US Technology may have been Used to Upgrade PLA Submarines

Bob Corker, the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee criticized China for violating its nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States during a hearing held to discuss the signing of a new agreement with China according to US news website the Washington Free Beacon on May 13.

A bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement was signed between the United States and China in 1985. Because the agreement is expected to expire by the end of this year, the Obama administration plans to make a new deal known as 123 agreement with China based on the Atomic Energy Act. It will help regulate the sharing of nuclear technology. During the hearing held on May 12 on the new agreement, Corker said that China is in violation of the current agreement as it provided a US nuclear reactor to Pakistan.

The 1985 agreement was held up for 13 years to allow the US to negotiate measures to prevent China from sharing nuclear technology with Iran and North Korea. Eventually, it was approved in 1998 by then president Bill Clinton. "We have a country like China that is not honoring the spirit of the law," said Corker. "They're not honoring previous agreements with the nuclear group. We know they're going to take this information and use it for military purposes. We know that, even though the agreement says they won't do it."

China's Type 094 Jin-class nuclear ballistic missile submarines

He asked two officials from the Obama Administration about whether nuclear cooperation will be suspended if Chinese violations are confirmed. Senator Robert Menendez expressed his concern over China's buildup of nuclear submarines. The senator said that China probably possesses reactor cooling pumps produced by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation, an American company that makes the pumps for US nuclear-powered submarines to upgrade the design of its own submarines.

India's LCA Tejas Will not be able to Penetrate Enemy Lines

The indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) will experience a major handicap in defeating the enemy due to non-availability and poor performance of three electronic warfare instruments, developed by Indian agencies.

During the trial, the all-important counter measure dispensing system that protects the aircraft against radar and heat-seeking missiles, could not do its job properly, leaving the jet with poor defence. The system was developed by , Hyderabad-based Bharat Dynamics Limited.

It was not the only faltering system on-board the LCA. The self protection jammer that blocks the enemy radar was too big to be fitted into the Mark-I version of the LCA and the radar warning receiver, which alerts the pilots on hostile enemy signals, perform poorly. Both were developed by Bangaluru-based Defence Avionics Research Establishment.

India's LCA Tejas

“LCA Mark-I remains deficient in full electronic warfare capabilities as specified in the Air Staff Requirement (ASR),” the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) says in a review report that was tabled in Parliament on Friday.

The aircraft, which achieved initial operational clearances on December 2013, has as many as 53 shortfalls from the specifications drawn in the ASR.

Some of the shortcomings like increased weight, reduced internal fuel capacity, pilot protection from the front and reduced speed are to be addressed in the Mark-II version that was taken up by the Aeronautical Development Agency in 2009 and scheduled for completion in 2018.

Even after 30 years, the LCA could get only the initial operational clearance (IOC) in December 2013. The full operational clearance (FOC) is now targeted in December, 2015.

South Korea Launches Newest 214-Class Submarine

South Korea unveiled its sixth 1,800-ton-class attack submarine Thursday aimed at boosting its underwater warfare capabilities against North Korea.The launching ceremony for the 214-class submarine, manufactured by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co. and named after revered independence fighter Yu Gwan-sun (1902-1920), will take place in the southern coastal city of Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, according to the Navy.

The Navy plans to commission the submarine in November 2016, it said.

"It is the first submarine bearing a woman's name in our history," the Navy said in a statement. "We've christened it Yu Gwan-sun, to honor her sacrifice and to promote public security awareness, marking the 70th anniversary of independence from Japan's colonial rule and the establishment of the Navy." Yu is an iconic symbol who played a major part in the so-called March 1 civil uprising in 1919 against the colonial regime. The Japanese arrested the teenager and sentenced her to seven years in prison, where she died at age 18 after being tortured. Korea was under harsh colonial rule by Japan from 1910-1945.

