Order Code RL30700
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
China’s Foreign Conventional Arms Acquisitions:
Background and Analysis
October 10, 2000
Shirley A. Kan, Coordinator
Specialist in National Security Policy
Christopher Bolkcom
Analyst in National Defense
Ronald O’Rourke
Specialist in National Defense
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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This CRS Report was initiated upon the request
of Senator Daniel Akaka, the Ranking Minority
Member of the Senate Governmental Affairs
Subcommittee on International Security,
Proliferation, and Federal Services, of the 106th
Congress.

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China’s Foreign Conventional Arms Acquisitions:
Background and Analysis
Summary
This report examines the major, foreign conventional weapon systems that China
has acquired or has committed to acquire since 1990, with particular attention to
implications for U.S. security concerns. It is not the assumption of this report that
China’s military, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), will engage in conflict with
other forces in Asia. Nonetheless, since the mid-1990s, there has been increasing
concern about China’s assertiveness in Asia and greater threats against Taiwan.
Since 1990, China has acquired or sought to acquire select types and modest
quantities of modern foreign weapons, primarily from Russia. These include: Mi-17
helicopters, Il-76 transports, Su-27 fighters, S-300 surface-to-air missile (SAM)
systems, Kilo submarines, Tor-M1 SAM systems, Sovremenny destroyers (armed
with the Sunburn anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM)), airborne early warning (AEW)
aircraft (not yet delivered), and Su-30 fighters (not yet delivered).
The Su-27 represents a significant upgrade in fighter aircraft capability over
China’s indigenous aircraft. The combination of the PLA’s imported AA-11 air-to-air
missile and highly maneuverable aircraft could prove a vexing air-to-air challenge to
modern fighter aircraft of other forces in Asia. The Russian SAMs acquired by China
– the SA-15 and especially the SA-10 – represent marked improvements in China’s
ability to target aircraft and missiles that threaten its airspace. Nonetheless, the PLA’s
ability to employ its modern acquisitions is hampered by factors such as limited
inventory, deficient maintenance, inadequate pilot training, outdated air doctrine, rigid
command, disparate communications, and lack of supporting capabilities (i.e., aerial
refueling, AEW, and electronic warfare aircraft).
China’s navy has been primarily a coastal defense force built around ships based
largely on older or obsolete Soviet technology. China’s two Sovremenny-class ships
would be considerably more technologically modern, complex, and capable than most
other PLA surface combatants. The SS-N-22/Sunburn anti-ship cruise missile,
designed to defeat the U.S. Navy’s Aegis air-defense system, is considered by many
to be the most threatening ship-launched ASCM in service today. Still, China’s
Sovremenny-class ships, though fairly capable, would be vulnerable to air and
submarine attack. Although much attention has been paid to China’s procurement of
Sovremenny-class ships armed with SS-N-22s, the four quiet Kilos, with their
potential for avoiding detection and their potent torpedoes, might represent a greater
threat to naval forces in Asia. If well-maintained and proficiently-operated, the PLA
Navy’s Kilo-class submarines can launch attacks against ships and submarines
operating in the region. Kilos are, nevertheless, vulnerable to detection and attack.
China has made some significant qualitative upgrades through foreign
acquisitions, but it remains to be seen how these acquisitions will be expanded and
linked to other PLA improvements. The operational significance of China’s
conventional arms acquisitions will also depend on the PLA’s training to eventually
conduct effective joint military operations and the scenario in which the systems might
be used. These developments in PLA modernization will bear watching.

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Contents
Purpose and Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Congressional Concerns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Scope of Report and Other Factors for PLA Modernization . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Major Foreign Arms Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Objectives of the Middle Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Increasing Foreign Arms Acquisitions since 1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Major Arms Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Mi-17 Helicopters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Il-76 Transports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Su-27 Fighters and Armaments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
S-300/SA-10 Air Defense Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Kilo Submarines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Tor/SA-15 Air Defense Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Sovremenny Destroyers and Sunburn Missiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
A-50 Airborne Early Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Su-30 Fighters and Armaments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Assessment of Air Power Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Platform Comparisons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Fighter/Attack Aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Air-to-Air Missiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Surface-to-Air Missiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Force on Force Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Maintenance/Spares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Pilot Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Mission Emphasis and Doctrine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Command, Control, and Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Supporting Aircraft/Missions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Assessment of Naval Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
General Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Scope of Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
China’s Navy in General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Sovremenny-class Destroyers and Related Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
China’s Surface Combatant Force in General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Sovremenny Class as a Soviet 1970s-era Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Intent of China’s Purchase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
China’s Ability to Operate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Comparison with Western Surface Combatants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Capability of SS-N-22 Against Surface Ships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Vulnerability of Sovremenny-class Design to Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Potential Tactical Implications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Kilo Class Submarines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
China’s Submarine Force in General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Kilo Class as a Late 1970s-era Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

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Intent of China’s Purchase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
China’s Ability to Operate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Comparison with Western Submarines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Capability of Kilo Against Ships and Subs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Vulnerability of Kilo-class Design to Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Potential Tactical Implications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Integrated Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Appendix: Acronyms and Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
List of Tables
Table 1. Values of China’s Arms Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Table 2. China Among Top 10 Developing Arms Recipients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Table 3. China’s Major Conventional Arms Acquisitions Since 1990 . . . . . . . . . 9
Table 4. Comparison of Fighter/Attack Aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Table 5. Comparison of Air-to-Air Missiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Table 6. Comparison of Surface-to-Air Missiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Table 7. Comparison of Key PLAAF Systems with Other Key Systems . . . . . . 34

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China’s Foreign Conventional Arms
Acquisitions: Background and Analysis
Purpose and Scope1
Congressional Concerns
This CRS Report examines the foreign conventional arms acquisitions of China’s
military, collectively called the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).2 The purpose of this
report is to provide information to Congress, using best available unclassified data,
on the PLA’s arms procurement, with assessments of implications for regional
security – particularly, U.S. security concerns.
It is not the assumption of this report that the People’s Republic of China (PRC)
will engage in conflict with other forces in Asia. This report does not examine the
likelihood or nature of a crisis or conflict that might involve PLA, other Asian, and/or
U.S. forces.
Nonetheless, since the mid-1990s, there has been increasing concern about the
PRC’s assertiveness in the Asian-Pacific region as well as threats against Taiwan and
possible third-party military involvement in the Taiwan Strait. As the Secretary of
Defense reported in June 2000, the PLA operates under the doctrine of “fighting local
wars under high-tech conditions,” calling for rapid response by select pockets of
excellence within the PLA to a range of contingencies along China’s land and sea
borders. Particularly, “China expects to encounter a more technologically advanced
foe, such as the United States or Japan, if conflicts concerning its interests within this
strategic envelope arise. Moreover, a cross-Strait conflict between China and Taiwan
involving the United States has emerged as the dominant scenario guiding PLA force
planning, military training, and war preparation.”3
Since the 1990s, Members of Congress have increasingly expressed concerns
about the efforts of the PRC to modernize the PLA. While many countries upgrade
their militaries, the PLA’s modernization has prompted a debate about the extent to
which enhanced PLA capabilities challenge U.S. interests and stability in the Asia-
1 Prepared by Shirley A. Kan, Specialist in National Security Policy.
2 The “PLA” refers to all services and branches, including ground, air, and naval forces, and
the missile force (the Second Artillery).
3 Secretary of Defense, “Report on the Military Power of the People’s Republic of China,”
Report to Congress Pursuant to the FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act, June 2000.
According to the report, about 14 of perhaps 40 divisions [or approximately one-third] in the
PLA ground forces are considered “rapid reaction units.”

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CRS-2
Pacific region. This debate has covered several areas of concern, including the
expanding PRC presence in the disputed South China Sea, the greater PLA missile
threat to Taiwan as demonstrated by the missile “test-firings” in 1995 and 1996,
persistent threats to use force in the Taiwan Strait, suspected unauthorized
acquisitions of U.S. missile technology (from satellite launches) and nuclear weapon
secrets, weapons proliferation, and rising arms purchases (particularly from Russia).
Some Members have cited the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), P.L. 96-8, as a basis
for congressional concern over the situation in the Taiwan Strait. The TRA left the
question of U.S. involvement somewhat ambiguous. Section 2(b)(4) states that the
United States will consider with “grave concern” any non-peaceful means to
determine Taiwan’s future. Nonetheless, in not wanting to pre-determine U.S.
actions, Members of Congress also adopted section 2(b)(6), declaring it to be U.S.
policy “to maintain the capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force or
other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic
system, of the people on Taiwan.”4
Particularly since the PLA’s provocative missile “test-firings” in 1995 and 1996,
and U.S. deployment of two aircraft carriers close to Taiwan in March 1996,
Congress has required reports from the Clinton Administration on the PRC’s military
capabilities and strategy, and the situation in the Taiwan Strait. The Pentagon has
submitted these reports since 1997.5
As for legislation, the 106th Congress considered some bills generated by
concerns about the PLA’s arms purchases, including H.R. 1838 and S. 693 (bills
introduced by Rep. Delay and Senator Helms as legislative means to enhance
Taiwan’s security), and H.R. 4022 and S. 2687 (bills introduced by Rep. Rohrabacher
and Sen. Robert Smith banning U.S. forgiveness or rescheduling of debt owned by
Russia unless it stops transfers of Sunburn anti-ship cruise missiles to China).
Scope of Report and Other Factors for PLA Modernization
This CRS Report examines the major, foreign conventional weapon systems that
the PLA has acquired or has committed to acquire since 1990. Still, it is important
to note that there are other factors important to PLA modernization, besides having
foreign equipment. Separate CRS reports discuss the PLA’s modernization of its
missile force (especially the theater ballistic missile buildup against Taiwan), including
strategic nuclear-armed missiles and warhead modernization, largely indigenous
4 See CRS Report RL30341, China/Taiwan: Evolution of the “One China” Policy – Key
Statements from Washington, Beijing, and Taipei, by Shirley A. Kan.
5 Department of Defense, “Selected Military Capabilities of the People’s Republic of China
(Report to Congress Pursuant to Section 1305 of the FY97 National Defense Authorization
Act),” April 1997; “Future Military Capabilities and Strategy of the People’s Republic of
China (Report to Congress Pursuant to Section 1226 of the FY98 National Defense
Authorization Act),” July 1998; “The Security Situation in the Taiwan Strait (Report to
Congress Pursuant to the FY99 Appropriations Bill),” February 1999; and “Annual Report
on the Military Power of the People’s Republic of China (Report to Congress Pursuant to the
FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act),” June 2000.

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CRS-3
undertakings.6 Another CRS Report looks at the closer PRC-Russian “strategic
partnership.”7
In parallel with foreign procurement of equipment, the PRC has also sought
foreign technology to help its struggling defense industries. An example is reported
Russian cooperation in the PRC’s development of new submarines, including the
Song-class diesel-electric submarine (SS), Type 093 nuclear-powered attack
submarine (SSN), and Type 094 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN).8
Another example is Israel’s reported cooperation with China, perhaps since 1991, in
the development of a new F-10 (also called J-10) fighter, based on the Lavi fighter
project that was canceled in 1987 and was comparable to the F-16.9
In-flight refueling aircraft is a third example of new important capabilities
developed by China reportedly with significant foreign assistance. The PLA has
sought in-flight refueling capability at least since the 1980s, reportedly from various
foreign sources (United Kingdom, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, and Russia).10 By 1996, a
news story cited a classified Pentagon report as saying that China had produced five
in-flight refueling tankers, converted from B-6 (H-6) bombers, and planned to have
6 CRS Report 97-391, China: Ballistic and Cruise Missiles, by Shirley A. Kan; and CRS
Report 97-1022, Chinese Nuclear Testing and Warhead Development, by Jonathan Medalia.
7 CRS Report 97-185, Russian-Chinese Cooperation: Prospects and Implications, by Stuart
D. Goldman and Robert G. Sutter.
8 Office of Naval Intelligence, Worldwide Submarine Challenges, 1997; “Russia Helping
China Develop New-Generation Attack SSN, SSBN,” Jianchuan Zhishi [Naval and
Merchant Ships] (Beijing), October 1997, in FBIS; Secretary of Defense, “Report on the
Military Power of the People’s Republic of China,” Report to Congress Pursuant to the
FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act, June 2000.
9 Israel’s cooperation with the PRC in producing this next-generation fighter has been reported
in a number of sources, including: Kuang Chiao Ching [Wide Angle] (Hong Kong),
December 16, 1991, translated in JPRS-CAR-92-019, April 1, 1992; Washington Times,
October 13, 1993; Flight International, November 2-8, 1994; Los Angeles Times, December
28, 1994; Defense News, July 21-27, 1997; Flight International, October 15-21, 1997; Flight
International, May 20-26, 1998. As early as 1993, in answering questions from a hearing
of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI)
publicly confirmed that Israel’s “long history” of military technical cooperation with China
has included work on “China’s next generation fighter.” More recently, the Office of Naval
Intelligence (ONI) issued a report in 1996 that said China has acquired U.S. technology
“through Israel in the form of the Lavi fighter.” In 1996 and 1997, ONI reported that the F-
10's design was based “heavily” on the canceled Israeli Lavi program and has benefitted from
“substantial direct external assistance, primarily from Israel and Russia, and with indirect
assistance through access to U.S. technologies,” according to Worldwide Challenges to Naval
Strike Warfare.
10 Andrew Slade, “USA Pushing to Block UK Sale to Chinese,” Jane’s Defense Weekly,
September 17, 1988; Far Eastern Economic Review, February 21, 1991; Nayan Chanda,
“China Poses New Threat to Contested Islands,” Asian Wall Street Journal, March 23, 1992;
Nicholas D. Kristof, “China Obtains Aerial-Refueling Technology,” New York Times, August
23, 1992; Tai Ming Cheung, “Loaded Weapons,” Far Eastern Economic Review, September
3, 1992;

