Expected, what to 2025 year, the navy of the People's Liberation Army of China will grow to 400 ships (or buildings – taking into account the built, but not fully commissioned) compared with 340, currently available. This figure is in line with the data, published on Tuesday on the website of the Chinese Ministry of Defense.
The fleet of ships is becoming more and more modern and flexible force, which focused on replacing the platforms of previous generations with limited capabilities in favor of larger modern multi-purpose combat units, the documents say.
In a report, summarizing China's military developments in recent years, growth is tied to an increase in the number of large surface combatants. The total number of ships last year decreased from 355 due to the transfer of more 20 old corvettes of the China Coast Guard. The end of last year marked the beginning of the construction of a new aircraft carrier, new batch of missile destroyers (DDG) and a new batch of guided missile frigates (FFG).
Besides, the report says, that the main part of the surface expansion is contained in two programs: 7500-Luyang III Type-52D guided missile destroyers and larger 13,000 ton Type-55 Renhai guided missile cruisers.
The Luyang III destroyers are built on the basis of a dual-band air search radar with an active phased antenna array (Afar) and vertical launch system with 64 cells for missiles, similar Mk-41 VLS on US surface ships.
According to South China Morning Post, as of May 2022 the Chinese already have five Renhai-class cruisers in service. New ship classes with different missiles allow China to better defend, as its task forces move further and further away from the protective umbrella of their coastal air defense systems and mimic the basic design of the American Aegis systems.
It is assumed, that, among other things, China is developing a nuclear submarine with guided missiles, which will carry cruise missiles to fight both surface, and ground targets.
obviously, that China will work over the next few years to deploy a carrier battle group outside the first so-called first chain of islands. Author:The same Mikhail