South Korea  214-class submarine

According to the Navy, the ship is armed with indigenous ship-to-ship cruise missiles named Haeseong, or Sea Star, and torpedoes and mines for anti-vessel and anti-submarine operations. The cruise missiles with a maximum range of 1,500 kilometers are capable of carrying out precision strikes against enemies' key facilities.The sub's maximum underwater speed is 20 knots, which enables it to travel between South Korea and Hawaii without refueling.

US Develops Supercomputer To Beat China's Tianhe-2

The United States plans to outclass China's supercomputer, and it is now looking for a few good semiconductor architectures to help fulfill its ambition.

The fastest supercomputer in the world is currently the Chinese Tianhe-2 running at a peak of 55 petaflops on Intel Xeon and Xeon Phi processors. The Collaboration of Oak Ridge, Argonne and Lawrence Livermore (CORAL) project financed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) aims to one-up the Chinese with up to 200 petaflops systems by 2018. The three systems, named Summit, Aurora and Sierra, respectively, have also pitted IBM/Nvidia and their graphics processing units (GPUs) against Intel/Cray's massively parallel x86 (Xeon Phi) architecture.

Tianhe-2

"Over 100 experts were involved in picking two different architectures as mandated by the CORAL request for proposals," the director of science for the National Centre for Computational Sciences at Oak Ridge National Labs, Jack Wells. "Two locations, Oak Ridge and Livermore, were chosen to go with IBM, and Argonne was chosen to use Intel processors.

Su -30SM Fighter Assembly Plant

IRKUT Su -30SM fighter Assembly Plant 

IRKUT Su -30SM fighter Assembly Plant 

China Manufactures first Engine used in large and Medium-Sized Drone

The "Rainbow III" drone with a TD0 sample engine had its first successful flight on April. 29, 2015. China is now able to manufacture TD0 light aeroplane engines used in large and medium-sized drones, breaking a technology and market monopoly.

This TD0 sample engine was developed by Tianjin University and manufactured by Tianjin University and Chongqing Zongshen Power Machinery. Since 2011, a research team inTianjin University has been conducting development work on the light aeroplane engine.During this process, they focused on developing the engines installed in large drones, single-seat planes and two-seat planes, produced a research plan to develop the TD0 engine, designed the whole structure of the engines and key components, and analysed the manufacturing process.

Rainbow III Drone

According to the experts in the research team, the TD0 is a gasoline-fueled piston engine comparable to the drone engines produced by foreign countries, meeting the needs ofdrones and the general light aero planes whose power ranges from 50 to 150 kilowatt-hours. With the application of electronic control technology and multi-stage charging technology, this engine and its follow-up products can guarantee long and high-altitude fights.

RAW Establishes New Wing Against Pakistan

 Primary Indian intelligence agency “RAW” has formed a special desk or branch to influence China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The chief of Indian intelligence agency Rajinder Khanna, the office of which is located at the Lodhi Road in New Delhi, is personally supervising the activities of RAW in this regard.

This would be the second grand operation of RAW after the creation of Bangladesh being first, to destabilize Pakistan through intelligence gathering, assisting the assassinations of renown personalities, fanning proxy war in Pakistan and also promoting anarchy through psychological operations.

The chief intelligence agency of Pakistan has gathered the irrefutable facts in this regard. The total budget of RAW is still unknown but the Indian establishment has procured 300 million dollars for the operations of this particular desk assigned with the task of undermining the developments of CPEC.

RAW 

Additional charge of RAW includes the inhibition of technological and military support to Pakistan by the western countries. The officials of RAW instead of being called as an “agent” are termed as “research officers” within India.

Russia, China to Develop Massive Heavy-Lift Helicopter

Russian Helicopters and China’s state aircraft manufacturer AVIC have entered a framework agreement to develop a heavy lift helicopter.

Russian Helicopters’ chief executive Alexander Mikheev and AVIC chairman Lin Zuoming signed the deal during a visit to Moscow by Chinese president Xi Jinping, who was present at the ceremony along with Russian president Vladimir Putin.