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CRS-4
at least 20 tankers to support indigenous F-8 fighters (15 of which had been equipped
with aerial refueling probes), F-10s, and FB-7 fighters under development.11 At the
October 1, 1999 military parade in Beijing to commemorate the 50th anniversary of
the PRC’s founding, the PLA’s aerial refueling tankers flew publicly for the first time,
according to China’s official media. China billed the tankers as indigenously produced
and said that “gone are the days” when the PLA’s aircraft could not be refueled in the
air, and what is of “strategic importance is that the flying tankers have boosted the air
force’s long-range [combat capability].”12 Nonetheless, reports do not say the PLA
can perform aerial refueling of the imported advanced Su-27 fighters, and the
Pentagon reported in 2000 that the PLA Air Force’s aerial refueling program remains
behind schedule.13
There are still other considerations that are important to PLA modernization, and
PRC leaders appear to recognize that simply having more modern systems does not
necessarily mean the PLA would be able to utilize them effectively. PRC leaders have
sought to reform, streamline, and restructure the PLA based on high technology and
quality (rather than quantity), requirements for the absorption of modern weapons
acquired from abroad. The PLA has pursued improvements in non-hardware aspects
necessary for modernization, such as professionalization, training, logistics,
leadership, maintenance, doctrine, and strategy.14 In the 1996 exercise involving the
three separate services, the PLA showed its intent to eventually have the ability to
carry out joint operations.15 The Secretary of Defense has reported that a possible
PLA attack on Taiwan would likely include naval blockades, missile strikes, special
operations, air attacks, and airborne and amphibious invasions.16 Russian training has
accompanied the PLA’s hardware acquisitions. In October 1999, Russian and PLA
11 Bill Gertz, “Chinese Arms Buildup Increases Attack Range,” Washington Times, March
12, 1996.
12 “Chinese-Made Aerial Refuellers Debut in Military Parade,” Xinhua [New China News
Agency] (Beijing), October 1, 1999, in FBIS. A PRC-owned newspaper in Hong Kong
reported that the refueling tankers were modified H-6 bombers (based on the Soviet Tu-16
bomber) and asserted that “the presence of these tanker planes indicates that China has
already mastered the technique” (“Article Reviews China’s New Weapons,” Ta Kung Pao
(Hong Kong), October 2, 1999).
13 Secretary of Defense, “Report on the Military Power of the People’s Republic of China,”
Report to Congress Pursuant to the FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act, June 2000.
14 On multifaceted aspects of PLA modernization, see, for example: “Special Issue: China’s
Military in Transition,” China Quarterly, June 1996; James R. Lilley and Chuck Downs
(editors), Crisis in the Taiwan Strait (Washington: American Enterprise Institute and National
Defense University Press, 1997); James C. Mulvenon, Professionalization of the Senior
Chinese Officer Corps: Trends and Implications, Rand, 1997; James C. Mulvenon and
Richard H. Yang (editors), The People’s Liberation Army in the Information Age (Santa
Monica, CA: Rand Corporation, 1999); James R. Lilley and David Shambaugh (editors),
China’s Military Faces the Future (Washington: American Enterprise Institute, 1999); Susan
M. Puska (editor), People’s Liberation Army After Next (Army War College, 2000).
15 Office of Naval Intelligence, Chinese Exercise, Strait 961: 8-25 March 1996, 1996.
16 Secretary of Defense, “The Security Situation in the Taiwan Strait,” Report to Congress
Pursuant to the FY99 Appropriations Bill, February 1999.

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CRS-5
naval forces took the first steps in holding what they called “military exercises”
together in the East China Sea near Shanghai.17 PRC leaders have also tried to curb
corruption in the PLA, with President Jiang Zemin’s ban on businesses in the PLA
(announced in July 1998). In addition, strategic thinkers of the PLA have examined
changes in warfighting, including information warfare, the revolution in military affairs
(RMA), and asymmetric warfare.18
Major Foreign Arms Acquisitions19
Objectives of the Middle Kingdom
Leaders in Beijing have pursued a historical quest for a modern China that is
prosperous and strong, presuming the country as rightfully the most powerful among
Asian countries and one among great powers of the world. Many analysts in and
outside government believe that, since economic reforms began in 1979, China’s
leaders have placed their top priority on economic growth as the requirement for
social stability, political control, national unification, and world standing.
Nonetheless, Beijing has pursued military modernization as a secondary, but
important, component of building comprehensive national strength. China pursues
military modernization in order to ensure that it is the preeminent power in Asia so
that any significant action undertaken by any other country in Asia must first consider
China’s interests.20 Over the last two decades, discussion of China’s interests and
challenges to regional stability has shifted from its role in the Cold War to domestic
repression and instability (e.g., Tiananmen crackdown) to claims over the South China
Sea to tensions over Taiwan (and the potential involvement of U.S. and Japanese
forces).
Especially since the mid-1990s, China has viewed its top security problem as
preventing Taiwan’s permanent separation and securing unification as “one China.”
This focus has catalyzed PLA modernization, including procurement of advanced
17 “Russian Navy to Conduct First Joint Exercise with PRC,” Sing Tao Jih Pao (Hong Kong),
in FBIS; “Russia, China to Hold Military Exercises Early Oct,” Voice of Russia (Moscow),
October 1, 1999, in FBIS; “Russian Warships Complete Visit to Shanghai,” RIA (Moscow),
October 6, 1999, in FBIS; “Sino-Russian Naval Exercise Reviewed,” Yazhou Zhoukan
[Asiaweek] (Hong Kong), October 11-17, 1999, in FBIS.
18 For a study that examined PLA modernization with an emphasis on strategic aspects, such
as the targeting of command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I)
systems with missiles and information warfare, see: Mark A. Stokes, China’s Strategic
Modernization: Implications for the United States (Carlisle, PA: Army War College,
Strategic Studies Institute, 1999). For some published PLA writings on future warfare, see:
Michael Pillsbury (editor), Chinese Views of Future Warfare and China Debates the Future
Security Environment (Washington: National Defense University, Institute for National
Strategic Studies, 1997 and 2000).
19 Prepared by Shirley A. Kan, Specialist in National Security Policy.
20 Secretary of Defense, “Report on the Military Power of the People’s Republic of China,”
Report to Congress Pursuant to the FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act, June 2000.

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CRS-6
foreign military equipment. In the longer-term, experts believe that China also aims
to preclude Japan’s rise as the strongest Asian power, ensure PRC influence over the
Korean peninsula, support PRC claims to territory in the East and South China Seas,
subdue India’s quest for power, and counter American might in the region.
Increasing Foreign Arms Acquisitions since 1990
In the early 1990s, a number of changes in the world contributed to the PRC’s
renewed arms procurement from the Soviet Union and its successor, Russia – the
PLA’s source of arms in the 1950s, before the Sino-Soviet split. Israel has been cited
as another source of weapons technology, in secondary importance.21 After the
Tiananmen crackdown in June 1989, the United States imposed sanctions that have
included a suspension of arms sales to the PRC.22 Previously, the PRC had looked
to the United States for some weapons technology, including a military aircraft
modernization program called “Peace Pearl.”23 The rationale for U.S.-PRC
cooperation during the Reagan Administration stemmed from the Cold War, the end
of which in 1991 removed the strategic basis for U.S. arms sales to China. The
dissolution of the Soviet Union and the dire economic situation of Russia also brought
Moscow and Beijing together in renewing their arms trade. Initially for domestic
security reasons, PRC leaders began to pay greater attention to the PLA, as indicated
by double-digit increases in the public defense budget, beginning with a real increase
in 1990 that was the first since the early 1980s.24 Moreover, by the early 1990s, the
PRC’s economic reforms, expanded foreign trade, and earnings from tourism had
spurred significant jumps in its foreign exchange holdings. As an indicator, with about
$43 billion in foreign reserves in early 1992, the PRC held the 6th largest foreign
exchange reserves in the world, part of which was available for arms.25
U.S. victory in the Persian Gulf War of 1991 also altered perceptions of world
power relations and dramatically demonstrated to PRC leaders the obsolescence of
PLA equipment. PRC leaders quickly learned lessons from that war, driving them to
upgrade the PLA for modern warfare.26 Lastly, after pursuing quiet, unofficial ties
21 Bates Gill and Taeho Kim, China’s Arms Acquisitions from Abroad: A Quest for “Superb
and Secret Weapons,” Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Research Report No.
11 (Oxford University Press, 1995).
22 U.S. sanctions imposed after the Tiananmen crackdown were enacted in section 902 of the
Foreign Authorization Act for FYs 1990 and 1991 (P.L. 101-246).
23 As announced by the State Department on December 22, 1992, the Bush Administration
decided to close out the four suspended Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases, which involved
an avionics upgrade for the F-8 fighter, equipment for munitions production, four anti-
submarine torpedoes, and two artillery-locating radars.
24 Central Intelligence Agency, The Chinese Economy in 1989 and 1990: Trying to Revive
Growth While Maintaining Social Stability, July 1990.
25 Central Intelligence Agency, The Chinese Economy in 1991 and 1992: Pressure to Revisit
Reform Mounts, July 1992.
26 Sheryl WuDunn, “War Astonishes Chinese and Stuns Their Military,” New York Times,
(continued...)

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CRS-7
since 1979, reportedly including several billion dollars in defense sales, the PRC and
Israel established diplomatic relations in 1992.27 In short, Beijing had greater
motivation, resources, and opportunity to acquire modern arms from abroad.
Thus, in the 1990s, as a result of the turn to major foreign military equipment to
modernize the PLA, the PRC ranked among the top ten leading arms buyers among
developing nations. As an indicator of its arms purchases from abroad, in the period
1992-1999, China ranked 4th in arms transfer agreements with a total value of $10.9
billion, behind Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.). In the
same 8-year period, China received a total value of $5.9 billion in arms deliveries.
Russia has been the primary source of China’s arms. Estimated values of China’s
acquisitions, in current U.S. dollars, are shown in Table 1 below.28
Table 1. Values of China’s Arms Acquisitions
Period
Agreements
Deliveries
1992-1995
$ 7.0 billion
$ 2.8 billion
1996-1999
$ 3.9 billion
$ 3.1 billion
1992-1999
$10.9 billion
$ 5.9 billion
In comparison, some other governments in the developing world acquired more
arms than the PRC, which ranked 8th among top recipients. According to the same
CRS Report, in the 8-year period, Saudi Arabia (ranking 1st) received $66.1 billion in
arms deliveries; and Taiwan (ranking 2nd), $20.6 billion. Table 2 shows China’s
ranking among the top 10 recipients of arms, excluding developed powers (United
States, Russia, European nations, Canada, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand).
26 (...continued)
March 20, 1991; “Leaders Reach Consensus on Hi-Tech Development,” Ta Kung Pao (PRC-
owned newspaper in Hong Kong), April 27, 1991; “CPC Leadership on Technological
Development,” Wen Wei Po (PRC-owned newspaper in Hong Kong), May 21, 1991.
27 Clyde Haberman, “Israeli Aide’s Trip Linked to China Ties,” New York Times, January 9,
1992; DCI Woolsey’s answers to questions from a hearing of the Senate Governmental
Affairs Committee, “Proliferation Threats of the 1990s,” February 24, 1993; Amnon Barzilai,
“Bringing Down the Chinese Wall,” Ha’aretz, February 5, 1999.
28 CRS Report RL30640, Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 1992-1999,
August 18, 2000, by Richard F. Grimmett.

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CRS-8
Table 2. China Among Top 10 Developing Arms Recipients
Value of Deliveries,
Rank
Recipient
1992-1999
1
Saudi Arabia
$66.1 billion
2
Taiwan
$20.6 billion
3
Egypt
$9.7 billion
4
South Korea
$8.8 billion
5
U.A.E.
$7.8 billion
6
Kuwait
$7.6 billion
7
Israel
$7.2 billion
8
China
$5.9 billion
9
Iran
$4.7 billion
10
Pakistan
$4.2 billion
Major Arms Acquisitions
Since embarking on foreign procurement for steady military modernization in
1990, the PLA has acquired or committed to acquire (with preliminary agreements or
contracts) select types and modest quantities of weapon systems, as described below
using public sources of information. Table 3 summarizes these major acquisitions.
Following this discussion on what the PLA has been acquiring, the next two sections
will assess the implications of these acquisitions for upgrading PLA air and naval
capabilities and the challenges they may pose for other forces in Asia.
Mi-17 Helicopters. In the first purchase of military equipment from Moscow
after the Sino-Soviet split ended with rapprochement in the late 1980s, the PLA
purchased 24 Mi-17 transport helicopters for army troops in 1990 and received them
by 1991.29 One source reported that the PLA ordered 30 Mi-17s in 1995 which were
delivered by 1997, when the PLA ordered five more, for a total of about 60 Mi-17
helicopters by 1999.30 The Mi-17s were assigned to the army aviation corps.31
29 Far Eastern Economic Review, October 11, 1990; Gill and Kim.
30 International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Military Balance 1999-2000.
31 Kenneth W. Allen, Glenn Krumel, Jonathan D. Pollack, China’s Air Force Enters the 21st
Century, Rand, 1995.

