Asia Sub Race

7/30/2019 Asia Sub Race

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IMDEX ASEA FOCUS

Massimo AnnatiAsian Submarine ForcesTaking ShapeIs an Underwater ArmsRace Taking Place in Asia?

Four refurbished and "tropicalised" ex-Swedish Navy SJORMEN-class boats form the Republic of Singapore Navy Squadron 171(CHALLENGER class).(Photo: Singapore MINDEF)

Despite the seriousness of the glo-

The procurement of subma-exception, as a gro-

Current procurement trends in Asia as

First of all, in Europe there is a generalised

marines, there is

ing cooperation in thefield, like Indonesia, Singa-

suspect, and it is not going unnoticed that twoof these countries have just recently raised avaluable submarine arm from scratch. In thisframework, procurement of new strategicallyrelevant equipment such as submarines couldstart sort of an arms race, and indeed someobservers would maintain that this is alreadythe case.Further, new technologies are ma king boats,as available on the export market much moreperforming than in the past, which increases

the impact of their procurement on the region-al military balance. Air-Independent Propulsion(AIP) is becoming a common requirement formany navies and, in more general terms, therange and undenAiater operational capabilitiesof the new boats far exceed those cf the previ-ous generation, thus potentially altering thestrategic balance. Also, the capability to oper-ate submarine-launched anti-ship missiles isbecoming more and more common, though notail the naval services consider this an impo rtantrequisite. Submarine-launched land attack isanother boom ing new role, as many navies aregoing to expand their operational roles to in-clude a capability which until now was effec-tively reserved to super-powers.No wonder therefore that the demand forsubmarines in Asia is high as never before.

important successes. Additionally some Asiancountries (Japan, China, and to a much differ-ent level, India and South Korea) are alsodesigning or at least building their own boats,though an export of these domestic models israther unlikely for the near foreseeable future.The following sections provide a succinctreview of the current and planned programmesfor the construction or purchase of submarinesacross the continent.

ChinaChina's warships building capability is grow-ing at an impressive pace, and the submarinesector is no exception. The 13 boats of theSONG class (Type 039-039G) were commis-sioned between 1999 and 2006, being built toa domes tic design. It is worth to note that in thevery same years (1995-2006) the PLA(N) alsotook delivery of twelve KILO-class boatssourced from Russia (at first two Project-877soriginally ordered for a former Warsaw Pactcountry and never delivered, then two Project-636s, followed by eight Proiect-636Ms). Quiteevidently there was not a sufficient ievel of con-fidence in the domestic capability to designand produce a modem submarine, and/or thedual procurement track was intended as ashortcut to quickly commission a consistent


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The SHANG-class (Type 093) SSNsare progressively being b uilt for thePLA(N), with four boats expected tobe comm issioned by 2010.

Chinese submarine shipyards (initially onlyWuhan, then also Jiangnan-Shanghai).The four older KILOs were originaiiy expect-ed to be refitted in Russia to include the capa-bility to use the 3M54E KLUB depth-to-surfaceanti-ship missile (this capability is already pre-sent in the later Project 636M boats). Insteadthey w ent to Chinese shipyards and were mod -ified to operate Chinese weapons (YU6 torpe-does and YJ83 anti-ship missiles) completingtheir refit in July 2007. Besides the desire toincrease logistic compatibility with the SONG-class boats, the change makes sense also inthat integration of KLUB missiles within earliermodels of the KILO series is plagued by manyproblems, as the troubled Indian experiencewill show {see below).

The new JIN-class SSBNs

The latest member of the Chinese diesel/electric submarines family is the YUAN class(Type 039A. or Type 041A, according to othersources). The origins and intended scope of theprogramme are not very clear. The first boatwas initially noted in mid-2004, just after beinglaunched, and was com missioned in 2006, butno further activity was apparent for the follow-ing couple of years. It now seems that a build-ing programm e is progressing, with ttiree boatsalready commissioned and other units underconstruction. Based on the current pace, tenboats are expected to be in service by the endof 2010.