“The manufacture in China of a heavy-lift helicopter developed jointly by the two countries has been an important component of Russian-Chinese collaboration in the aviation industry, and today's signing ceremony marks the start of practical work on the project,” says Russian Helicopters in a statement.

“Under the agreement the parties will work on all areas of development and preparation to launch serial production of the new aircraft, named the Advanced Heavy Lift (AHL).”

Sino-Russian 20+ ton Heavy-lift Helicopter

The AHL will have a takeoff weight of 38-tonnes, and be able to carry 10-tonnes internally and 15-tonnes on an external sling. It will be able to operate in all weather and terrain conditions. Key missions include transportation, medical evacuation, and firefighting.”

By comparison, the Mil Mi-26, the world’s largest helicopter, can carry a payload of over 20-tonnes.

France May Sell the Mistral-Class Warship Built for Russia To China

During the course of a visit by the French Navy to Shanghai between May 9-15, France may try to sell its Mistral-class amphibious assault ship to China, according to Duowei News, an overseas new outlet run by overseas Chinese.

The official microblog of the PLA Navy said that the French task force visiting China consists of two warships including the Dixmude, a Mistral-class amphibious assault ship, and Aconit, a La Fayette-class frigate. Dixmude is the third and last Mistral-class vessel designed for the French navy. It is the first time for a Mistral-class amphibious assault ship to visit a Chinese port.

Mistral-class amphibious assault ship

Russia signed a contract with France to purchase two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships but the deal was scuttled due to sanctions imposed over the Ukraine crisis, even though construction of both vessels — named the Vladivostok and, fittingly if ironically, Sevastopol — had been completed.

The French Navy is unlikely to commission the two new ships and one option choice would be to try to sell them to other potential buyers including Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt or India. Even though China already has plans to develop its own amphibious assault ship, the country may still purchase the Vladivostok and Sevastopol as models to copy.

China Preparing for Drone Warfare

China’s military plans to produce nearly 42,000 land-based and sea-based unmanned weapons and sensor platforms as part of its continuing, large-scale military buildup, the Pentagon’s annual report on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) disclosed Friday.

China currently operates several armed and unarmed drone aircraft and is developing long-range range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for both intelligence gathering and bombing attacks.

“The acquisition and development of longer-range UAVs will increase China’s ability to conduct long-range reconnaissance and strike operations,” the report said.

China’s ability to use drones is increasing and the report said China “plans to produce upwards of 41,800 land- and sea-based unmanned systems, worth about $10.5 billion, between 2014 and 2023.”

Four UAVs under development include the Xianglong, Yilong, Sky Saber, and Lijian, with the latter three drones configured to fire precision-strike weapons.

“The Lijian, which first flew on Nov. 21, 2013, is China’s first stealthy flying wing UAV,” the report said.

The drone buildup is part of what the Pentagon identified as a decades-long military buildup that last year produced new multi-warhead missiles and a large number of submarines and ships.

Lijian UAV

Additionally, the Pentagon for the first time confirmed China’s development of an ultra-high speed maneuvering strike vehicle as part of its growing strategic nuclear arsenal.

CAG Picks Holes In LCA Project, Says It Fails To Meet IAF Requirements

India's Tejas Light Combat Aircraft project, in the works for over three decades, came under severe criticism from CAG today as it pointed out that its Mark-I version has 53 "significant shortfalls" which have reduced its operational capabilities as well as survivability.

Not only that, IAF would be "constrained" to induct the fighter LCA without availability of a trainer model, thereby "adversely impacting pilot training", the audit body said in a report tabled in Parliament.

The CAG noted that it was due to the delay in the manufacture and supply of LCA that IAF had to go for alternative temporary measures such as upgrading its MIG BIS, MiG-29, Jaguar, and Mirage aircraft at a cost of Rs 20,037 crore and revise the phasing out of MiG-21s.