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CRS-9
Table 3. China’s Major Conventional Arms Acquisitions Since 1990
Year
Year of
Value
Item
Qty.
Comment
of Sale
Delivery
($ mil)
Mi-17
60
1990-97
1991-99
from Russia
helicopters
Il-76 transport
10
1990-92
1991-93
from Russia
aircraft
Su-27 fighters
26
1991
1992
1,000
from Russia; armed
22
1995
1996
710
with AA-10 and AA-
<200
1996
1998-?
2,500
11 AAMs; up to 200
(called J-11) to be co-
produced under license
with Russian help over
perhaps 15 years
S-300/SA-10
4
1991-99
1993-00
from Russia; similar
SAM regiments
to U.S. Patriot air
defense system
Kilo-class
4
1994
1995-98
700
from Russia; 2 Type
submarines
877, 2 Type 636
Tor-M1/SA-15
2
1995-99
1997-00
from Russia
SAM regiments
Sovremenny-
2
1996
2000
1,000
from Russia; equipped
class destroyers
with 3M-80 Moskit
(SS-N-22 Sunburn)
ASCMs, Uragan (SA-
N-7 Gadfly) SAMs,
and Ka-27 and Ka-28
ASW helicopters.
A-50 AEW
1-4
1996
not yet
250-
for PLAAF; modified
aircraft
delivered
1,000
Russian Il-76; Israeli
Phalcon radar
canceled in 2000
Su-30 fighters
40
1999
not yet
2,000
from Russia;
delivered
armaments could
include Python-4
AAMs (Israeli), KR-1
anti-radiation AAMs,
air-launched Moskit,
R-77 (AA-12) AAMs.

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CRS-10
Il-76 Transports. Beijing also procured from Moscow three Il-76TD transport
aircraft in 1990, and PRC official media confirmed the arrival of the planes in 1991.32
In 1992, the PLA ordered seven Russian Il-76s in a deal worth $200 million that was
paid 40 percent in hard currency and 60 percent in barter goods.33 Thus, the PLA Air
Force is believed to have acquired 10 Il-76 transports by 1993.34 The Pentagon
confirmed that the PLA Air Force has about a dozen Il-76 heavy lift aircraft.35 The
Il-76 transports were assigned to the PLA Air Force’s 13th Air Division near Wuhan,
Hubei province, to support the airborne troops (15th Airborne Army).36
Su-27 Fighters and Armaments. Beijing’s first controversial order in the
renewed arms procurement relationship with Moscow involved the Su-27, the first
fourth-generation fighter for the PLA Air Force. China bought 48 Russian Su-27s.37
The PRC and the Soviet Union began high-level negotiations over fighters in
1990,38 later reported to be for two dozen Su-27 fighters.39 The Soviets demonstrated
several fighters, including the Su-27, in Beijing in March 1991.40 Beijing signed the
contract later in 1991.41 By 1992, Russia delivered 26 Su-27s, including two for
free.42 Reporting to the United Nations (U.N.), both Russia and China confirmed that
it received 26 Russian combat aircraft in 1992, and Russia added that six of them
were training aircraft.43 The two countries also reported a transfer of 144 missiles.
These were believed to be AA-10 air-to-air missiles (AAMs) to arm the Su-27s.44
32 Xinhua [New China News Agency], September 26, 1991, translated in FBIS; Far Eastern
Economic Review, October 7, 1993.
33 Tai Ming Cheung, “Arms Reduction,” Far Eastern Economic Review, October 14, 1993.
34 IISS, 1999-2000; Gill and Kim.
35 Secretary of Defense, “The Situation in the Taiwan Strait,” Report to Congress Pursuant
to the FY99 Appropriations Bill, February 1999; and “Report on the Military Power of the
People’s Republic of China,” Report to Congress Pursuant to the FY2000 National Defense
Authorization Act, June 2000.
36 Kenneth W. Allen, Glenn Krumel, Jonathan D. Pollack, China’s Air Force Enters the 21st
Century, Rand, 1995.
37 Office of Naval Intelligence, “Worldwide Challenges to Naval Strike Warfare,” 1996.
38 “China Seeking Soviet Fighters,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, July 21, 1990; Tai Ming Cheung,
“A Sale is in the Air,” Far Eastern Economic Review, September 6, 1990.
39 Tanjug [Yugoslav News Agency], November 9, 1990, in FBIS; Far Eastern Economic
Review, February 14, 1991.
40 People’s Daily (overseas edition), March 15, 1991; Xinhua, March 22, 1991; in FBIS.
41 Flight International, April 3-9, 1991; Far Eastern Economic Review, May 23, 1991.
42 Far Eastern Economic Review, August 20, 1992, December 17, 1992.
43 United Nations General Assembly, “United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Report
of the Secretary-General,” October 11, 1993.
44 Gill and Kim.

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CRS-11
The value of this first Su-27 package eventually reached about $1 billion, with
payment involving 60 percent in hard currency and 40 percent in barter goods.45
After showing interest in 1993 in buying a second order of Su-27s, the PRC
ordered 22 of the fighters in 1995 in a deal worth about $710 million, with perhaps
50-100 percent in hard currency.46 In reporting to the U.N., both China and Russia
confirmed that the transfer of 22 aircraft took place in 1996.47
China’s Su-27s, a version called Su-27SKK, reportedly have been based in
southeastern China, with the first group at Wuhu, Anhui province (under the Nanjing
Military Region), and the second at Suixi, in Guangdong province (under the
Guangzhou Military Region).48 AAMs equipped on the SU-27s include the AA-
10/Alamo as well as the AA-11/Archer infrared AAM.49 The total number of these
AAMs cannot be established through open sources.
China’s Su-27s are not believed to have an in-flight refueling capability.50
Moreover, a 1996 press account cited a classified Pentagon report as saying that
China’s converted B-6 tankers support the indigenous F-8 fighter, and perhaps also
the FB-7 and/or F-10 fighters under development, but the report did not mention
aerial-refueling of Su-27s.51
45 Far Eastern Economic Review, May 23, 1991; Tai Ming Cheung, “Loaded Weapons,” Far
Eastern Economic Review, September 3, 1992; “‘Made in China’ Deal is Forged for Su-27s,”
Jane’s Defense Weekly, May 6, 1995; Aleksandr Koretskiy, “China Will Be Manufacturing
Russian Airplanes on Its Own,” Kommersant Daily (Moscow), translated by FBIS.
46 Tai Ming Cheung, “China’s Buying Spree,” Far Eastern Economic Review, July 8, 1993;
“‘Made in China’ Deal is Forged for Su-27s,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, May 6, 1995;
“Russian Imports Step in to Fill the Arms Gap,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, December 10, 1997.
47 U.N. Register of Conventional Arms for 1996; Paul Lewis, “China Receives Su-27 Batch
and Discusses Third Order,” Flight International, October 23-29, 1996.
48 “China Prepares for Local Production of Sukhois,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, July 16, 1997;
Federation of American Scientists ([http://www.fas.org]). The Secretary of Defense said in
the June 2000 report that a PLA operation against Taiwan would include air and ground force
units under the Nanjing and Guangzhou Military Regions.
49 Office of Naval Intelligence, Worldwide Challenges to Naval Strike Warfare, 1997;
Douglas Barrie, “Russia and Israel Prepare for Dogfight Over Chinese Missile,” Flight
International, September 24-30, 1997; Alexander A. Sergounin and Sergey V. Subbotin,
“Russian Arms Transfers to East Asia in the 1990s,” SIPRI Research Report No. 15 (Oxford
University Press, 1999); IISS, Military Balance 1999-2000; Jane’s; Secretary of Defense,
“The Security Situation in the Taiwan Strait,” Report to Congress Pursuant to the FY99
Appropriations Bill, February 1999.
50 According to Piotr Butowski, “Dominance by Design: the Reign of Russia’s ‘Flankers’,”
Jane’s Intelligence Review, November 1999, the Su-27, unlike the Su-30, has no standard
provision for in-flight refueling.
51 Bill Gertz, “Chinese Arms Buildup Increases Attack Range,” Washington Times, March
12, 1996.

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CRS-12
As agreed in principle in 1995, Russia consented in 1996 to allow China to co-
produce perhaps as many as 200 Su-27s under license, initially consisting of assembly
from Russian kits, eventually leading to full production in China over a period of
perhaps 15 years.52 This deal was worth around $2.5 billion, including $450 million
for the license to produce and up to $2 billion for co-production.53 The PRC has
designated the PRC version, produced at the Shenyang Aircraft Factory, as the J-11
(or F-11).54 With the help of over 100 Russian engineers, China assembled the first
two kits in 1998 and flight-tested the planes in December 1998, but the aircraft had
to be rebuilt afterwards.55 By 2000, with initial production problems and the schedule
falling behind, Russia planned to deliver at least 20 already-assembled Su-27s as part
of the deal.56
S-300/SA-10 Air Defense Systems. China has sought to upgrade its air defense
capability with the purchase of the Russian S-300/SA-10 Grumble area defense
system (similar to the U.S. Patriot system). According to a 2000 Pentagon report to
Congress, China has procured limited numbers of “state-of-the-art” Russian surface-
to-air (SAM) systems, namely, the SA-10b, SA-10c, and SA-15. (Procurement of the
SA-15 is discussed below.) The SA-10b (S-300PMU) missile has a range of 90 km
(56 mi); the SA-10c (S-300PMU1), 150 km (93 mi).57 According to the report, these
Russian air defense systems provide only a “rudimentary” and “limited” defense
against aircraft and cruise missiles, as China tries to further fill the gaps in its air
defense structure by building its own systems using purchased technology. Moreover,
the assessment said that “China’s ground-based air defense forces reportedly can
provide no better than point defense; there is no comprehensive, integrated national
air defense network.”58
52 Jane’s Defense Weekly, May 6, 1995; Barbara Opall, “China Mulls Production of Carrier-
Based Su-27,” Defense News, November 18-24, 1996; “China Prepares for Local Production
of Sukhois,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, July 16, 1997.
53 “Russian-Chinese Trade May Triple Due to Energy, Military Links,” Interfax (Moscow),
April 16, 1997; “Russian Imports Step in to Fill the Arms Gap,” Jane’s Defense Weekly,
December 10, 1997; Pyotr Yudin, “Russia’s Sukhoi Plans Aircraft Technical Center in
India,” Defense News, February 23-March 1, 1998.
54 Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft 2000-2001.
55 “Beijing Builds Su-27 Fighters from Russian Kits,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, June 10, 1998;
“Test Flights of 1st Domestically Made Su-27 Fighters,” Voice of Russia (Moscow),
December 31, 1998, in FBIS; “China-assembled Su-27s Make Their First Flights,” Jane’s
Defense Weekly, February 24, 1999; Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft 2000-2001.
56 Robert Sae-Liu, “Russia to Make Up China’s ‘Flanker’ Fighter Shortfall,” Jane’s Defense
Weekly, June 14, 2000.
57 Jane’s Land-Based Air Defense 1996-97.
58 Secretary of Defense, “Report on the Military Power of the People’s Republic of China,”
Report to Congress Pursuant to the FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act, June 2000;
China’s acquisition of the SA-10c is also reported in: Office of Naval Intelligence, Worldwide
Maritime Challenges, 1997.

---

CRS-13
By 1998, China reportedly acquired two S-300 regiments (each with perhaps
four to six batteries to surround a defensive area) and began negotiations to acquire
two more S-300 regiments for other areas.59 The PRC first purchased four to six S-
300PMU batteries in 1991 and acquired them in 1993, with an initial batch of perhaps
60-100 missiles and 120 more missiles in 1994.60 The PLA Air Force first deployed
the long-range S-300 batteries around Beijing to protect this major political and
economic site.61 By 1999, China also reportedly deployed several S-300 batteries to
a second area in Fujian province across the strait from Taiwan (at Longtian, near
Fuzhou). In addition, the PLA began to prepare for the deployment of additional S-
300 batteries at two more areas across the strait from Taiwan (near the coastal cities
of Xiamen in Fujian province and Shantou in Guangdong province). The S-300
batteries near Xiamen were expected to be operational in early 2000.62 While the
operational status of the 3rd and 4th S-300 regiments is uncertain, it appears that the
PLA Air Force has been acquiring four S-300 regiments (with plans to defend the four
areas of Beijing, Longtian, Xiamen, and Shantou).
Public reports do not provide the total number of S-300 launchers or missiles the
PLA has deployed. An estimate of the number of S-300 missiles deployed by the PLA
Air Force would depend on the number of batteries in each regiment and the number
of launchers in each battery. Each S-300 system consists of a towed launcher with
four launch tubes (towed by a heavy wheeled tractor) or a mobile launcher (a
transporter-erector-launcher (TEL)) with four launch tubes to fire reloadable
missiles.63 One S-300 regiment has several batteries, and the regimental command
post can control up to six batteries. A typical S-300 battery consists of up to four
launchers, a command and control vehicle, a radar vehicle, additional missiles for
reloads, and maintenance equipment.64 The PLA’s initial procurement of four to six
S-300 batteries may have comprised one regiment. If assuming four TELs (each with
four launch tubes) in each battery and four to six batteries in each regiment, one
regiment in the PLA Air Force would have 16-24 TELs that could fire 64-96 missiles
(with further reloads) to protect one area.
Kilo Submarines. In addition to equipping the PLA Air Force, the PRC also
placed priority on acquiring modern weapon systems for the PLA Navy. By 1993,
59 “China Seeks S-300 and Tor-M1 Systems,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, September 2, 1998.
60 Tai Ming Cheung, “China’s Buying Spree,” Far Eastern Economic Review, July 8, 1993;
Steven J. Zaloga, “‘Grumble:’ Guardian of the Skies – Part 2,” Jane’s Intelligence Review,
April 1997; “Russian Area Defense SAMs,” World Missiles Briefing, Teal Group
Corporation, February 2000.
61 Office of Naval Intelligence, Worldwide Challenges to Naval Strike Warfare, 1997; John
Pike, “S-300PMU,” Nuclear Fores Guide, Federation of American Scientists
([http://www.fas.org]); Kenneth W. Allen, Glenn Krumel, Jonathan D. Pollack, China’s Air
Force Enters the 21st Century, Rand, 1995.
62 Bill Gertz, “Chinese Bases Near Taiwan Sport Defense Missiles,” Washington Times,
March 28, 2000.
63 “Russian Area Defense SAMs,” World Missiles Briefing, Teal Group Corporation,
February 2000.
64 Jane’s Land-Based Air Defense 1996-97; Jane’s Strategic Weapon Systems, 2000.

