China has introduced two more nuclear ballistic missile submarines. The two subs were spotted by researchers recently while viewing Google Earth satellite images.
The two submarines join a third “JIN” or Type 94 class boat already accepted by the Chinese navy. However, these may be the only be two such submarines in service because the first submarine has returned to the ship yard for repairs after its initial sea trials earlier this year.
Each Type 94 boat was expected to be armed with 16 JL-2 long-range nuclear tipped ballistic missile. However, current photo images show that the submarine can only carry 12 such missiles.
The JL-2 missile is a modification of the Dong Feng 31 land-based ballistic missile. The JL-2 has the capability of carrying either a single three megaton H bomb warhead or three smaller 100 kiloton nuclear warheads. The JL-2 does have the range to cover most of the United States from the Type 94 operational areas in the Pacific.
The JL-2 missile has not been cleared for service so the current Chinese submarine force is serving without weaponry. At this point, only one test firing of the JL-2 from a modified test submarine has been reported, and with mixed results.
The Type 94 missile boats are not expected to enter operational service until after 2010.
It is also uncertain whether China will build any more Type 94 submarines because of problems encountered during the sea trials of the first boat. It has been reported that the Chinese were not impressed by its capability and where dismayed by the apparent ease with which it could be found.
The Chinese military has been upset for a while at Google and other international providers of satellite images. Researchers have found a number of Chinese military bases and equipment using the satellite imagery. For example, images of an underground hanger system at one airbase and an underground submarine base are both available on Google satellite.
In addition, Chinese air bases, missile sites, air defense sites, and warship construction facilities are available. These areas are generally off-limits for local viewing. China has threatened to penalize researchers who use these images of Chinese facilities. However, it is not clear how the Chinese government would enforce such charges.
What is clear from the images and from inside the People’s Liberation Army is the fact that China is having problems equipping its military forces despite increased budgets. For example, China recently put the new Z10 helicopter gunship on display. According to the Chinese army, eight prototypes of the Z10 have been built so far.
China was able to put together the Z10 with a little help for cash. Reportedly, Italian manufacturer Agusta/Westland provided consulting services, and may have participated in the direct design and construction of the first Z10. Italy, of course, is not talking about the deal so all information on their participation is currently secret.
However, the Z10 is powered by Canadian engines — two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67Cs. The Canadian firm says it exported the engines to China with the understanding that they were for a new civilian transport helicopter. The result has led Pratt & Whitney Canada to not sell any more engines to China.
Because of the engine export ban, the Z10 cannot enter mass production until China develops a suitable replacement for the engine. Chinese turbine engine development and production is notoriously slow.
The lack of suitable engines has held up several Chinese military programs. The Chinese made WS-10A jet engine has been under development for its J-10 and J-11 jet fighter for almost a decade. The WS-10A has not been successful and is difficult to maintain.
The engine — a local copy of the Russian Saturn AL-31 engine that powers the famed Sukhoi SU-27 — was unable to be perfected in time for the Chinese air force J-10 strike fighter. As a result, the current production of J-10 fighters is limited to the number of Saturn AL-31 engines that can be bought from Russia.
In addition, lack of a suitable engine is limited the Chinese military export of the FC-1 fighter to Pakistan. The FC-1 has also been crippled by a dependency on Russia to export the necessary engines. The FC-1 is powered by the RD-93 engine, a revised version of the power plant on the MiG-29 Fulcrum.
The contract to supply over 100 RD-93 engines has been up in the air for months as India has protested the exports to Moscow. Moscow, well aware that India is its largest military customer, is likely to limit the export of the RD-93 to a trickle, thus crippling the FC-1 project and the Pakistani air force.
China is determined to end Western export bans of advanced military technology. The Chinese effort to lobby the U.S. and Europe to end sanctions is an ongoing process.
For example, China is seeking to join the International Space station again despite the bad publicity involved with the 2007 anti-satellite test. Chinese officials expressed their desires during a recent news conference.
“We hope to take part in activities related to the international space station,” stated Li Xueyong, a vice minister of science and technology. “If I am not mistaken, this program has 16 countries currently involved and we hope to be the 17th partner.”
U.S. opposition to the Chinese participation is underscored by the fact that China launched its Jan. 2007 test that destroyed an aging weather satellite. The resulting debris has endangered both U.S. and Russian manned space flights to the space station.
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