Exports of cheap 'Made In China' Submarines picking up
China has been climbing the global rankings in terms of submarine technology in recent
years with the country exporting more conventional submarines, which are relatively low-priced
but offer advanced technology, according to an official media report.
"China's exported submarines are relatively cheap but offer advanced technology, and designs
for some of their features could be modified to meet customers' requirements, making
them more competitive in the global market," an expert was quoted as saying by the state-run
Global Times.
Exports of China's submarines have been picking up with Thailand's cabinet recently
approving the first of three submarine purchases from China.
According to reports, the Thai government has allotted USD 393 million to buy the first
Yuan Class S26T submarine over a six-year period.
It's the latest purchase from a foreign buyer, after China's State-owned shipbuilder
China Shipbuilding Industry Corp (CSIC) officially confirmed on October 12, 2016 the sale of
a fleet of submarines to Pakistan.
Pakistan will acquire eight modified diesel-electric attack submarines from China by 2028, and
the deal was estimated to be worth about USD five billion, according to a report by People
s Liberation Army (PLA).
In November, the Bangladesh Navy took delivery of two refurbished Type 035 (Ming)-class diesel-electric
submarines, IHS Jane's Defence Weekly reported on November 15.
China initially found hard to sell its submarines abroad as they were found to be more noisy
which made them easily detectable.
"In recent years, China has been exporting more conventional submarines thanks to their
good quality and relatively low prices, which is also in line with the development of China's
military sector and with numerous achievements related to weaponry and equipment," Li Jie,
a naval military expert, told the Global Times.
"For example, the electronic system and combat platform have both been developing
very rapidly in recent years.
However, some components may still lag behind the first-class equipment worldwide," he
said.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy is currently operating a submarine fleet that
is one of the fastest-growing and most modern forces in the world.
China possesses both nuclear-powered and diesel-electric submarines, and the Type 041 Yuan-class is
the PLA Navy's first class of diesel-electric submarines to be equipped with an air-independent
propulsion (AIP) system.
Overall, China has been climbing the global rankings in terms of submarine technology
in recent years, and one of the major breakthroughs has been the application of AIP, an industry
insider, who did not wish to be named, told the Global Times.
"Some technologies are on the same level as those mastered by Germany.
More importantly, we can provide financial support for potential foreign buyers," he
said.
The submarines that the PLA Navy uses itself are more advanced than those that are being
sold, the report said.
China could sell some of its submarine technologies to foreign buyers, especially those with good
relationships with the country like Pakistan, Li noted.
"We are not like some countries whose main purpose is weapon sales and trading to earn
more dollars.
We provide technology support for foreign buyers to help them enhance their military
industry," he said.
The AIP technology helps submarines stay submerged for much longer, sometimes over half a month,
which is a big difference from previously exported submarines, Li claimed.
"This type of technology has become a key requirement for Pakistan, which is unlikely
to pay for more expensive technology like nuclear-powered submarines.
But the country needs to strengthen its navy in the event that a confrontation with India
does occur," Li said.
The submarines used in the Asia Pacific region are mainly produced by Germany, the US and
France, the source noted.
China could modify some of the features of its submarines to be in line with customers'
requirements, which would also make its fleet more popular in the global market, according
to Li.
"For example, a change to withstand different water depths or heat dissipation is not a
challenging task for Chinese manufacturers," Li said.
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