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CRS-14
Beijing had begun negotiations with Moscow on the purchase of perhaps four Kilo-
class diesel-electric submarines (SS).65 China finalized an agreement with Russia by
November 1994 to acquire four Kilo-class submarines for about $700 million.66 In
October 1994, a PLA submarine’s vulnerability to tracking by anti-submarine warfare
(ASW) aircraft of the U.S. Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier battle group in the Yellow Sea
may have strengthened the PLA Navy’s resolve to quickly acquire advanced Russian
submarines rather than waiting for new indigenous submarines.67
According to their reports to the U.N., China acquired a Russian warship, likely
the first Kilo, in 1994, and another warship in 1995.68 It was in February 1995 that
Russia shipped the first Kilo to China aboard a cargo ship, and Russia delivered the
second Kilo in October 1995.69 The PLA’s first two Kilos are the older Type
877EKM model. In 1997, China received its third Kilo, the first of two of the more
advanced Type 636 model that had been supplied only to the Russian navy.70
According to a Russian marketing brochure, the Type 636, or Project 636, submarine
is one of the quietest submarines in the world. It can operate up to 400 miles
submerged and remain at sea for up to 45 days.71 With the Kilos, the PLA Navy
acquired updated sonar design and quieting technology, and wake-homing and wire-
guided acoustic homing torpedoes.72 Russia transferred to the PLA its second Project
636 Kilo in late 1998.73 While China did not report its arms transfers to the U.N. after
1997, Russian reports confirmed that it transferred a warship to China in 1997 and
65 Tai Ming Cheung, “China’s Buying Spree,” Far Eastern Economic Review, July 8, 1993.
66 Robert Karniol, “China to Buy Russian ‘Kilo’ Submarines,” Jane’s Defense Weekly,
November 19, 1994; “Russian Imports Step in to Fill the Arms Gap,” Jane’s Defense Weekly,
December 10, 1997.
67 Jim Mann and Art Pine, “Faceoff Between U.S. Ship, Chinese Sub is Revealed,” Los
Angeles Times, December 14, 1994; Barbara Starr, “‘Han Incident’ Proof of China’s Naval
Ambition,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, January 7, 1995. According to press reports, although
U.S. ASW aircraft tracked the PLA submarine and the PRC scrambled fighters to within sight
of the U.S. aircraft, neither side fired shots in this encounter. However, the PLA later warned
a U.S. military attache in Beijing that China may use force in a future confrontation.
68 U.N., “Register of Conventional Arms.”
69 Barbara Starr, “USA Keeps an Eye on Slow ‘Kilo’ to China,” Jane’s Defense Weekly,
February 25, 1995; Office of Naval Intelligence, Worldwide Maritime Challenges, 1997.
70 “China Should Receive Its Third ‘Kilo’ by November,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, July 30,
1997.
71 Rosvoorouzhenie, “Project 636 Diesel-Electric Submarine,” marketing brochure, 1996.
72 Office of Naval Intelligence, Worldwide Submarine Challenges, 1997.
73 Moscow TV Shows PRC, Iranian Crews Receiving Submarines,” NTV (Moscow),
December 30, 1998, in FBIS; “China Gets Second Sub from Russia,” Pacific Stars and
Stripes, December 31, 1998.

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CRS-15
another in 1998.74 China may seek two or three more Kilos, as well as upgraded
weapons to arm the Kilos, including the Russian 3M54 Club anti-ship cruise missile.75
The Secretary of Defense has confirmed the PLA Navy’s acquisition of the Kilos,
saying that the Kilos, along with more ASW training, are expected to improve the
capability of the PLA’s submarines to conduct ASW operations. He wrote, “China’s
submarine fleet could constitute a substantial force capable of controlling sea lanes
and mining approaches around Taiwan, as well as a growing threat to submarines in
the East and South China Seas.”76
Tor/SA-15 Air Defense Systems. In addition to the S-300 area defense system,
the PLA has also acquired the shorter-range Russian Tor (SA-15) air defense system,
whose missile has a range of 12 km (7 mi) against aircraft and 5 km (3 mi) against
cruise missiles.77 China initially acquired one Tor-M1 regiment by 1998 and began
negotiations on an additional regiment.78 Each regiment is believed to include 16 Tor-
M1 systems, and the PLA has acquired perhaps 35 Tor-M1s. A PLA Tor-M1
regiment appears to match the Russian organization of having four batteries, each
with four launch vehicles (each firing eight missiles).79 China first ordered 13-15
systems in 1995, which were delivered in 1997, and purchased 20 more systems in
1999, with deliveries in 2000.80 The cost of the Tor-M1 systems has been unclear,
since Moscow delivered the second order in partial payment for debts to Beijing.81
China may secure a license to produce 160 launchers.82
Sovremenny Destroyers and Sunburn Missiles. PRC and Russian leaders
began talks on destroyers in 1994, but in late 1996, after U.S. deployment of two
carrier battle groups to waters off Taiwan in March 1996 during provocative PLA
military and missile exercises, Russia and China agreed on the sale of two
Sovremenny-class destroyers. Each destroyer would be armed with 8 powerful (660-
74 U.N., “Register of Conventional Arms.”
75 Jonathan Brodie, “China Moves to Buy More Russian Aircraft, Warships, and
Submarines,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, December 22, 1999; Yihong Zhang, “China Negotiates
to Buy Advanced Russian Anti-ship Missile,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, August 9, 2000.
76 Secretary of Defense, “Report on the Military Power of the People’s Republic of China,”
Report to Congress Pursuant to the FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act, June 2000.
77 Jane’s Strategic Weapon Systems, 2000.
78 “Russian Point Defense SAMs,” World Missiles Briefing, Teal Group Corporation,
February 1997; “China Seeks S-300 and Tor-M1 Systems,” Jane’s Defense Weekly,
September 2, 1998.
79 “SA-15 ‘Gauntlet’,” Jane’s Strategic Weapon Systems, 2000.
80 Military Balance 1999-2000; Nikolai Novichkov, “Tor-M1s Help to Pay Debt to Beijing,”
Jane’s Defense Weekly, March 15, 2000; Yihong Zhang, “China In Talks with Russia to
Produce Tor-M1 SAM,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, July 19, 2000.
81 Jane’s Defense Weekly, September 2, 1998, March 15, 2000.
82 Yihong Zhang, “China In Talks with Russia to Produce Tor-M1 SAM,” Jane’s Defense
Weekly, July 19, 2000.

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CRS-16
lb high-explosive or 200-kt nuclear warhead), over-the-horizon (range of 86 nautical
miles, or 100 statute miles), supersonic (Mach 2.5), low-flying 3M-80 Moskit (SS-N-
22/Sunburn) anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs). Each destroyer cost around $400
million, and the total package, with weapons systems, was valued at about $1 billion,
marking the first Russian arms sale to China in all hard currency. In December 1996,
then PRC Premier Li Peng visited Moscow and signed a military cooperation
agreement that apparently included the destroyers.83
On December 25, 1999, the first of the two Sovremenny destroyers for the PLA
Navy carried out sea trials in the Baltic Sea and was transferred to the PLA Navy at
the St. Petersburg shipyard.84 PLA and Russian naval crews then sailed the destroyer,
named the Hangzhou, to China in February 2000.85 As confirmed by the Pentagon,
it joined the PLA Navy’s East Sea Fleet, after sailing through the Mediterranean,
Indian Ocean, South China Sea, and the Taiwan Strait.86 By the end of 2000, Russia
is expected to deliver the second destroyer, which began sea trails in June 2000 that
included firings of Sunburn ASCMs.87 In addition, China may acquire two or more
Sovremenny-class destroyers.88
The Pentagon has confirmed that the PLA Navy has planned to receive two
Sovremennys in 2000, armed with the SS-N-22 Sunburn supersonic ASCM.89 China
initially ordered about 50 Sunburn missiles, and the first shipment of 24 missiles
83 “Russia: Officials Sign Trade, Military, Finance Agreements,” Interfax (Moscow),
December 27, 1996, in FBIS; “China Expands Reach with Russian Destroyers,” Jane’s
Defense Weekly, January 15, 1997; Bill Gertz, “Pentagon Says Russians Sell Destroyers to
China,” Washington Times, January 10, 1997; Jane’s Fighting Ships 1997-98'; Russian
Destroyers for China to Carry Moskit Missiles,” ITAR-TASS (Moscow), November 26, 1997,
in FBIS; “Russian Kamovs Set to Boost Chinese ASW,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, March 4,
1998.
84 “Russian-Made PRC Destroyer Starts Baltic Sea Trials,” Nezavisimaya Gazeta (Moscow),
August 5, 1999, in FBIS; Trevor Hollingsbee, “Delivery of First Russian Destroyer Boosts
Firepower of Navy,” South China Morning Post, December 22, 1999; Bill Gertz, “China Will
Get Russian Ship This Week,” Washington Times, December 23, 1999.
85 Robert Karniol, “China’s First Sovremenny Sets Sail for Home,” Jane’s Defense Weekly,
January 19, 2000.
86 Craig S. Smith, “New Chinese Guided-Missile Ship Heightens Tension,” New York Times,
February 9, 2000; Pentagon, news briefing, February 10, 2000; “China’s Destroyer Purchase
from Russia Discussed,” Zhongguo Tongxun She [China News Agency] (Hong Kong),
February 12, 2000, in FBIS.
87 Bill Gertz, “Russia Readies Warship for China,” Washington Times, July 12, 2000; Nikolai
Novichkov, “Second Chinese Destroyer Tested,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, July 26, 2000.
88 Jonathan Brodie, “China Moves to Buy More Russian Aircraft, Warships, and
Submarines,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, December 22, 1999; Nikolai Novichkov, “Four
Sovremennys in Total for Beijing,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, March 15, 2000; “Russia-China
Destroyer Deal Detailed,” Nezavisimaya Gazeta (Moscow), March 15, 2000.
89 Secretary of Defense, “Report on the Military Power of the People’s Republic of China,”
Report to Congress Pursuant to the FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act, June 2000.

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CRS-17
arrived in China in the spring of 2000.90 In addition, the PLA has also acquired
Uragan (SA-N-7 Gadfly) surface-to-air (SAM) missiles and eight Ka-27 and Ka-28
ASW helicopters.91 In 2000, the Secretary of Defense’s report to Congress confirmed
that the PLA is acquiring the SA-N-7 SAM system equipped on the Sovremennys and
wrote that the SA-N-7 “is a modern, medium-range naval SAM system; however, it
will have only a limited capability against cruise missiles.”92
A-50 Airborne Early Warning. To more effectively utilize its advanced
fighters, the PLA Air Force and PLA Navy have long required airborne early warning
(AEW) aircraft, with each service originally seeking perhaps ten AEW systems from
European, Russian, or Israeli sources, to supplement unsuccessful PRC developmental
efforts.93 The PLA would acquire potential new capabilities, ranging from AEW
aircraft (largely radars in the sky) to airborne early warning and control systems
(AWACS) aircraft (an airborne command post that detects enemy targets and
provides battle management by coordinating attacks among air, naval, and ground
forces). The roles of these aircraft could be defensive (detecting aircraft and cruise
missiles) or offensive (command of fighters). Moreover, the implications of the
PLA’s AEW acquisitions would also depend on how well they are used in conjunction
with other ongoing acquisitions, such as fighters and naval vessels.
By 1992, China had begun talks with Russia about purchasing perhaps three
modified Il-76 AEW aircraft.94 Later, talks involved acquisition of an Israeli radar
system. Three-way negotiations that began in 1994 considered four AEW aircraft for
$1 billion. However, China, Russia, and Israel reached initial agreement in 1996 on
a $250 million deal to supply one AEW aircraft to the PLA Air Force by installing an
Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) Phalcon phased-array radar with 360 degree coverage
on a modified Russian Il-76 plane.95 The Phalcon system could be similar in capability
to U.S. E-3 AWACS on Boeing 707s. One source said that the Phalcon could track
up to 60 targets at the same time and guide a dozen fighters in all-weather, day and
90 “Russia to Export More ‘Sunburn’ Anti-Ship Missiles to PRC,” ITAR-TASS (Moscow),
September 25, 1998, in FBIS; Simon Saradzhyan, “Russians Tout Anti-ship Sunburn Missile
for Chinese,” Defense News, October 12-18, 1998; Bill Gertz, “Russia Sends Cruise Missiles
to China for New Warships,” Washington Times, May 19, 2000.
91 “Russia Delivers Eight Anti-Sub Helicopters to China,” ITAR-TASS (Moscow), December
10, 1999, in FBIS; “China Receives Russian Equipment,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, January
5, 2000.
92 Secretary of Defense, “Report on the Military Power of the People’s Republic of China,”
Report to Congress Pursuant to the FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act, June 2000.
93 G. Jacobs, “China’s Changing Doctrine,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, March 10, 1990; “West
Briefs China on AEW,” Flight International, August 25-31, 1993; Robert Karniol, “China
Chose ‘Careless’ Platforms,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, May 6, 1995; Jason Glashow and
Vivek Raghuvanshi, “China Seeks AEW To Guard Su-27s,” Defense News, March 18-24,
1996.
94 Tai Ming Cheung, “Loaded Weapons,” Far Eastern Economic Review, September 3, 1992.
95 Ari Egozi, “Israel Presses Russia in Bid to Clear Way for China AEW Deal,” Flight
International, July 17-23, 1996.