The KILO type, shown here inChinese PLA(N) service isnumerically the most successfulexport submarine design in Asia.(All photo s: via Authorunless otherwise stated)

The YUAN 's overall design seems a comnation of Chinese (Type 039G M ING-class) Russian (Project 836 KILO-class) features.main characteristics are a large sail, a teardhull with a marked hump, four aft diving plaand two hydroplanes on the sail. Two diffemodels have been identified (Type 039A B), with detail differences (perhaps as a reof the operationa trials with the first boat) indesign of the sail and the water holes arranment. The YUANs are also the first Chinboats to be built with an AIP m odule (most ly a lOOkW Stirling-cycle engine). Other pects remain much similar to the KILO clincluding the arrangement of the six 533torpedo tubes.

The other Chinese newcomers areSHANG'Class {Type 093) SSNs and the class (Type 094) SSBN s. The attack sub mawas designed with Russian support, thocontrary to earlier reports, it bears no resblance with the VICTOR -III boats. The devement programme required a significant amof time, as the first components for the boat began to be built back in 1994, and was launched at the end of 2002 and commsioned in 2006. By 2010 there will be four T093 units in service.The SHANGs have an estimated dived placement close to 6,500 tons. Their defeatures a water-drop shape hull, with a pafin-mounted hydroplanes and four diplanes. Armament and performance are quite uncertain. Pictures reveal a flank-moed sonar, in addition to a main bow mousonar. The noise level is estimated to be cparable to later units of the US LOS ANGEclass, therefore marking a sensible imprment over previous Chinese designs.Two new SSBNs are already in service, a further pair being built- Apparently theclass is based on the design of the SHAclass, with a large plug-in section of some for the twelve missile tubes. Once complthis new class will allow China to start derence patrols as soon as the JL-2 Sbecome operational. Such patrols wercourse not conceivable with the single class SSBN in service, and, again, this is gto greatly alter the strategic balance.


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IMDEX ASIA FOCUSThe YUAN class is thelatest Chinese diesel/electric submarine design,showing considerableimprovement over previoustypes.

The Indian Navy is completingthe programme for the refitand modernisation of its tenSINDHUGHOSH-class boats{KILO type) in Russian yards.(Photo: Indian Navy)India

Submarines are also high in the shopping listof the Indian N avy, with a stated goal for a newforce of no less than 24 modern diesel/electricboats fo be met (hopefully) by 2017.DCNS of France signed a contract in Octo-ber 2005 for six SCORPNE-type submarinesto be built at Mazagon Dock in Mumbai as thefirst step in Project 075 (Project 075A), with anadditional nine boats as an (unlikely) opfion.These boats will be fitted with the SUBTICScombat system, and will be able to operateSM39 EXOCET anti-ship m issiles. It was initial-ly expected fhat these boats would be fiffedwifh some kind of AIP, buf it now seems thatthis has been postponed to a possible futurerefit requiring the insertion of an 8m plug for theMESMA sys tem. This is not very likely, howev-er, mostly in fhat fhe very same AIP solutionwas also selected by Pakistan for its KHALIDclass (AGOSTA 90B type). The original sched-ule called for the firsf boat to be delivered in2012 and fhe entire class to be in service by2017, but fhe programme appears having beendelayed by difficuifies wifh the technologyfransfer pa ckage. Additionally, Mazagon Dockshas nof worked on submarines for the past 15years (the last SHISHUMAR-class boat wascommissioned in May 1994). and the resultingloss of know-how and expertise has a negativeinfluence.Project 075 calls for an evenfual fofal of 18submarines in fhree bafches of six boa fs each,which however could be of a different design.The RfP for the second batch (Project 075B), tobe commissioned in 2015-2020 is expecfed tobe circulafed fhis Summer fo Rosoboronexport(AMUR), DCNS (SCORPNE or MARLIN), andTKMS/HDW (Type 214). Specificafions arewidely expected to include an AIP auxiliaryplant, with hydrogen fuel cells as fhe preferredsolution. If confirm ed, this would seem to placeTKMS/HDW in a very favourable position, asthe only shipyard in the world able to offerboats with a reliable and mature fuel cell AIPtechnology. On the other hand, Pakistan isreported to be negotiating an order for fhe Type214 design, which would make if a rafherunlikely choice for the Indian Navy. Be this as itmay, the Defence Research Development Or-ganisation (DRDO) hopes fo develop an indige-

nous AIP solution in four fo five years, andworks are ongoing at the DRDO Naval MaterialResearch Laborafory in Mumbai.