LCA

"LCA Mark-I, which achieved Initial Operational Clearance (December, 2013) has significant shortfalls (53 permanent waivers/concessions" in meeting ASR (Air Staff Requirements) as a result of which it will have reduced operational capabilities and reduced survivability, thereby limiting its operational employability when inducted into IAF squadrons," the report said.

Listing the shortcomings, the CAG said that the LCA Mark- I fails to meet the electronic warfare capabilities sought by IAF as the Self-Protection Jammer could not be fitted on the aircraft due to space constraints.

Also, it said that the Radar Warning Receiver/Counter Measure Dispensing System fitted on the aircraft had raised performance concerns which are yet to be overcome till January this year.

It added that the shortcomings in the Mark-I (increased weight, reduced internal fuel capacity, non-compliance of fuel system protection, pilot protection from front, reduced speed) are expected to be overcome in the Mark-II model.

"LCA Mark-I does not meet the ASR. The deficiencies are now expected to be met in LCA Mark-II by December 2018," the CAG said.

US May Need New Fighter To Take On China's J-20: Expert

Some US experts believe that the development of the F/A-XX, the next-generation carrier-based fighter, should be carried out as soon as possible since Lockheed Martin's F-35C may not be able to compete against Russia's T-50 and or China's J-20, according to Beijing's Science and Technology.

Experts close to Lockheed Martin said that both the F-35C Lighting and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet would be unable to prevail in aerial combat against the T-50 and J-20. One of the experts even said that improvements in the Russian and Chinese missile launching systems indicate that the US is losing its advantage in the development of military aircraft. They added that currently the F-22 Raptor is the only type of fifth-generation fighter the US has with overwhelming superiority.

F-22 Raptor

Other unnamed experts said that F/A-XX needs to be developed soon because the F-35C will more likely be used as a tactical bomber. They added that the F-35C is unlikely to challenge the numerical superiority of China's future carrier-based fighters. The F/A-XX thus may be a better option than the F-35C in aerial combat. However, some modifications must be made if the sixth-generation stealth fighter is going to be equipped with more air-to-air missiles.

The F/A-XX fighter must be able to conduct supersonic flight at an altitude of between 50,000 and 60,000 feet and have stealth capability to meet the qualification of the US Navy's next-generation fighter. Like Lockheed Martin's F-22, it needs to have advanced sensors and weapon systems to engage the threats imposed by the T-50 and J-20 in future aerial engagements. Some cooperation may be carried out jointly by the US Air Force and Navy in the future regarding the development of the F/A-XX.

Russia Launches Quietest Submarine in the World

Russia has launched the fourth of its Varshavyanka-class diesel-electric submarines. Russia has launched what it claims to be the “quietest submarine in the world.” 

 

Varshavyanka-class diesel-electric submarines

Admiralty Shipyards - a Russian defense company - held a ceremonial launching for its newest Varshavyanka-class diesel-electric submarines.  According to the company’s website, the commander of Russia's Navy, Viktor Chirkov, attended the ceremony.

 

Dubbed the Krasnodar, the vessel is the fourth of a planned six upgraded Kilo-class subs Russia is constructing under Project 636.

Previously, Russian state media outlets have said that the Varshavyanka-class are the “quietest in the world, and so was dubbed ‘black hole’ by NATO.”

 

Novorossiysk, the lead submarine of the series, was delivered to the Russian Navy in August 2014, followed by delivery of Rostov-on-Don in December the same year. 

 

The third vessel, Stary Oskol, has passed state trials, while the last two submarines named Veliky Novgorod and Kolpino are currently under construction. 

 

The vessels under Project 636 have been modified to include upgraded combat characteristics, to enhance the Russian Navy in anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface-ship warfare, general reconnaissance and patrol missions. 

 

China Reportedly Completes 3 Advanced Nuclear Attack Subs

Chinese shipbuilders have completed three advanced nuclear-propelled submarines that can fire the latest vertically launched anti-ship missiles, local media reported.