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CRS-18
night operations,96 while another report credited the Phalcon as being able to track
100 targets simultaneously.97 Meanwhile, China also looked to Britain’s GEC-
Marconi Avionics to equip up to four Il-76s with an AEW system, and Russia wanted
to supply its own AEW system.98
The Phalcon deal became an increasingly controversial issue between the United
States and Israel. After military tensions in the Taiwan Strait that included PLA
“test-firings” of M-9 short-range ballistic missiles (in 1995 and 1996) and U.S.
deployment of two aircraft carrier battle groups (in March 1996), U.S. officials,
including Defense Secretary William Perry, expressed concerns to Israeli officials
about the pending AEW sale.99 In May 1997, Israel and Russia reached agreement
on modifying one Il-76, as a Beriev A-50I Mainstay, for $250 million, with the option
of three more AEW systems for a total cost of $1 billion.100 Russia secured about 20
percent of the deal.101
After some delay, in October 1999, Russia transferred an Il-76 transport plane
to Israel for the installation of the Phalcon AEW radar by IAI. Pentagon
spokesperson Ken Bacon confirmed the arrival of the IL-76 in Israel and stated that
Defense Secretary William Cohen “has repeatedly raised his concerns with Israel
about the transfer of technology to China.”102
The Clinton Administration voiced stronger objections to the sale and urged
Israel to cancel the sale of the Phalcon, saying it is a system comparable to the U.S.
AWACS and could collect intelligence and guide aircraft from 250 miles away.103
President Clinton confirmed that the United States raised the issue with Israel. While
acknowledging that “the facts are in dispute,” Clinton said that “whenever any of our
96 O’Sullivan, Arieh, “Israel Mum on China Defense Ties,” Jerusalem Post, November 17,
1999.
97 Chaisson, Kernan, “Airborne Surveillance Takes Command,” Journal of Electronic
Defense, January 1999.
98 “China Poised to Seal AWACS Deal with British Firm,” AFP, October 8, 1996, in FBIS.
99 “U.S. ‘Concern’ Sparks ‘More Circumspect’ Approach to PRC,” Jerusalem Post, October
31, 1996, in FBIS; Steve Rodan, “Israel Pushes China Aircraft Deal Despite U.S., Russian
Objections,” Defense News, January 6-12, 1997.
100 “Russia Agrees Il-76 Sale to IAI for AEW,” Flight International, March 19-25, 1997;
Douglas Barrie and Ari Egozi, “Il-76 Deal Raises Israeli Hopes in Bid for China AEW
Contract,” Flight International, May 21-27, 1997; Steve Rodan, “Israel, Russia to Team on
Early Warning Platform for China,” Defense News, May 19-25, 1997; “Russia, Israel to
Make Spy Planes,” Wall Street Journal, June 23, 1997.
101 Steve Rodan, “Il-76 AEW Upgrade Bolsters Israeli, Russian Industry Ties,” Defense
News, July 21-27, 1997.
102 “Israel to Convert Russian Spy Plane for China,” Ha’aretz (Tel Aviv), November 2, 1999,
in FBIS; Barbara Slavin, “Israel-China AWACS Deal Worries U.S.,” USA Today, November
4, 1999.
103 Steven Lee Myers, “U.S. Seeks to Curb Israeli Arms Sales to China,” New York Times,
November 11, 1999.

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CRS-19
friends sell sophisticated equipment that might be American in origin that is
inconsistent with the terms under which the transfer was made, then we raise that.”104
Nonetheless, U.S. objections have been based not only on the question of
whether Israel would transfer U.S. technology to China, but also based on concerns
about Israeli upgrades to PLA capabilities that would affect the security situation in
Asia. Dov Zakheim, a former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense, wrote that “what
matters is that Israel should not be in the business of complicating America’s already
delicate position vis-a-vis China and Taiwan, one that led to a major crisis in the
Taiwan Strait only three years ago. Nor should Israel help to unbalance the equally
delicate relationship between China and America’s major regional allies, notably Japan
and the Republic of Korea.”105 By late 1999, some Members of Congress also
objected to the sale, including Senator Helms, who wrote to the Israeli Ambassador
in Washington that U.S. security “will be put at risk by the Phalcon and other Israeli
sales to Beijing.”106
According to the Pentagon, the United States has expressed opposition to the
sale since 1996,107 but in 2000, U.S. opposition to Israel’s transfer of the Phalcon
AEW/AWACS system to China mounted openly. Speaking in Jerusalem at a news
conference with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak on April 3rd, Defense Secretary
Cohen called on Israel to cancel the “counter-productive” sale. Cohen said, “I have
indicated before that the United States does not support the sale of this type of
technology to China because of the potential of changing the balance in that region,
with the tensions running high as they are between China and Taiwan.”108
There was also bipartisan opposition in Congress. On April 6, 2000,
Representative Sonny Callahan, chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee
on Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs, sought to withhold
$250 million, equivalent to the value of the Phalcon sale, from the almost $3 billion
in economic and military aid, if Israel transfers the plane to China. Representative
David Obey, the ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee supported the
effort.109
By May 2000, Israel had nearly completed work on the AEW aircraft.110 Finally,
on July 11, 2000, during peace talks at Camp David, MD, Prime Minister Barak told
President Clinton that Israel had canceled the Phalcon sale in a letter delivered to PRC
104 White House, “Remarks by the President on Education and the Budget,” November 11,
1999.
105 Dov S. Zakheim, “Get Real on China,” Jerusalem Post, November 22, 1999.
106 Senator Jesse Helms, letter to Zalman Shoval, Embassy of Israel, November 17, 1999.
107 Pentagon, news briefing, April 11, 2000.
108 Pentagon, news briefing with Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen, April 3, 2000.
109 Eric Pianin, “Israel-China Radar Deal Opposed,” Washington Post, April 7, 2000.
110 Bill Gertz, “Inside the Ring,” Washington Times, May 19, 2000.

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CRS-20
President Jiang Zemin the day before.111 Many expect Russia to complete the sale
of AEW aircraft to China, with existing A-50s from the Russian Air Force and/or,
later, an advanced A-50E version (possibly costing $180-200 million each), that
would bring Russia more earnings than the original deal involving Israel. The A-50E
is designed to guide up to 30 aircraft and track 300 targets as far as 250 miles
away.112
The Pentagon’s 1999 report to Congress on Taiwan security expected that the
PLA would procure “several” Phalcon AEW systems and noted that the PRC
“conceivably could have fully operational AEW platforms by 2005.”113 The 2000
report, however, noted that the PLA Air Force’s AEW program remains behind
schedule. The report noted the expectation that the PLA Air Force would achieve the
incorporation of both aerial refueling and AEW/airborne command and control
capabilities later in the decade. Such capabilities would provide a significant “force
multiplier,” but only for a relatively small number of aircraft at one time.114
At about the same time that the PLA Air Force looked at procuring the A-50
AEW aircraft in 1996, China reportedly signed a contract with a British firm, Racal
Thorn Defense of Racal Electronics, to buy six to eight Searchwater maritime
reconnaissance radars to equip Y-8 aircraft of the PLA Navy, in a deal valued at
about $62 million.115 However, it appears that both sides did not conclude the sale,
and there are no reports that the PLA Navy has deployed the new system. Indeed, the
Pentagon’s report to Congress on China’s military power, submitted in June 2000, did
not mention such acquisitions by the PLA Navy.116
Su-30 Fighters and Armaments. By 1996, China and Russia had begun
negotiations over the Su-30 long-range fighter.117 By August 1999, China and Russia
111 Pauline Jelinek, “Israel Cancels Arms Sales to China in Midst of U.S. Summit,”
Associated Press, July 12, 2000; Jane Perlez, “Israel Drops Plan to Sell Air Radar to China
Military,” New York Times, July 13, 2000.
112 Ivan Safronov, “Israel Will Help Us,” Kommersant (Moscow), July 14, 2000, in FBIS;
Simon Saradzhyan, “China to Explore Buy of Russian Early Warning Aircraft,” Defense
News, July 31, 2000.
113 Secretary of Defense, “The Security Situation in the Taiwan Strait,” Report to Congress
Pursuant to the FY99 Appropriations Bill, February 1999.
114 Secretary of Defense, “Report on the Military Power of the People’s Republic of China,”
Report to Congress Pursuant to the FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act, June 2000.
115 Barbara Opall and Michael J. Witt, “China Pits U.K. vs. Israel in AEW Quest,” Defense
News, August 5-11, 1996.
116 Secretary of Defense, “Report on the Military Power of the People’s Republic of China,”
Report to Congress Pursuant to the FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act, June 2000.
117 “China Expands Reach with Russian Destroyers,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, January 15,
1997; Nikolai Novichkov, “Russia and China Tighten Links on Military Projects,” Jane’s
Defense Weekly, August 19, 1998; John Pomfret, “China, Russia Forging Partnership,”
Washington Post, November 21, 1998; Christiaan Virant, “China, Russia Hammer Out Arms
(continued...)

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CRS-21
signed a preliminary agreement (letter of intent) on the transfer of new Su-30MKK
fighters for the PLA Air Force, an initial deal that may include around 40 fighters
valued at about $2 billion.118 There also are indications that China may later seek an
additional 40 Su-30s.119 China reportedly has sought an aerial refueling capability
with the Su-30MKK, but its converted H-6 tankers cannot be used for the Russian
fighters.120 Delivery of the Su-30s to the PLA Air Force is not yet reported and may
begin in 2002, 2003, or even 2004.
It remains unclear which armaments China will acquire for the Su-30 fighter.
The PRC and Israel have negotiated, since at least 1997, on the transfer of Python-4
beyond-visual-range AAMs.121 China and Russia have co-developed the KR-1 anti-
radiation missile, a variant of the Kh-31P (AS-17 Krypton) that has been added to a
version of the Su-30.122 The talks in 1998 included whether the Su-30 would be
armed with the newly-developed 3M-80EA anti-ship missile, the air-launched version
of the Moskit (SS-N-22 Sunburn) equipped on the Sovremenny destroyers, although
the missile had not yet undergone flight tests.123 There have been increasing
indications that the Su-30 fighter sold to the PLA Air Force may be equipped with the
R-77 (AA-12), a medium-range AAM (similar to the U.S. AIM-120 Advanced
Medium-Range Air-to-Air- Missile, or AMRAAM) or a version of which Russia may
sell to or co-produce with China.124
117 (...continued)
Deals,” Reuters, October 22, 1998; Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft 2000-2001.
118 Barbara Opall-Rome, “China Sets Sights on 50 Su-30s,” Defense News, July 5, 1999;
“Russia, China Conclude Deal to Produce Fighter Jets,” Interfax (Moscow), August 6, 1999,
in FBIS; Robert Sae-Liu, “Su-30MK Purchase on Chinese Agenda,” Jane’s Defense Weekly,
August 11, 1999; Philip Finnegan and Simon Saradzhyan, “New Capabilities Heighten Asian
Tensions,” Defense News, August 23, 1999; “Klebanov: Russia to Sell Su-30s to China,”
ITAR-TASS (Moscow), August 24, 1999, in FBIS; Piotr Butowski, “Dominance by Design:
the Reign of Russia’s ‘Flankers’,” Jane’s Intelligence Review, November 1999; “Overview
of Russia-PRC Military-Technical Cooperation,” ITAR-TASS (Moscow), January 16, 2000,
in FBIS.
119 Jonathan Brodie, “China Moves to Buy More Russian Aircraft, Warships, and
Submarines,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, December 22, 1999.
120 Robert Sae-Liu, “Refueling Go-Ahead by China,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, August 25,
1999.
121 Douglas Barrie, “Russia and Israel Prepare for Dogfight Over Chinese Missile,” Flight
International, September 24-30, 1997; Paul Lewis, “Israel/Russia Compete to Arm F-10
Fighter,” Flight International, October 15-21, 1997; “U.S. To Question Israel on China Tech
Transfers,” Defense News, December 8-14, 1997.
122 Douglas Barrie, “China and Russia Combine on KR-1,” Flight International, December
10-16, 1997; Barbara Opall-Rome, “China Sets Sights on 50 Su-30s,” Defense News, July
5, 1999; Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft 2000-2001.
123 Simon Saradzhyan, “Russians Tout Antiship Sunburn Missile for Chinese,” Defense News,
October 12-18, 1998.
124 Paul Lewis, “Russia Reviews Chinese Sales,” Flight International, September 17-23,
(continued...)