siles. As many as 28 unifs of fhe 3M14E landattack variant of fhe KLUB missile family wereordered in June 2006, supplemenfing the exist-ing inventory of 3M54E anti-ship variants.Studies are also underway for a submarine-launched varianf of fhe BRAHMOS cruise mis-sile which features both anti-ship and landattack capabilities, but at 670mm-dia. it is toolarge to be fired from sfandard 533mm torpedotubes or even the larger Russian 650mm tubesfitted to other classes. While adding a plug-insection with vertical tubes to existing boatscould represent a solution, it is most likely thatonly future submarines (either diesel and/ornuclear powered boats) will have fhis capabil-ity. While, in principle, a different set of torpedotubes could be arranged for many types of sub-marines, the Russian AMUR is currently theone and only diesel/elecfric boaf design to beequipped with vertical missile launchers.The Indian Navy is also working to upgradeits fen SINDHUGHOSH-class (KILO type) sub-marines, commissioned in the 1986-2000 peri-od . The decision to expand the class beyondthe original six boats was taken in considera-tion of the slow progress of the SHISHUMAR

t ime, was terminated after four boats com-pared to six as originally planned. The KILOsare progressively undergoing a refit cycle inRussia, replacing the original batteries with aGerman model, upgrading the battery coolingplant, changing the diesel engine, and receivingthe capability to launch 3M54E KLUB anti-shipmissiles, which initially belonge d only to the lastboat of the class (INS SINDHUSHASTRA, theonly Project 877E). The latter meas ure foundinitially som e difficulties as a number of m issileswent astray during launch tests. These integra-tion problems were eventually solved, however,and later tests were successful.Both the KILOs and Type 209s are alsobeing fitted with Italian-made C303 torpedodecoys.India has been also studying a nuclear pow-ered submarine since the '80s. The pro-gramme , known as ATV (Advanced Te chnologyVessel) is reported to be aimed at a SSN /SSGNdesign armed with torpedoes as well as anti-ship and land-attack missiles. In addition, theATV will also fake sort of a tactical SSBN taskwith nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles. The K-15SAGARIKA missile for underwater launch was


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The eleven OYASHlO-cIass boats(picture shows the NA RUSHIO) makeup the strongest submarine nucleusin service with the Japanese MSD F.

depth in the Bay of Bengal. There were threesuccessful tests and SAGARIKA is expected tobecome operational in 2010. The missile'srange effectively depends ... on Ihe source, asreported figures can be as different as 300km.750km, 1000km. 1300km and up to 2500km,ATV could be fitted with twelve SAGARIKAs,achieving a retaliatory strike capability, or, inperspective, wifh four longer-range AGNI-IIISLs.The ATV is being built by a consortium for-med by Larsen & Toubro. Mazagon Dock, andBharat Electronics. It will have a displacementof some 6.000 tons, and will feature a nev\/domes tically designed USHUS sonar suite. The

first elements of the ATV hull were laid down in1998, and in 2007 the PWR nuclear reacfor wasfitted onboard. Sea trials are expected to startin late 2009 or early 2010, with the longer-termgoal to field a nuclear-povt/ered squadron offive-six submarines by 2025.Within the earliest stages of the ATV pro-gramme back in 1987 India leased a CHARLIE-I SSN from the then Soviet Union for threeyears (the first and still only case of a nuclear-povifered warship being transferred to a thirdcountry) for the purpose of establishing require-ments and doctrines. This was expected to be

The new SORYUs for the Japanese MSDF(picture sh ows the lead ship) are easily thelargest and arguably most sophisticated

replicated through the 10-year lease of a Pro-ject 97 1 (AKULA II class) SSN , the NERPA thatwas to be transferred in early 2009 being rena-med INS CHAKRA. She however suffered asevere accident during pre-delivery sea trials inNovember 2008, killing 20 m embers of the testteam, and the programme has been postponedindefinitely.Indonesia