Satellite pictures broadcast last week by China Central Television showed three submarines anchored at an unidentified port, China Daily reported. The vessels were reported to be Type-093G submarines just completed by a shipyard and ready to be delivered to the Navy of the People’s Liberation Army.

Type-093G is an advanced version of Type-093, China’s second-generation nuclear-powered attack submarines. Compared to the relatively short 110-m regular variant, the Type-093G has a longer hull to make room for a vertical launch system, the report said.

The launchers are designed to fire YJ-18, the vertically launched version of China’s YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missile, according to the Navy’s website. The advanced missile can reportedly carry a 300-kilogram warhead to a range over 200 kilometers and is capable of performing maneuvers at speeds of up to Mach 3 just before hitting its target.

Type-093G

The Type-093G submarine also has improved speed and mobility, and reduced noise compared to the regular version, the website said.

PLA’s Navy is believed to have up to six Type-093 submarines currently in service in addition to three older Type-091s. A new Type-095 submarine is currently in development. China also reportedly has four Type-094 ballistic missile submarines carrying JL-1 or JL-2 nuclear missiles.

Earlier in February, US Vice Admiral Joseph Mulloy said China had surpassed the US in the total number of submarines.

“They may not be the same quality, but their submarine forces are growing at a tremendous rate. They now have more diesel and nuclear attack submarines than we have,” the admiral told a House subcommittee.

“They are producing some fairly amazing submarines and they are actually deploying them,” he added, explaining the Chinese vessels are being sent on longer missions to regions located further from China.

The assessment sparked fears in the US that China would be able to strike American territory from its submarines deployed in the Pacific. However, the fears may be exaggerated, since JL-2, which according to some estimates has enough range to reach Alaska, Hawaii or the US military bases in Guam, is believed to have been in service since at least 2012.

Chinese naval development was addressed in the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s annual report to Congress in December last year, Military.com reported. Among other issues the commission commented on Chinese-Russian military development cooperation and a joint deal to build new attack submarines.

“China is pursuing joint-design and production of four to six Russian advanced diesel-electric attack submarines containing Russia’s latest submarine sonar, propulsion, and quieting technology,” the commission said.

Russia to Renew Production of Tu-160 'Blackjack' Strategic Bomber

 Russia will renew the production of its Tu-160 (Blackjack) supersonic strategic bomber and missile carrier, Russian Defense Minister Gen. Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday.

"Today it is already necessary to solve the task of not only maintaining and modernizing long-range aviation, we must also produce the Tu-160 missile carrier," Shoigu said during a visit at the Kazan Aviation Plant.

Shoigu said that the Tu-160 is "a unique machine, ahead of its time for many years and even until now has not been exploited to its full potential."

Soviet and Russian pilots in the past nicknamed the aircraft the White Swan.

Tu-160 'Blackjack' Strategic Bomber  

According to the manufacturer of the Tu-160, Tupolev JSC, the aircraft is the world's largest supersonic bomber jet, as well as the heaviest combat aircraft in the world. About 35 Tu-160 aircraft have been built.

China’s Advanced J-11D Heavy Fighter Jet Takes Maiden Flight

The upgraded D variant of China’s J-11 fighter jet, a copy of the Russian Sukhoi Su-27, has made its maiden flight, Chinese media reported. The jet reportedly has new radar and an air refueling system.

The J-11D model, which was tested in the air for the first time on Wednesday, incorporates technologies developed for the J-16 fighter jet.

It is reported to have better active phased array radar, use more composite materials in its wings and tail, and be capable of firing more advanced air-to-air missiles like PL-10 and PL-12(SD-10).

J-11D 

Photos of the J-11D prototype tested at a Shenyang Aircraft Corporation airfield also showed an in-flight refueling probe installed on the port side similar to the arrangement used on J-15.