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CRS-22
The above discussion of PRC efforts to acquire foreign advanced conventional
weapons raises questions regarding the effect of those systems on PLA capabilities
and implications for regional security. The following two sections will assess the
PLA’s air power and naval capabilities in light of the acquisitions.
Assessment of Air Power Acquisitions125
Platform Comparisons
The following section compares the capabilities of the fighter aircraft, AAMs,
and SAMs that China has imported to those produced indigenously by China as well
as to those found in some other Asian militaries and U.S. forces based in the region.
This comparison does not provide a complete picture of PLA air power capabilities.
It is, however, a necessary first step for further assessment. A platform-to-platform
comparison of these systems indicates that China’s imported systems appear to be
notably more capable than indigenous systems and are roughly on-par with Western
aircraft, AAMs, and SAMs.
Fighter/Attack Aircraft. Indigenous PLA fighter and attack aircraft have been
described by various analysts as obsolete and antiquated. There is consensus in U.S.
defense circles that the PLA Air Force is beset with many weaknesses. The foremost
weakness “...is that the PLAAF is currently saddled with over 2,000 aircraft of 1950s-
era Soviet design comparable to outdated U.S. fighters like the F-100, F-8, and B-
47.”126
The Su-27 (and Su-30, once delivered later) represent a significant upgrade in
fighter aircraft capability over indigenous PLA aircraft. Making simple performance
comparisons, it is clear that the Russian fighters fly farther and faster than indigenous
PRC fighters. The Su-27 and Su-30 are more maneuverable, and carry more and
better armament than domestic PRC aircraft. According to some analysts, the Su-
27and Su-30 that China has sought to acquire from Russia are roughly comparable
124 (...continued)
1997; Paul Lewis, “Israel/Russia Compete to Arm F-10 Fighter,” Flight International,
October 15-21, 1997; Tim Butcher, “Russia and China ‘are Developing Super-Fast Missile’,”
London Daily Telegraph, January 3, 2000; Steven Mufson and Thomas E. Ricks, “Pentagon
Won’t Back Taiwan Deal,” Washington Post, April 17, 2000; Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft
2000-2001; Duncan Lennox, “China, India Close in On Russian ‘Adder’ Sale,” Jane’s
Defense Weekly, September 6, 2000. In April 2000, the Pentagon decided to support a sale
of AMRAAMs to Taiwan, with the missiles to be kept in the United States where Taiwan
personnel would be trained to use them. The missiles would be transferred to Taiwan, if the
PLA acquired the similar Russian missile. On September 28, 2000, the Pentagon announced
that it approved the sale of 200 AIM-120C AMRAAMs to Taiwan.
125 Prepared by Christopher Bolkcom, Analyst in National Defense.
126 Tirpak, John, “Can the Fighter Force Hold Its Edge?” Air Force Magazine, January 2000:
27. and Fisher, Richard D., “China’s Purchase of Russian Fighters: A Challenge to the U.S.,”
Asian Studies Center Backgrounder, The Heritage Foundation, July 31, 1996.

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CRS-23
to the U.S. F-15C air superiority fighter.127 Indeed, the information in Table 4 below
suggests that the Su-27 is in many ways comparable to the best fighters in other Asian
and U.S. inventories. The Su-27's flight profile and armament are similar to those of
the F-14, F-15, F-16, F/A-18C/D, Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) (of Taiwan), and
Mirage 2000. The Su-27 may be more maneuverable than the best Western fighters.
The Russian fighter has been described by observers as having “unbelievable agility”
and being able to perform maneuvers that “no Western fighter can emulate.”128
There are, however, additional fighter/attack aircraft characteristics that are
important measures of performance. These factors – including radar cross section and
electronic countermeasures, for instance – are difficult to quantify or compare in the
unclassified milieu. A comparison of these factors would provide a clearer picture of
how the Su-27 measures up to the Western fighter aircraft.
Radar Cross Section. An aircraft’s radar cross section has a significant effect
on its survivability. Aircraft that incorporate stealth materials and design techniques
to reduce their radar cross sections are more difficult to detect, track, and engage than
aircraft that have larger radar cross sections. The general design of indigenous PRC
aircraft and their lack of composite materials strongly suggest they have large radar
cross sections. By comparison, the Russian fighters use modern designs that, while
not stealthy on the scale of aircraft designed specifically to be stealthy, reduce their
radar cross sections appreciably relative to indigenous PRC fighters. A U.S. Air
Force assessment asserts that the Su-27's radar cross section is “on par” with the F-
15C’s, but it does not provide data to substantiate this assessment.129 Lacking the
supporting data on radar cross section, it is impossible to make definitive statements
regarding how stealthy the Su-27 is relative to Western fighter aircraft. However,
some observations can be made that suggest that the U.S. fighter aircraft based in
Asia may have lower radar cross sections than the Su-27.
First, it can be observed that while Russia does possess the ability to incorporate
stealth materials and designs in its military aircraft, it has not yet advanced to the
level of the United States in this technology. Furthermore, the United States
continues to refine its stealth technologies by developing a third generation of stealthy
aircraft: the F-22 Raptor. As the U.S. defense establishment improves its knowledge
of stealth while working on programs like the F-22 and Joint Strike Fighter, it
identifies radar deflecting or absorbing techniques that can be employed on existing
aircraft.130
127 Fisher, Richard D., “China’s Purchase of Russian Fighters: A Challenge to the U.S.,”
Asian Studies Center Backgrounder, The Heritage Foundation, July 31, 1996.
128 Lake, Jon, “Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker,” World Air Power Journal, Aerospace Publishing Ltd.
London. 1994: 6.
129 Tirpak, John, “Can the Fighter Force Hold its Edge?” Air Force Magazine, January 2000.
130 In the B-2 program, gold paint was found to significantly reduce the radar reflection from
cockpit canopies and was subsequently applied to F-16 and helicopter canopies in the US
inventory. Browne, Malcolm, “Will the Stealth Bomber Work?” New York Times, July 17,
1988; Cook, Nick, “The Disappearing Helicopter,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, July 28, 1999.

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CRS-24
Table 4. Comparison of Fighter/Attack Aircraft
PRC Aircraft
Russian Aircraft
Other Asian and U.S. Aircraft in Asia
F/A-
Mirage
J-6
J-7
J-8
Q-5
SU-27
Su-30
F-14
F-15C
F-16D
IDF
18C/D
2000
IOC
1953
1966
1969
1965
1982
1988
1989
1979
1981
1986
1994
1991
Max Speed
783
648
701
643
1,350
1,350
1,210
1,610
>1,290
>1,160
1,160
1,420
(nm/hour)
Max Range
1,187
1,203
1,188
982
1,985
2,800
1735
2,200
1,740
1,333
1,200
1,800
w/tanks (nm)
(w/refuel)
+G limit (M.09)
N/A
7
4.8
7.5
9
9
-
9
9
7.5
9
9
Missiles &
4 AAM
36 Air-air
PL-7
5 500 lb
10 AAM in
10 AAM in
6 AIM-
8 AIM-120
6 AAM
6 AIM-
6 hard
9 hard
Bombs
2 500 lb
rockets
AAMs
bombs
AA role
AA role
54,
3 AGM
or 7
120, 4
point
point
bombs
2 300 lb
unguided
4-7 AS
unguided
unguided
AGM-
hard point
AGM-65
AGM-65
bombs
AA rocket
rocket
bombs
bombs
84/88
bombs
Sources for all tables in this assessment: Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft, Jane’s Aircraft Upgrades, Jane’s Land-Based Air Defense, Jane’s Strategic Weapon Systems,
Jane’s Air Launched Weapons, World Military & Civil Aircraft Briefing (Teal Group Inc), World Missile’s Briefing (Teal Group Inc), Aerospace Source Book 2000
(Aviation Week & Space Technology),The World’s Missile Systems (General Dynamics, Inc.), and conversations with U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force Offices
of Legislative Affairs. Unclassified information on the capabilities of Russian and PRC weapon systems is often inconsistent and contradictory. When information was
found to be contradictory, the most conservative estimate was recorded in these tables.

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CRS-25
Another observation that suggests that the Su-27 radar cross section may be
inferior to that of U.S. aircraft is that the Su-27s operated by China are export
aircraft. It is usually (but not always) the case that an export variant of a given
aircraft does not incorporate the latest and most potent components. Thus, it would
be a very common practice for Russia to eliminate radar reducing elements of the Su-
27 exported to China, if feasible. Furthermore, materials and technologies that
improve an aircraft’s stealthiness are often costly and difficult to maintain. In light of
China’s maintenance shortcomings that will be outlined below, the PLAAF may have
difficulty maintaining any stealth capabilities that its Su-27s may possess.
Electronic Countermeasures. The effectiveness of an aircraft’s electronic
countermeasures (ECM) is a strong determinant of its survivability. In an era of
sophisticated radar and infrared (IR) guided surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles, and
radar guided anti-aircraft artillery, modern fighter aircraft rely on a variety of
countermeasures to survive in hostile airspace. These systems include radar warning
receivers, self-protection jamming pods, towed radar and IR decoys, chaff dispensers,
and flare dispensers.
Information on the range, power, frequency, and other characteristics of
electronic warfare (EW) systems and ECM are as jealously guarded as is information
on stealth capabilities. Unclassified information on Russian aircraft EW and ECM
typically include nothing more informative than a NATO-generated code name, the
suspected manufacturer, the approximate physical dimensions of the device, and the
aircraft on which it has been observed. Another factor complicating the comparison
of Russian aircraft EW/ECM and Western aircraft EW/ECM is that these devices are
very portable. They are often based in under-wing pods and can be installed or
removed from an aircraft with relative ease.
It appears that Russia’s EW and ECM capabilities are roughly comparable to the
United States’. During the 1999 war in Kosovo (Operation Allied Force), for
instance, NATO military planners expressed strong concern over Serbia’s EW/ECM
capabilities – largely based on imported Russian equipment – even though “the
alliance didn’t face the most sophisticated Russian electronic warfare equipment
available.”131 China’s ability to optimally operate and maintain the EW/ECM systems
that are found on their Su-27s is another factor that is important, but difficult to
assess reliably.
Air-to-Air Missiles. PRC-manufactured AAMs are analogous in capability to
the indigenous fighters on which they are employed. They are, or are based on, first
generation weapon systems that trace their lineage to 1960s era designs. The PL-2,
-5, -7, -8, and -9 are short-range AAMs (3-5 km; 2-3 mi) and depend on IR guidance.
The oldest systems (PL-2, -4, -7) can only engage targets from the rear, which limits
their flexibility and constrains the aircraft’s pilot.
China’s imported AA-10 and AA-11 represent as great an improvement over
indigenous AAMs as do the Russian fighters over indigenous PRC fighters. These
131 Asker, James, “NATO Insecurities,” Aviation Week & Space Technology, July 26,
1999:27.

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CRS-26
missiles are effective to much longer ranges than the PRC AAMs, which adds to their
operational effectiveness and increases launch-aircraft survivability. The Russian
AAMs – especially the AA-11 – are highly maneuverable missiles, a feature that
increases their lethality.
Although the PLA Air Force has not yet acquired the Russian AA-12 or Israeli
Python 4 AAMs, it has reportedly sought them. If successfully acquired, these
systems will also represent a significant improvement in the PLA’s AAM capability.
The AA-12 has been called the “AMRAAMski,” indicating its similarities to the
premier U.S. medium-range (75 km; 47 mi) air-to-air missile. The Python 4's range
of 15 km (9 mi) is more in keeping with the range of PRC missiles. However, this
missile is extremely maneuverable, and it incorporates advanced seeker technology
that increases the missile’s lethality and increases launch-aircraft survivability.
Table 5 provides information that can be used to compare domestic PRC AAMs
to imported Russian AAMs as well as other Asian and U.S. AAMs. Russian AAMs
have been described generally as being of “high technical quality.”132 One analyst has
described the AA-10, for instance, as “generally comparable to the American AIM-
7M Sparrow missile...”133
Similar to the case of assessing fighter aircraft, air-to-air missiles possess
additional characteristics that bear strongly on their effectiveness. These
characteristics – including seeker discrimination capability and susceptibility to
electronic countermeasures, for instance – are very difficult to assess due to
classification and complexity. Even experts in the U.S. missile industry write that
“Evaluation of missile intercept performance involves so many nonlinear functions
that only sophisticated analytical modeling can reliably predict results.”134
Nonetheless, some observations can be made regarding two additional
characteristics that shed light on the utility of the AA-10 and AA-11 acquired by the
PLA Air Force vis-a-vis Western AAMs. These characteristics are “fire-and-forget”
capability and the missile’s “off-boresight” launch envelope. These two
characteristics are central to air superiority operations, because they often determine
which aircraft achieves the first shot during aerial combat.
132 Zaloga, Steven, “Russian Air-to-Air Missiles,” World Missiles Briefing, Teal Group Inc.,
February 2000.
133 FAS, [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/row/aa-10.htm].
134 Gurvine, Jeff, and Edwin Stauss. Fundamentals of Tactical Missiles. Raytheon Missile
Systems Company. Tucson, AZ. 1997: 8-39.

