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

Malaysian naval equipment legal” Scorpene “class submarine

reporter/Weidong Xu

Southeast Asian countries as the favored increasing the submarine, anti-submarine naval countries of the region gradually became lip of the popular vocabulary. According to the U.S., “Aviation Week” disclosure, in Singapore this month at the International Maritime Defense Exhibition, many Southeast Asian countries, Navy officials have expressed strong interest in anti-submarine helicopters. There are indications that the emerging Southeast Asian countries has been expanded to the submarine procurement boom trend in the field of anti-submarine warfare.

submarine procurement upsurge was

a long time for the South China Sea, the Chinese government has consistently adhered to “shelving disputes and seeking common development” policy, which reflects the Chinese to solve the problem of sincerity and goodwill to avoid conflicts. However, some Southeast Asian countries do not appreciate this, and even intensified coveted oil and gas resources in the South China Sea, and began to expand the Navy. And concealed, a large submarine naturally became lethal weapon of choice.

in the Southeast Asian countries, Singapore has a relatively long history of advanced submarines, as early as the late 1990s from Sweden bought four “Challenger” class submarines. However, these submarines have been decades old boat, even after the overall improvement, it is difficult to meet current operational needs. In view of this, the Singapore Navy in 2009 and successively in 2010, bought two from Sweden, a more advanced “shooter” grade (“Gotland” level) AIP (air independent propulsion) submarines, Southeast Asia’s first submarine equipped with AIP countries.

Malaysian Navy’s starting point is not low. Currently, Ma Haijun ordered two from the French “Scorpene” class submarines have all arrived, one of the “end of old Abdul Rahman” was also at the end of July in the South China Sea last year test-fired a high-profile potential radio model “flying fish” anti-ship missiles, the “regional submarine contest” to a climax.

neighbors saw impressive army building ships, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines have begun to actively build submarine force. Vietnam has ordered six from Russia, “Kilo” class submarine, the first boat built in 2013 and is expected to be delivered. Indonesia’s navy is not far behind to formulate a plan to equip five submarines, Russia or South Korea will reportedly purchase. Thailand, “Bangkok Post” is disclosed in the country in recent Navy’s submarine procurement project. It is reported that Thailand’s Ministry of Defense has approved the Navy’s $ 8 billion baht (about 2.5 billion yuan) to buy six German U-206A submarine. The Philippine military has also said publicly that want to buy a submarine. The country’s “Daily Inquirer” quoted Philippine military spokesman as saying that Rodriguez “other countries are equipped with a submarine, we also need to keep peering in the field the ability to respond to the future because of potential conflicts , the submarine will be a very effective means of deterrence. ” It can be said Philippine Navy spokesman’s statement points to the Southeast Asian multi-national naval mind.

into an arms race cycle

Southeast Asian countries with the implementation of the Navy’s submarine program, anti-submarine weapons and equipment along with attention.

“Aviation Week” reports that in Singapore at the International Maritime Defense Exhibition, an exhibition of Malaysian senior Navy officials said the Navy plans currently has six “Super Lynx.” anti-submarine helicopters, based on the performance to purchase six more advanced anti-submarine helicopters. Allegedly, the Malaysian Government has included the procurement cases from 2011 to 2015 the country’s 10th Five-Year Plan. The official said Ma Haijun ready to buy range far and a range of strong medium-sized helicopters. The outside world that the American MH-60R “Seahawk” and Agusta – Westland’s AW-159 “Wildcats” helicopter may be selected. The report also said Indonesia’s navy is also interested in buying anti-submarine helicopter, the Thai military wants its fleet of S-70 helicopter to buy “anti-submarine component,” while Singapore American P-3C anti-submarine aircraft seems to be more desirable.

Clearly, Southeast Asia’s submarine procurement boom has spawned a follow-up of the “anti-submarine aircraft procurement effect ‘, equipped with advanced countries in the submarine at the same time begin to focus on” counter-weapons. ”

Insiders pointed out that the current development trend, between Southeast Asian countries’ submarine battle “has intensified the trend. Southeast Asian countries generally small size of the Navy, while several submarines equipped with a small number of combat will be able to increase exponentially, which can easily lead to “one country, pick head, other countries follow suit” situation. Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and other countries similar to the Navy’s submarine purchase quantity, from the side to prove this point. With the advanced naval submarine and gradually settled in Southeast Asia, some countries have suddenly found their naval anti-submarine warfare force is very weak, and some is simply blank, so can only continue to purchase anti-submarine weapons and equipment, which may be finished into a fight to fight anti-submarine aircraft of the submarine again arms race cycle.

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and China has nothing to do

speculation, “China military threat theory “Western countries and China in Southeast Asia instigate relations trick. Southeast Asian countries in order to emphasize the need to purchase anti-submarine aircraft, “Aviation Week,” the article claimed, “Given the increasingly powerful China and China’s submarine force showed more self-confidence and other Asian countries will enhance anti-submarine warfare force as an urgent task.” . But the reality is that China’s military modernization is to meet the legitimate defense needs, never not for a country. Moreover, China as the world’s production of the few independent national nuclear and conventional submarines, the submarine has long been a mature technology and a certain amount of submarine force, not only in recent years, sudden force, and therefore do not exist and country engaged in submarine or anti-submarine race issues.

Some analysts pointed out that in Southeast Asia spotlight Masamori “submarine battle” is largely internal competition among Southeast Asian countries. However, this targeted arms procurement may intensify regional conflicts, and inviting the risk of military conflict. (Jose)

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