I’ve just read SSN by Tom Clancy, and its already working on pretty much outdated info – I guess he must have written it a while ago.
Basically, China goes head to head with the US Navy to fight for control of the Spratley Islands.
Now presumably China would want to have maximised the number of 3rd generation fighters in her arsenal before entertaining any thoughts of having to militarily back a political move like that. I Know she seems to be acquiring a lot of Su-30’s, Su-27’s and J-11’s, but its a lot less than I had expected, even though they are bringing in the J-10.
I presume any hypothetical conflict of interests with the US Navy would force the Chinese to seriously consider the redeployment of her older J-8, J-7 assets etc to second-line units rather than put them up against overwhelming naval air-superirority. One must also assume that the Chinese variants of the Aspide and Adder will also play a factor.
Navally speaking, China is going to have her best destroyers protected tactically by older submarines, while her newer Akulas and Kilos will operate independtly or in wolf packs to attack american shipping. The Moskit-E would definitely be in deployment, and one has to consider the deployment of minefields and new jet-powered torpedoes appearing from the former soviet block.
I would be curious to know any info on Chinese early warning, AWACS and ASW aircraft if anyones got anything.
Obviously, the USN has only to deploy her best SSN’s to practically assure naval superiority against the chinese, but the key to victory will be sheer air power.
To this effect, I’ve always wondered why the Chinese never took on longer-range bombers like the Su-24 and the Tu-22.
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October 11, 2003 at 2:30 am