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CRS-27
Table 5. Comparison of Air-to-Air Missiles
PRC Missiles
Russian Missiles
Other Asian and U.S. Missiles
AIM-
AIM-
AIM-
Sky
PL-2B
PL-5
PL-7
PL-8
PL-9
AA-10
AA-11
AIM-7
Mica
9M
54C
120
Sword
IOC
1981
1982
1987
1990
1991
1985
1987
1988
1982
1985
1991
1996
1993
Range km
3
3
3
5
5
80-110
20-30
45
8
150
50
80
5
Warhead
11
9
13
11
10
44
7.4
39
10
60
22
12
~10
kg
Guidance
IR
IR
IR
IR
IR
INS, IR,
INS, IR
SAR
IR
SAR,
Com-
Com-
IR
SAR
Inertial
mand
mand
and
inertial,
inertial
active
active
active
radar
radar
or
imagin
g IR
Misc
Tail
> off
10 ft
Based on
High
8 G
12 G
All Wx
Helmet
Home
All Wx,
Thrust -
All
aspect
bore-
lethal
Python 3
Alti-
intercept
intercept
All aspect
mounted
on jam
All
AIM-
aspect,
attacks
sight
radius.
tude
Helmet
sight
aspect,
120 like
AIM-9
only
than
tail-
(69k
mounted
fire and
like
no off
PL-
aspect
ft)
cueing
forget
bore-
2/3
attacks
sight
only

---

CRS-28
“Fire-and-Forget” Capability. Shorter-range AAMs can effectively use IR
guidance. Once an IR missile is launched, the host aircraft’s role in missile guidance
is complete, and the aircraft can prepare another missile for launch, initiate evasive
action, or target another hostile aircraft. In essence, the aircraft can fire and forget
the missile. However, as range increases, the effectiveness of IR-guided missiles
diminishes.
Radar guided missiles operate more effectively at longer ranges than do IR
missiles. Active radar missiles use a radar transmitter to autonomously track targets
at short- and medium-ranges. Semi-active radar missiles require the host aircraft’s
radar to illuminate the target until missile impact. Generally speaking, AAMs that
employ active radar guidance, such as the AIM-54C, AIM-120, and Mica, fly more
independently after launch than do AAMs that employ semi-active radar guidance,
such as the AA-10 and AIM-7R. Thus, the AA-10 is not a fire-and-forget missile and
thus not as attractive from an aircraft survivability perspective as, say, an AIM-120.
However, the AA-10 “has a lock-on range of 30 km [20 mi] against typical fighter
aircraft targets...,”135 which may make up partially for this disadvantage.
“Off-Boresight” Capability. Traditionally, AAMs are launched by pointing the
host aircraft directly at the hostile aircraft and using a sight to line up the target. The
requirement to fire from this position gives advantage to the most maneuverable
aircraft or the pilot with the greatest tactical flying skill. The ability to fire a missile
from “off boresight” also proves advantageous, either by contributing by extension
to an aircraft’s maneuverability or by countering an adversary’s maneuverability.
The AA-11's most distinguishing characteristic is its high maneuverability and
its off-boresight capability. The AA-11 is the first effective “helmet-sighted” air-to-air
missile. With this system, a pilot can aim his weapon by turning his head and does not
have to line up the aircraft with the target. The first generation of AA-11s can be
fired 45 degrees off the aircraft’s forward line-of-direction, or off-boresight. The
second generation of this AAM has increased range and can be fired 60 degrees off-
boresight. The AIM-9M Sidewinder, by comparison, can acquire targets only 27.5
degrees off the forward line of sight and has a shorter range.136 Some analysts assert
that the AIM-120's long range and fire-and-forget capability confer much of the same
tactical flexibility as the AA-11.”137
The combination of the PLA’s AA-11 AAM and highly maneuverable aircraft
imported from Russian could prove a vexing air-to-air challenge to current day fighter
aircraft of other Asian and U.S. forces. The Russian MiG-29 has been flown against
U.S. aircraft in Red Flag exercises at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. At longer
distances, the U.S. aircraft were found to have the advantage versus the Russian plane
due to superior avionics. As the distance between aircraft closed, however, the MiG’s
135 Jane’s Air-Launched Weapons, Jane’s Information Group Ltd., 1997, London.
136 The next generation of the AIM-9, to be deployed in 2003, is expected to achieve 90 degree
off-boresight launches.
137 Fisher, Richard D, “China’s Purchase of Russian Fighters: A Challenge to the U.S.,” Asian
Studies Center Backgrounder, The Heritage Foundation, July 31, 1996.

---

CRS-29
high maneuverability and the AA-11's off-boresight capabilities defrayed the U.S.
aircraft’s advantage. Observers noted that, at a distance of approximately five miles,
the Russian aircraft enjoyed a significant advantage.138 The Su-27 is also a highly
maneuverable aircraft, and the combination of it and the AA-11 will likely prove as
dangerous a combination as the MiG-29 and AA-11.
Surface-to-Air Missiles. China manufactures five different SAM systems. Two
of them – the HN-5 and QW-1– are short-range, man-portable systems. Based on the
1960s era Russian SA-7, the HN-5's utility is limited by a primitive IR seeker that
often cannot differentiate between an aircraft’s engine signature, the sun, or heat
radiating off the ground. While the QW-1 IR seeker is much improved over the HN-
5's, this missile’s engagement envelope is even more limited than its predecessor’s.
China’s HQ-2 SAM is effective to a much greater altitude and range than the
manportable SAMs, but it is based on Russia’s first generation, 1950s era SA-2 SAM,
and is the oldest technology in China’s inventory. The HQ-2 employs a liquid fueled
second stage rocket motor, which requires time-consuming preparation and
cumbersome handling equipment. This SAM has been described by at least one
analyst as “antiquated.”139 By reverse engineering foreign SAMs, China was able to
incorporate some improvements in the PL-9 and HQ-7 SAMs not found in earlier
PRC systems. These improvements include better seekers that allow off-axis launch
and reportedly electronic countermeasures such as “home on jam.” However, these
systems and the less advanced HQ-61 are still short-range SAMs designed to defend
against low-to-medium altitude aircraft.
The Russian SAMs acquired by China – the SA-15 and especially the SA-10 –
represent marked improvements in China’s ability to target aircraft that threaten its
airspace. The SA-15's range and intercept altitude are similar to China’s most modern
indigenous SAMs. However, the SA-15 features a number of characteristics that
make it a more effective system. For instance, the SA-15 can use its surveillance and
tracking radars and can fire missiles while moving. It can fire two missiles
simultaneously at two different targets. Perhaps more significantly, this system can
engage cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It has also been
reported that the SA-15 may have some capability against short-range ballistic
missiles.140 None of these features is found on indigenous PRC SAMs.
138 “German MiG-29s in Red Flag Exercise,” Aviation Daily, August 1, 2000.
139 Zaloga, Steven. World Missiles Briefing, Teal Group Inc., Fairfax, VA, November 1999.
140 Jane’s Land-Based Air Defense 1997-1998; World Missiles Briefing, Teal Group,
February 2000; “China Seeks S-300 and Tor-M1 Systems,” Jane’s Defense Weekly,
September 2, 1998.

---

CRS-30
Table 6. Comparison of Surface-to-Air Missiles
Imported Russian
Indigenous PRC Missiles
Other Asian and U.S. SAMs
Missiles
SA-10
Patriot
I-
Sky
HQ-2
HN-5
QW-1
HQ-61
HQ-7
PL-9
S-300
SA-15
Hawk
PAC 2 PAC3
Hawk
Bow 2
PMU
IOC
1967
1966
1994
1991
1991
1991
1992
1988
1991
2001
1960
1973
1995
Max Range
35
3.6
0.5
10
12
5.5
90
12
>105
15a
40
40
80
(km)
Max Altitude
27
2
0.4
8
5.5
5
30
6
25
>15
18
18
24
(km)
Surveill. Radar
120
-
-
-
20
>15
300
>25
170
N/A
560
560
150
Range (km)
Warhead (kg)
130
1.1
1.5
42kg?
14
10
143
15
84
142
75
75
90
TBM Capable
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Some
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Misc
Based on
Copy of
HN-5
CSA-N-
Crotale
Python 3
12 G
13 G
ATBM
All Wx,
Im-
Based
SA-2?
SA-7
up-grade
2 marin-
copy?
copy?
intercepts.
inter-
opt-
Day/
proved
on
ized
Fire on the
cept
imized
Night
guid-
Patriot
version
move
ance,
ECM
a The Patriot PAC-3 has a range of 15 km against tactical ballistic missiles.

---

CRS-31
The SA-10 SAM system is considered similar to the U.S. Patriot system. It is
most distinguished by its very long range and very high intercept altitude. With a
range of up to 150 km (93 mi), a handful of SA-10s potentially could cover large
volumes of PRC airspace; protecting cities, airfields, and potential attack corridors.
The SA-10's very long range surveillance radar is also a significant improvement over
indigenous PRC systems. With its ability to detect aircraft up to 300 km (186 mi)
away, the SA-10s could provide China with earlier warning of attacking aircraft and
more effective, integrated air defenses. Additionally, the SA-10 has the ability to
attack cruise missiles and perhaps limited defense against some ballistic missiles.
Table 6 contains information that can be used to compare China’s most advanced
imported surface-to-air missiles to those used by other Asian and U.S. forces. This
information suggests that the SA-10 and SA-15 are in many ways on par with U.S.
and similar SAMs in the region. However, the most useful level of comparison for
these systems is not between the PLA’s SAMs and those other SAMs, but between
the PLA’s SAMs and Western aircraft.
The effectiveness of the PLA’s SAMs against U.S. and other aircraft in the
region depends on a variety of technological and operational factors. On the
technological side, the aircraft’s speed, maneuverability, radar cross section, and
electronic countermeasures (ECM) capabilities are important factors to consider.
Operationally, the aircraft’s flight profile, and the employment of electronic warfare
(EW) and suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) aircraft, also contribute to or
detract from survivability vis-a-vis enemy SAMs. Also, the rules of engagement
(ROE), which political and military leaders impose on operational forces, have a
strong influence on which tactics, techniques, and procedures can be employed.
To definitively assess the effectiveness of China’s SA-10 and SA-15 force
against aircraft flown in Asia requires campaign-level analysis using high fidelity
analytical models and simulation to accurately measure the factors described above.
However, instructional observations can be made regarding specific SAM measures
of effectiveness and recent operational experience. In addition to the features
discussed in the previous part of this assessment (on missile and surveillance radar
range), SAM system characteristics that will challenge regional aircraft include
mobility, certain command and control factors, and resistance to ECM.
Mobility. Both the SA-10 and SA-15 are mobile systems. Because it is
currently difficult for other Asian and U.S. forces to detect and track most mobile
systems, this feature both increases the SAM’s survivability and also contributes to
its effectiveness. Mobility gives the adversary greater potential for surprise, as the
SAMs can be deployed to unexpected areas. The SA-15's launch vehicle’s maximum
speed is 40 mph, and the entire system can be readied for launch in as little as 18
minutes.141 The SA-15 is based on a tracked vehicle, which gives it the ability to
move well in rough terrain. The long-range SA-10 SAM is also a mobile system.
China’s S-300 PMU variant was designed specifically to improve system mobility and
141 Jane’s Land-Based Air Defense 1997-1998, Jane’s Information Group, London; Zaloga,
Steven, “Russian Point Defense SAMs,” World Missile Briefing, Teal Group Inc., February
2000.

---

CRS-32
reportedly can be ready for firing within five minutes of arrival at an un-surveyed
site.142 Like the SA-15, the larger SA-10 is mounted in a vehicle that gives it off-road
capability. While current estimates report that the PLA has plans to deploy its SA-10s
around four areas (Beijing and areas across the strait from Taiwan), this system’s
inherent mobility suggests that it could be speedily moved to protect other PRC assets
if desired.
Command and Control. The SA-10 and SA-15 are modern systems and thus
incorporate command, control, and communications capabilities that increase their
effectiveness against other Asian and U.S. aircraft in Asia. These modern command
and control features may enable the PLA to network otherwise disparate air defense
units and meld them into an integrated system.
The SA-15's digital fire control computer processing system can automatically
perform threat evaluation on up to 48 targets. Automatic track initiation can be
performed on the 10 most dangerous targets, and two targets can be simultaneously
engaged in all weather, day or night “irrespective of enemy ECM operations.”143
Although it is an autonomous system, it can be interfaced into an air defense network
as it carries a special coded datalink for such purposes.
The S-300 system provides the PLA with even greater capability for air defense
integration. The radar can track up to 180 targets simultaneously. A battery can
engage up to 6 targets with 12 missiles in severe ECM environments.144 Multiple S-
300 regiments can be coordinated by a universal command, control, and
communications system to integrate several air defense systems together and share
target allocations. It is believed that SA-10 systems can now be netted with SA-5 and
SA-12 systems and interoperate with fighter air defense zones controlling around 70
to 80 SAM launchers covering a front line of around 600 km (375 mi).145
Force on Force Considerations
The above discussion compared indigenous PRC and imported systems on a
platform-to-platform level. However, aircraft, SAMs, and other platforms do not
operate singly, but in conjunction with other components of an air force. This part
of the assessment will build on the previous one, by describing some of the factors
that may contribute to, or detract from, China’s ability to translate their recent imports
into effective combat power at the force-on-force level. The factors discussed in this
part include inventory, maintenance, pilot training, air doctrine, command, control,
and communications, and support from other aircraft (i.e., refueling, surveillance, and
electronic warfare).
142 Jane’s Land-Based Air Defense 1997-1998, Jane’s Information Group, London.
143 Jane’s Land-Based Air Defense 1997-1998, Jane’s Information Group, London.
144 Jane’s Land-Based Air Defense 1997-1998, Jane’s Information Group, London, 137.
145 Jane’s Strategic Weapon Systems. 1997, Jane’s Information Group, London.

---

CRS-33
Inventory. The aphorism that “quantity has a quality all its own” holds true for
China’s imported systems. While their quality is important, the operational utility of
these systems is diminished if they cannot be employed in large numbers.
Generally speaking, attackers tend to require greater numbers than defenders.
In planning ground operations for instance, a 3:1 ratio of attackers to defenders is
traditionally considered the minimum required for success. Recent military operations
illustrate the value of mass in air operations. In the 1991 war in the Persian Gulf
(Operation Desert Storm), the U.N. coalition generated 132,029 air sorties in five
months. During Operation Allied Force (the 1999 conflict in Kosovo), 37,225
combat sorties were flown in 78 days. In contrast, it will be difficult for the PLA Air
Force to generate even hundreds of sorties (let alone thousands of sorties) with its
modern aircraft (only around 48 Su-27s) against targets at a distance from the nearest
PLA airbase. In its 1979 border conflict with Vietnam, for instance, it took the
PLAAF 45 days to move 700 aircraft to the theater of operations. Once there, the
PLAAF achieved an average operational tempo of only one flight for each aircraft
every four days. China did not fly a single sortie over Vietnamese airspace.146 Having
about 48 Su-27s will not make a great difference in China’s inability to generate
numerous offensive sorties.
Table 7 compares the key platforms in the inventories of the PRC, Taiwan,
Japan, and U.S. air forces stationed in the region. This table illustrates that Taiwan,
for instance, has seven times more modern fighter aircraft than does the PRC.
(Taiwan and Japan also have AEW and EW forces which the PLA does not. The
implications of the PLA’s deficiency in this regard will be discussed below.)
Disregarding arguments about the Su-27's technological capabilities and assuming a
rough parity between the Su-27 and modern Western fighter aircraft, the numerical
inequity between the PRC’s modern fighters (48) and Taiwan’s modern airforce (340
fighters) brings into question the PLAAF’s ability to mount effective offensive action
in this scenario. However, a force of about 48 Su-27s is enough to make a tangible
impact on the PRC’s ability to conduct defensive operations, especially when
integrated with modern air defenses.
China’s procurement of four SA-10 regiments appears sufficient to make an
immediate operational impact. An estimated 16-24 batteries capable of launching
over 250 long-range missiles could significantly augment China’s existing air defenses
or enable the defense of additional assets. Also, because it is a defensive system, the
SA-10 enjoys advantages over attacking aircraft, such as the ability to prepare staging
and re-supply areas, and pre-survey launch sites. These advantages suggest greater
operational effectiveness, which in turn, puts the pressure on the attacker to increase
their numbers vis-a-vis the defenders.
146 Fulghum, David, “Israel Builds China’s First AWACS Aircraft,” Aviation Week & Space
Technology, November 29, 1999.