The requirement for a much larger submarineforce of up to twelve boats by 2024 to supple-ment and eventually replaced the two ageingType 209s currently in service has been formal-ly express a number of times, but the availablefinancial resources are very unlikely to supportsuch an ambitious expansion. An order for twoRussian boats (variously reported as two

The Russian-built Project 971(AKULA II class) SS N, the NERPA wasto be transferred to the Indian Navyas INS CHA KRA in early 2009 undera 10-year lease contract. In early 2009,however, Russia postponed theprogramm e indefinitely due to the needto carry out new sea trials followinga disastrous accident in early November2008 (accidental release of fire-suppression gases) which killed20 people onboard.

Proect-636 KILOs or one AMUR 950 and oKILO} plus options for up to eight additiounits was announced in mid-2007, but appears having since collapsed due to Rushaving withdrawn its previous offer for a USbillion credit line.There was also a reported interest for Cnese and South Korean designs (i.e., licenbuilt Type 209s), yet to materialise in any formrequest. Another possibility being raised of lis the purchase of second-hand South KoreNavy Type 209s, as these are progressivreplaced by the new Type 214s (see below)Japan

The Japanese MSOF submarine force is sond only to the Chinese PLA(N) and operateforce of 19 advanced diesel/eiecthc boats. Tfleet cun'ently includes seven 3200 tons (divHARUSHIO-class, built in 1990-97 (onethese boats, ASAHIO was modified in 2with the addition of a Stirling AIP module ahas since been transferred to training dutand eleven OYASHIO class (3500 tons div82m length), the last of which was commsioned in March 2008. Their sonar sysincludes a bow unit and a ZQO 5B--6 medilow frequency fiank array system, plus a ZR1 very-low frequency passive towed array rived from the US BQR-15). The armamincludes UGM-84 Sub-HARPOON missileswell as Type 89 (anti-ship) and Type 80 (AStorpedoes.The speartiead of the future JMSDF undwater force will however be represented byfour units of the SORYU class (originally re


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By the end of 2009, the Royal Malaysian Navy will have commissioned a new submarine force with two SCORPNE-type boats.Picture shows the lead ship TD TUNK U A BDUL RA HMA N.red to as Improved OYASHIO or 16SS). Thefirst boat was launched in December 2007 andcommissioned in March 2009, and the remain-ing three units should enter service in 2010-2012. with a possible fifth unit as an option.Compared to the OYASHIO the new design islarger (4200 tons subm erged, 84m length), andthe most evident difference are the X-shapedtail planes. Yet the most significant change isthe presence of an AIP mo dule with four Stirlingengines.Considering the level of the Japanese de-signs and equipments, if Japanese shipyardswere allowed to export their products thesewould certainly become strong competitors onthe global defence market.South Korea

The KSS-2 programm e was launched inNovember 2000 with an order for a first batchof three TKMS/HDW Type 214 submarines, fit-ted with fuel cells AIP, to be built by HyundaiHeavy Industries in Ulsan. The first two boats,SOHN WON-IL and JEONGJI, have alreadybeen commissioned, and the third unit is fittingout,A second batch of six identical submarineswere then ordered in January 2009, under theform of HDW-delivered packages to be assem-bled by a yard, that will be selected by theMoD, boat per boat in a competition betweenHyundai and Daewoo Shipbuilding & MarineEngineering, which already successfully builtthe nine Type-209 boats. Daewoo has won thecontract for the first submarine of the secondbatch, while the follow-in orders are still pend-ing. The six boats of the second batch areexpected to be all in service by 2020,

Korea was the second custom er for the Type214, just after Greece, yet the Korean pro-gramme is clearly to be regarded as a full suc-cess, while the Greek project is still limpingalong amid bitter complaints and disagree-ments with no boats in commission yet. It isalso significant to note that thanks to its intelli-gent use of technoiogy transfer. South Korea isnow one of the very few countries in the world

