Chinese Subs Challenge India's Control Over Sea Routes

     China has said that submarines docking in Colombo are routine calls and are for refueling in anti-piracy missions in Gulf of Aden. But this is ridiculous. As the ultimate offensive weapon, even the thought of using submarines in anti-piracy ops is overkill. For that matter, even destroyers, frigates and corvettes are not cost-effective solutions in such missions. Modern offshore patrol vessels and special forces would be more than adequate.
 

It is clear that the nuclear submarines that do not require any basing facility in times of war were here earlier this year to test India's response and the waters, literally. Operation from Indian Ocean provides these lethal platforms the nuclear option against all adversaries including India. 

Conventional submarines, however, do require some form of support on extended missions which explains the presence of an auxiliary during the recent visit. Colombo or Hambanthota could well be on the radar of China for creation of such a facility. And Sri Lanka may find it increasingly difficult to say no to such Chinese requests. Even PNS Ghazi which ultimately met its watery grave off Vizag, was on a mission to sink Vikrant during 1971 war. It is on record that Ghazi was supported logistically by Sri Lanka on its passage to Bay of Bengal. 

China is aware that its merchant fleet, which carries more than 80% of its energy needs, and its trade through the Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) happen under the watchful eyes of Indi an Navy. If there is any spillover of a conflict with India over land borders to the maritime domain, the Indian Navy is in a position to intercept these Chinese vessels even before they enter Malacca straits. 

The presence of nuclear or conventional submarines in areas where the Indian Navy would like to exercise Sea Control would make this task of the Indian Navy a challenging one. It also needs to be borne in mind that the concept of operations (CONOPS) of the Indian Navy is centered on the Carrier Task Force (CTF) whose center of grav ity is the aircraft carrier. Nuclear and conventional submarines would be able to target the aircraft carrier. 

Interdiction of merchant fleet by submarines and surface forces is a legacy from the World War though not witnessed since. What the deployment of the Chinese submarines would do as a game changer is challenge the modern surface forces of the Indian Navy in this possible task, to compel a shift in emphasis on anti-submarine forces. 

Sea Control by Indian Navy could become even more complicated should there be some synergy between Pakistan and China in operating sub-surface forces in the event of a maritime conflict. 

The Indian Navy depends largely on its newly inducted P8i Boeing, the older Tu 142 M long-range maritime and antisubmarine aircraft operating from Rajali, a naval air station in Arakkonam, and IL38 aircraft from Goa to keep track of submarines. This is complemented by a dwindling strength of Integral Helicopters in the form of Seaking Mk 42B and Kamov. While there is a lot of public awareness of the acute shortage of submarines, the same is not the case when it comes to both surface and integral anti-submarine assets. Many new surface vessels suffer from the lack of an integral dedicated helicopter for anti-submarine warfare missions. The delay in the acquisition of Mine Counter Measure vessels from South Korea adds to the challenges of the Indian Navy to keep its channels and vital areas clear of possible mines that could be planted by the Chinese submarines, which are designed to do just that.

It is clear that the government has to move on fast track at many levels and work closely with the Navy to overcome the above deficiencies, which would dent the capability of the Indian Navy to pursue its missions.On the part of the Indian Navy, it would need to work on all contingencies by scenario-building and work in a time bound manner to optimize the efficiency of the present capability to counter the designs of China till it achieves a balanced force structure. 

China to have 10,000-ton coast guard vessel in East China Sea by next year

     China is likely to deploy its first 10,000-ton coast guard vessel to patrol the disputed waters of the East China Sea, where is currently has a territorial dispute with Japan who administers a small group of islands called the Senkakus (Chinese claim them as the Diaoyutai and Taiwan as the Diaoyu). This should begin next year according to Tokyo's Yomiuri Shimbun.

The 10,000-ton patrol boat is still under construction in China. Beijing purchased 40 high-powered diesel engines from Germany to power those large ships referred as "monsters" in Japan. Currently, the Japanese Coast Guard's two Shikishima-class boats are the world's largest patrol vessels. The tonnage of Shikishima and its sister ship, Akitsushima is 7,175. As for China, the largest patrol vessel is Haijian 50 with a displacement of 4,000 tons.

