the famous American naval strategist and historian, Mahan once said, “there is light and no legal power to get justice. ” (Source: International Online – “News of the World”)