The KSS-2 programme is to be followed bythe KSS-3 project, which entered the definitionphase in 2007. Three submarines of some3.500 tons are planned, with the first unit com -missioned by 2020. and a total series of up tonine units could be envisaged. These will be thefirst indigenous submarines to be built in Korea,after the first modest experience gathered withtwo KSS-1 midgets built in 1983, With this pro-gramme Korea would join the very exclusiveclub of nations with an autonomous submarinedesign and building capability. Rumours of apossible interest for building nuclear-poweredsubmarines were firmly dismissed as inconsis-tent. In the framework of its submarine pro-gramme. South Korea has ordered threeEHCLS control consoles and 16 UGM-84LHARPOON Block-ll missiles, i,e. the variantcapable to attack ships in port as weil as costaltargets. "Hie possibility also exists (at least inprinciple) for ROK Navy submarines to be even-tually equipped with land-attack missiles; theCHEON RYONG cruise missile, first tested inOctober 2006 and offering a 500km range, hasa diameter that would make it compatible withlaunch from standard 533mm torpedo tubes,Malaysia

On 26 January 2009 TD TUNKU ABDULRAHMAN, the first of two SCORPNE-typesubmarines ordered by the Royal MalaysianNavy in 2002, was delivered on schedule byDCNS in Toulon. The formal delivery ceremonycame after almost one year of operational testsand sea trials, which included the successfulfiring of SM39 EXOCET missiles and BU\CKSHARK torpedoes, integrated in the SUBTICScombat system. The second unit, TD TUNRAZAK built in Spain by Navantia, began seatrials on 11 February, and is scheduled forcommissioning in October 2009.These are the first submarines ever of theRoyal Malaysian Navy. In the meantime some150 Malaysian sailors unden^vent submarine

training onboard the AGOSTA-class subma-rine. OUESSANT. This training packag e was animportant part of the SCORPNE deal, as

ommissioned in the French Navy in 2005 aftera refit, but is on loan to Malaysia for trainingpurposes operating from Brest and at the endof this year could as well be transferred to Ma-laysia.The Malaysian SCORPNEs are not fittedwith an AIP solution, though this could be ret-rofitted later, if required,Pakistan

When Pakistan inked the contract for threeAGOSTA-90B submarines (to become theKHALID class) in September 1994. there were alot of comments from the naval communityworldwide. This was the very first time that anAlP-equipped submarine design was exportedas well as the first export order for SM39 EXO-CET missiles.The programme ran through a gradual trans-fer of technology, with the first boat built inFrance, the second assembled at K arachi ship-yard with sections supplied by France, and thethird built directly in Karachi, The latter boat,PNS HAMZA commissioned in May 2008, isalso the first to be fitted with the 200kWMESMA AIP system, with a hull extension of8.6m, The first and second boats of the classwill have the MESMA section retrofitted duringtheir next major overhaul, likely from 2012onwards. The KHALIDs are the only users ofthis AIP solution.In 2006 Pakistan began evaluating a furtherprocurement programme to enlarge its under-water am i, as the two earlier AGOSTA-70 boats(HASHMAT class) are quickly approaching theend of their useful service life. The contenderswere the DCNS MAR LIN (an improved and "a ll-French" SCORPNE) and the TKMS Type 214,The latter was eventually selected, and a con-tract is currently being negotiated. Three boatswill be built in Pakistan, with the first deliveryexpected by 2014.The Pakistan Navy will thus have the dubiousdistinction of being the only service worldwideto operate two different types of AIP (MESMAand fuel cells), as well as two different depth-to-surface anti-ship missiles (SM39 and Sub-


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IMDEX ASIA FOCUSThe Republic of Singapore Navy takesa very detenmined approach to thesafety of its submarine crew.Picture shows Col. Aw Eng Lim,Commander RSN Squadron 171,explaining the structure and organisationof the RSN subm arine rescue programmeto the visiting Rear Adm. Michael Connor

(US Navy), Comm ander SubmarineGroup 7, during a submarine staffoonference in October 2008.(Photo; Submarine Group 7)