Since the serial number of the 10,000-ton patrol boat is 2901, the Japanese newspaper concluded that it will be deployed to the East China Sea Branch of the Chinese coast guard like all other vessels with 2 at the beginning of their serial number. The newspaper also pointed out that this new vessel is capable to carry a helicopter. The construction of the vessel is almost completed, and the report said it is likely to begin its service with the Chinese Coast Guard next year.

China conducted two anti-satellite tests: Voice of Russia

     China had conducted two anti-satellite tests recently with its new laser technology, Konstantin Sivkov, the first deputy head of the Moscow-based Academy of Geopolitical Problems, told the Voice of Russia on Nov. 6.

Sivkov said that several exercises against tank and unmanned aerial vehicles had been launched by the PLA with its new laser weapons. The China Academy of Engineering Physics' low-altitude air defense system designed to intercept aircraft below 500 meters was used in several drills against drones. Yi Jinsong from the China Academy of Engineering Physics told the Beijing-based Sina Military Network that unmanned aerial vehicles can be operated by terrorists against the Chinese homeland.

The PLA carried out two anti-satellite exercises with its laser weapon system as well, Sivkov also said, adding that it is crucial for China to destroy US satellites at the beginning of a conflict, should one arise. By shooting down US satellites, the PLA will be capable of blinding American air, ground and naval forces on the battlefield. After China tested its anti-satellite weapon for the first time in 2007, US satellites have been periodically disturbed by the Chinese laser weapon several times in orbit, the Defense News reported.

A source from the US government told the Defense News that Washington decided to keep quiet regarding the those events because Beijing is an important trade partner. At the same time, the US needs China to seek a peaceful solution on the Korean peninsula. Realizing that lasers are capable of destroying every advanced weapon systems, including aircraft carriers, China has invested huge sums in the development of such weaponry since the 1960s.

During an exercise held in 2009, the PLA successfully destroyed incoming rockets with a laser cannon. After the Shenguang 1 and Shenguang 2, the China Academy of Engineering Physics put the Shenguang 3 high-energy research center in service at Sichuan province located in southwestern China. Once the project is completed, it will help the PLA to speed up and promote the development of its future laser weaponry.

PLA incursion into India foiled by Modi's beefed-up border police

Soldiers of the People's Liberation Army recently made a two-pronged simultaneous incursion into the Indian-controlled region of Ladakh, according a report in the Times of India on Nov. 3.

A source from the Indian government said these incursions were launched by the PLA simultaneously along the road built beside Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh and on the northern bank of the lake in an area 168 kilometers from Leh on Oct. 22.

The Indian-Tibetan Border Police responded to the PLA intrusions immediately, first intercepting the Chinese troops aboard their boats at the line of actual control, the demarcation line between Indian and Chinese territory agreed upon in a 1993 agreement between the two nations.

Two high-speed interceptor boats bought from the United States, equipped with radar, infra-red and GPS systems, played an important role in the operation. Both boats can carry nearly 15 soldiers and are as good as their Chinese counterparts, according to the paper. PLA soldiers on mountain terrain vehicles were also blocked by the Indian-Tibetan Border Police before they were able to cross the line of actual control by road.

Fu Xiaoqiang from the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations told the Communist Party-run Global Times that Pangong Lake is a disputed territory claimed by both Beijing and New Delhi located in the Ngari prefecture of Tibet. Currently, two thirds of the lake is under Chinese administration and the other third is controlled by India, according to Fu. He said Pangong Lake is relatively peaceful compared to other disputed territories along the border.

Fu told the Global Times that Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, is trying to use Chinese incursions across the Indian line of actual control to hide his true ambitions in southern Tibet. With assistance from Japan, India is constructing a 2,000-kilometer strategic highway along the border region. At the same time, an additional 10,000 troops have been deployed to the eastern part of the line of actual control to boost the numbers of the border police.

China and India have butted heads over border issues for over a century, in particular Arunachal Pradesh, which officially became an Indian state in February 1987. China continues to claim the state, including its strategically important Tawang district, as a part of Tibet.

PLA visits to Sri Lanka port present an issue for India

Chinese vessels' frequent visits to the port of Colombo in Sri Lanka are causing concern for India as it engages with Sri Lanka in a joint military action called Exercise-Mithra Shakthi in the later country's Uva-Kudaoya training school, reports Huanqiu, website of China's nationalistic tabloid Global Times, which translated the original report from the Times of India.