SingaporeThe relatively small but very advancedRepublic of Singapore Navy op ted to achieve asubmahne arm in the mid-nineties. This was amajor effort, requiring as It did the building ofboth technical and ope rational skills in a totallynew field. Accordingly, the programme hasbeen implemented through a coherent series cf

carefully planned subsquent steps.The decision was thus announced in Sep-tember 1995 to acquire four SJORMEN-classsecond-hand submarines from Sweden, inclu-ding a first boat to be transferred immediatelyfor training purposes, another three units lo berecommissioned after a major overhaul alsoincluding modifications for use in tropicalwaters (e.g. air conditioning and battery cool-

ing), and a fifth one to be used as source forspares. The four boats became the CHAL-LENGER class, and joined the RSN betweenJuly 2000 and June 2004.This was just a first step, however, as a fur-ther agreement was reached in 2005 coveringthe transfer of two upgraded VSTERGT-LAND-class boats from Swedish Navy surplus.

The upgrade included the addition of a 12m hsection with two 75kW Stirling Mk3 AIP moules, thus upgrading these boats to a configration similar to the later SDERMANLANclass. Other major improvements included tThaes SUBAC com bat system an d sonar suBLACK SHARK torpedoes, C303 torpedo dcoys, a new optronic periscope, and a lock-ochamber for combat divers. The two upgradsubmarines are to be re-commissioned Singaporean service next year, probably repcing two of the CHALLENGER-class boats.Cooperation between Singapore and Swden on these two programmes is regarded very satisfactory, and it might conceivably continued through the participation by Singpore to the development of the next-generatSwedish A26 submarine design.The Singaporean submarine service is agetting a new submarine support and rescship, the only unit of this type in South EAsia. In November 2008 SWFIT RESCUE wlaunched by ST Marine, Measuring 85m 18m, it is designed to house a Submarine Recue Vessel (SRV) and its handling systems board, in addition to decompression chamband a helicopter deck. The SRV, which is sbeing built in Great Britain by James FishDefence, can be lowered to a depth of 500mreach a distressed submarine.

PNS HAMZA, the thirdand last KHA LID-classboat (AGOSTA-90Bdesign) for the PakistanNavy, was commissionedin May 2008.

The ROK Navy is thefirst Asian customerfor the Type 214 design,having ordered a firstbatch of three boats inNovember 2009 andanother six in January2009, Picture shows the


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TaiwanThough the last in alphabetic order, ahd thusfar away from China, the fate of the ROCNavy's submarine arm is closely related to theextreme political pressure exerted by thePeopie Republic of China against any possiblesupply of submarines to what they regards asthe rebel island.For many years now T aiwan has been vainlytrying to procure modern submarines, to re-place the two Dutch-made HAI LUNG-classboats commissioned in 1987-88 and the twoobsolete GUPPY -II class boats. In 2001 the USAdministration announced the intention to sup-port the acquisition of eight diesel submarines,

but desp ite this bo ld declaration no further step

was taken. Countries such as Germany, theNetherlands, France and A ustralia, refused anyproposal of getting involved in the programme.The only design available in the US w as said tobe based on the 50-year od BARBEL, with noUS shipyard having recent experience indesigning or building a diesei/electric subma-rine - a situation that continues to be stronglysupported by the US Navy's "submarinemafia", for fear of "contaminations" betweendiesel/electric and nuclear-powered subma-rines.In 2005 Taiwan announce d the intention to fitSub-HARPOON missiles into the HAI LUNGs,and in mid-2008 the US Administration finallyauthorised the sale, together with other weap-on systems. The contract, which has not yet

Two ex-Swedish Navy VASTE RGTLAND-class submarines are to join the Republicof Singapore Navy in 2010 after arefurbishment and upgrade programme.Depth-to-surface anti-ship missiles arerather popular amon gst Asian navies, withthe YJ83 (China), the SM39 EXOCET(Malaysia, Pakistan and India) and theUGM-84L Sub-HARPOON (Japan,South K orea, Pakistan, Taiwan) (shovm).

been signed as these lines are being written inMarch 2009, includes 32 UGM-84L Block-IImissiles and two control consoles. This wouldalso provide a limited land-attack capability,although, from a strategic point of view, itwould certainly not change the outcome incase of a conflict with the giant neighbour.

The lack of suitable replacements is forcing the R OC Navy to maintain in service (although only for training)the two venerable HAI SHIH-class boats (GUPPY II type).


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Asia Sub Race