The visits included one on Sunday when a Chinese submarine docked at the port after conducting an escort mission in the Gulf of Aden and waters near Somalia and another in mid-August when a Chinese amphibious landing ship and a frigate visited the port after another anti-piracy mission off Somalia.

Although Kosala Warnakulasuriya, spokesperson for the Sri Lankan navy, said the visits were no different from the 230 warships around the world that have visited the port since 2010 for refueling and restocking, Indian geo-strategist and thinker Brahma Chellaney said it suggests India's influence in the region has been weakened and called the frequent visits "a grave miscalculation," the Indian paper said.

Around 42 Indian special force troops have joined the three-week joint exercise that began Nov. 2. The exercise aims to enhance the interoperability of the two countries' militaries, according to News.LK, the official government news portal of Sri Lanka. It was the second time the two countries held such drills since December 2012 which took place in Nahan, Himachal Pradesh, India, said the Times of India.

Over the past few years, India has been regularly helping to train the Sri Lanka military and providing military equipment to resist China's influence over south Asian countries.

India to test missiles including long-range Agni-V

      India's Defence Research and Development Organization under the country's defense ministry is preparing to test various intercontinental ballistic missiles with the ability to attack targets in the Far East, Africa and even Europe according to the official website of the People's Liberation Army's China Defense Science and Technology Information Center.

A source from the Indian military said that the country is ready to test three types of Agni intercontinental missiles after the launch of the Nirbhay subsonic cruise missile in November. The missiles include the Agni-II, with a range 2,000 kilometers, and perhaps even the Agni-IV, with a range of 4,000 km, the source said, while the Defence Research and Development Organization said the Agni-V, estimated to have a range of 5,000-8,000 kilometers, will be tested as well.

The Agni-V's first test was in April 2012. On Sept. 15, the Agni-V completed its second test. Both tests were launched from road-mobile launchers. Its latest test took place on Wheeler island in the Indian Ocean. The Defense Science and Technology Information Center believes, the road-mobile launcher allows the Agni-V more mobility against a potential enemy attack. Like Russia's Topol road-mobile missile, it is hard for satellites to detect.

China has developed DF-21 missiles to enable it to confront all of its potential enemies in Asia, including India. When launched from bases in Liaoning, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Fujian and Qinghai, the DF-21 can reach all major targets in Japan, South Korea, Okinawa, Taiwan, Vietnam, India and Central Asia. The DF-31B road-mobile launcher, with an attacking range of 9,000 km and the ability to carry multiple warheads, is another weapon in China's arsenal which could be used to counter the Agni-V.

New Indian Missile Can Strike Deep Into Chinese Territory

     India has successfully completed the test of a new long-range subsonic cruise missile capable of hitting Chinese territory.

On Oct. 17, the surface version of the Nirbhay — meaning "dauntless" or "fearless" — missile was tested at the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in the Balasore district of Odisha, meeting all parameters and completing all 15 way-points. The missile reportedly traveled more than an hour and accurately hit its target.

"The missile maintained an accuracy better than 10 meters throughout its path and covered more than 1,000 kilometers," said Avinash Chander, head of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation, the Nirbhay's developer.

The Nirbhay was test fired for the first time in March 2013 but the missile veered away from its trajectory, forcing the command center to detach the engine and destroy the missile mid-flight.

Referred to as India's answer to America's Battleaxe subsonic cruise missile, the Nirbhay is an all-weather low-cost long-range cruise missile with stealth and high accuracy. It weighs about a tonne and has a length of six meters. The missile has its own wings and tail and has a range of more than 1,000 km, meaning it has the ability to strike deep into Chinese territory.

Notably, the Nirbhay can fly at very low altitudes to avoid the detection of enemy radars and can be launched from the land, sea and air. It can also carry 24 types of warheads — including nuclear — depending on mission requirements and uses an inertial navigation system for guidance.

Once the Nirbhay is inducted into the Indian Navy, Army and Air Force, currently expected around 2016, New Delhi will begin to stop importing new missiles.

"Our target is to make India missile-import free by the year 2022. This means that we need not import any missile in terms of air-to-ground, surface-to-air or the air-to-air missiles," Chander said.