---

CRS-34
Table 7. Comparison of Key PLAAF Systems with Other Key Systems
U.S. Air Forces in Asia
PRC
Taiwan
Japan
CVBG*
Korea**
Japan
Modern
48 Su-27
150 F-16
160 F-
14 F-14
72 F-16
36 F-16
Fighters/
130 IDF
15J/DJ
36 F/A-
54 F-
Attack
60 Mirage
18C/D
15C/D
Aircraft
2000
AAMs
AA-10
AIM-9J/P
AIM-7
AIM-7
AIM-9
AIM-7
AA-11
Matra Mica
AIM-9
AIM-9
AIM-120
AIM-9
Sky Sword
AIM-54
AIM-120
I/II
AIM-120
AEW/
0
4 E-2T
10 E2-C
4 E-2C
0
2 E-3
AWACS
4 E-3
EW
0
2 C-130HE
EP-3
4 EA-6B
0
0
2 CC-47
1 EC-1
10 YS-
11E
Aerial
~10
0
0
2 KS-3B
0
15 KC-
Refueling
135
Long Range
SA-10
Patriot 24/6
Patriot
0
0
0
SAMs
256-384/
I-Hawk
128/32
missiles/
64-96
240/78
I-Hawk
launchers
Sky Bow
200/66
(estimates)
465/115
* Yokosuka, Japan, is home port for 1 U.S. aircraft carrier, 6 surface combatants.
**U.S. Aircraft in Korea can self-deploy without refueling to Japan.
Source: The Military Balance1999-2000, International Institute for Strategic Studies, London.
Maintenance/Spares. Self-sufficiency has been a goal of PRC aerospace for
50 years. Yet, there is doubt even today whether China can adequately maintain the
advanced aerospace systems that it has imported. Even PRC officials have claimed
that the PLA Air Force “is not currently capable of flying or maintaining sophisticated
foreign aircraft.”147 Clearly, the ability to maintain imported aircraft, surface-to-air
and air-to-air missiles is central to their overall effectiveness. Poorly maintained
equipment often does not work, does not work up to requirements, or worse yet, can
severely damage itself, other equipment, or personnel. Inability to maintain modern
aircraft will result in high attrition rates and exacerbate the inventory issues articulated
above.
It has been reported that PRC aerospace industry is “struggling to cope with the
advanced technology and industrial management methods needed to produce a state-
147 Allen, Kenneth, Glenn Krumel, Jonathan Pollack. China’s Air Force Enters the 21st
Century (RAND, Santa Monica, CA: 1995): 141.

---

CRS-35
of-the-art fighter within the assembly process.”148 At least during the initial co-
production of Su-27s, sub-standard work resulted in the first two aircraft
manufactured by China to be abruptly reassembled after their first flights.
One analyst claims that China’s difficulties in maintaining advanced technology
result in part from poor manufacturing processes. Lacking the tight tolerances
required to manufacture identical parts, PRC aircraft are literally one of a kind. “The
implication is that there is no interchangeability of parts between two unique airframes
of the same type of aircraft. This can be a tremendous maintenance headache
involving grounding of aircraft in case of even minor unserviceabilities until
inoperative parts are repaired or replacements manufactured to tailor-made
specifications.”149
China appears to have a particular deficiency in maintaining aircraft engines.
Unable to maintain them in-country, the PLA has been forced to send the AL-31F
engines which power both the Su-27 and the locally developed F-10 fighter to Russia
for repair. China is trying to purchase from Russia a turn-key repair and maintenance
facility.150 Despite the structural obstacles in China’s aircraft industry, however,
Russian assistance may prove to be an important difference in the eventual full
production of capable Su-27s in China.
Pilot Training. Learning how to safely and effectively operate a supersonic
fighter aircraft in a modern warfare environment takes a good deal of time, resources,
and effort. The standard minimum training for fighter pilots in NATO, for instance,
is 180 hours a year.151 U.S. pilots typically log more than 200 hours of in-cockpit
training. Additionally, U.S. fighter pilots spend up to 70 hours a year in high quality
simulators where they develop advanced skills and hone complex tactics. Western
fighter pilots fly in dynamic “many versus many” engagements. They train against
“aggressor squadrons,” dedicated adversary pilots that fly enemy aircraft with enemy
weapons and employ enemy tactics. Western pilots fly in combined arms exercises
(i.e., with ground- and sea-based forces) and with multinational allies.
Many analysts criticize China’s pilot training. They note that pilots spend too
few hours in the cockpit and that the training they do undergo does not adequately
prepare them for real combat. The PLA Air Force’s Su-27 pilots have flown just 60-
100 hours per year.152 This figure is well below the NATO standard and just barely
148 “China-Assembled Su-27s Make Their First Flights,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, February
24, 1999.
149 Sachdev. A.K., “Modernization of the Chinese Air Force,” Strategic Analysis, Institute for
Defense Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, September 1999.
150 “China-Assembled Su-27s Make Their First Flights,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, February
24, 1999.
151 Allen, Kenneth, Glenn Krumel, Jonathan Pollack. China’s Air Force Enters the 21st
Century (RAND, Santa Monica, CA, 1995): xix.
152 Allen, Kenneth W., “PLAAF Modernization: An Assessment,” in Crisis in the Taiwan
Strait, edited by James R. Lilley and Chuck Downs, American Enterprise Institute and
(continued...)

---

CRS-36
enough training to ensure that the pilots can operate the aircraft safely.153 Moreover,
after losing several Su-27s to training accidents, each Su-27 aircraft is flown only
about 10 hours monthly.154 A major RAND study concludes that “advanced
operational techniques and tactics are simply impossible to learn in so little time.”155
The quality of the training that PLA pilots do receive has been questioned. Some
have noted the heavy scripting of PLA pilot training and called it unrealistic.156 The
standard training syllabus consists of stereotyped engagements against single, non
maneuvering targets. Consistent with this observation are others who claim that
“almost 80-85 percent of the flying consists of plain and simple navigation sorties with
marginal tactical value.”157 Finally, it appears that for all intents and purposes, once
out of the cockpit, the PLA pilot’s training ends. “There is virtually no simulator
training, except on very rudimentary systems.”158 This lack of training affects more
than the fighter pilots; it affects the quality of the whole PLA Air Force. Some have
suggested that “the PLA Air Force has no capability to perform some missions, such
as close air support, that are commonly assigned to the air arms of other nations.”159
While there is consensus that PLA pilot training is below Western standards, it
is unclear how far behind they really are and how long it will take them to catch up.
For example, Vice Admiral Thomas Wilson, director of the Defense Intelligence
Agency, testified in January 2000 that China has made improvements in its pilot
training program that have resulted in much greater proficiency.160
Mission Emphasis and Doctrine. In many ways, China faces the same crisis
that Western military planners have grappled with after the Soviet Union
disintegrated. After decades of preparing to withstand a land invasion by the Soviets,
China must now develop a new doctrinal underpinning that focuses its military on
152 (...continued)
National Defense University Press, 1997.
153 Mann, Paul, “U.S. Military Technology Forecast to Outpace China’s for Decades.”
Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 17, 2000.
154 Brodie, Jonathan, “China Moves to Buy More Russian Aircraft, Warships and
Submarines,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, December 22, 1999.
155 Mann, Paul. “U.S. Military Technology Forecast to Outpace China’s for Decades,”
Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 17, 2000.
156 Mann, Paul, “U.S. Military Technology Forecast to Outpace China’s for Decades,”
Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 17, 2000.
157 Sachdev. A.K., “Modernization of the Chinese Air Force,” Strategic Analysis, Institute for
Defense Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, September 1999.
158 Allen, Kenneth, Glenn Krumel, Jonathan Pollack. China’s Air Force Enters the 21st
Century (RAND, Santa Monica, CA, 1995): xix.
159 Mann, Paul. “U.S. Military Technology Forecast to Outpace China’s for Decades,”
Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 17, 2000.
160 Wall, Robert, “CIA: China-Taiwan Clash Possible Soon,” Aviation Week & Space
Technology, February 7, 2000.

---

CRS-37
relevant roles and missions, currently centered on what it sees as its top security
problem, namely, Taiwan. While there have been discussions of a new doctrine
(called “local war under high-technology conditions”) in military circles in China, the
PLA has yet to fully develop and implement reforms.
Many analysts comment that while China has purchased new technology, it has
not developed new doctrine or concepts of operation that are required to realize the
potential of these new weapon systems. For instance, the same RAND study claims
that “China is as far behind the West doctrinally as technologically. When a PLA Su-
27 pilot is being trained only in one-on-one tail chase intercepts against non-
maneuvering targets, he is being trained to waste his airplane. New equipment implies
new concepts, and the PLA will need to foment a doctrinal revolution to complement
the technological one if the billions to be spent on modern weapons are to pay off.”161
Command, Control, and Communications. Western air power concepts of
operation emphasize centralized planning but de-centralized decision making and
execution. Initiative is fostered at low levels of command. Squadron commanders
and individual pilots are allowed great freedom to improvise during operations. The
success of air power in operations such as Operation Allied Force and Operation
Desert Storm suggests that this philosophy has merit. In contrast, the PLAAF
emphasizes centralized execution. The PLAAF has been described as “...rigid, with
little flexibility for command initiative.”162 PLAAF deployment of its surface-to-air
missile systems, for instance, has remained conservative and consistent over time,
despite improvements in SAM capability. Almost 100 percent of PLA SAMs ring
population and military centers with no attempt to aggressively cover large swaths of
PRC territory. Even though recently acquired systems make new employment
concepts capable, the RAND study notes “China has shown no inclination to extend
its SAM coverage beyond its traditional boundaries.”
The PLA’s ability to command and control its air forces and air defenses
effectively is influenced strongly by the quality of its communications technology.
Communications systems are used to give orders, issue warnings, share information
on an adversary or situation, request guidance, and generally to coordinate offensive
and defensive operations.
The quality and utility of military communications systems varies considerably.
At the low end of the spectrum, radios are used to broadcast voice communications
between aircraft and surface based command and control assets. Digitized
communications – often called data links – pass information at a faster rate, of greater
quality and fidelity, and under more secure and jam resistant conditions than do voice
communications. This increased capability, however, comes at the cost of increased
complexity. Generally speaking, any UHF radio can communicate with another UHF
radio. However, digitized communications have unique protocols and standards that
must be synchronized throughout a force.
161 Mann, Paul, “U.S. Military Technology Forecast to Outpace China’s for Decades,”
Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 17, 2000.
162 Mann, Paul, “U.S. Military Technology Forecast to Outpace China’s for Decades,”
Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 17, 2000.

---

CRS-38
Similar to EW systems, China’s communications equipment is difficult to
catalogue with a high degree of confidence via open sources. Technical capabilities
of communications systems are jealously guarded to hamper adversary
communications warfare efforts. Furthermore, communications hardware tends to be
physically inconspicious and relatively easy to swap-out. However, some information
is available in the unclassified realm and general comments on the PLAAF’s
communications capabilities can be made.

Many analysts comment that China currently lacks the skills and information
technology required for a modern integrated air operations system. China’s
communications equipment appears limited in capability, and the PLA has been slow
to digitize. Recent activity suggests that Beijing recognizes the need to improve
command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I), but its
attempts to redress this deficiency are hampered by funding problems. A 1997
assessment asserted that “the current wire and radio communications equipment of
the PLA is at least two generations behind that of Western countries.”163
China’s indigenous and imported fighter aircraft currently operate with a wide
variety of communications equipment, which does not bode well for interoperability.
The standard communications equipment on the Su-27s, for example, is a “R-800
UHF radio, R-864 HF intercom and cockpit voice recorder, SO-69 ATC transponder,
and various IFF fits.”164 While the J-8 (F-8) fighter uses VHF/UHF radio and HF
radios – which implies some compatibility with the Su-27, – the Q-5 and J-7 aircraft
do not use UHF radios. The Q-5 and J-7 use VHF radios and Italian short wave and
ultra short wave transceivers, respectively.
China indigenously manufactures a Tactical Air Defense Command and Control
System (TADS) to command and guide its surface-to-air intercept systems. It has
been estimated that this system is able to control up to eight automatic simultaneous
interceptions, control up to 10 gun or SAM systems, and accept data from up to four
radars.”165 Yet, TADS’ exact means of communications is unclear, as is whether it
can control SA-10 batteries. The SA-10 batteries are coordinated by two different
C3I systems (the Universal-1E C3I system developed by the Proton NPO in Moscow,
and the D4M Polyana C3I system produced by Agat NPO in Belarus or the Baikal-1
system developed by Proton NPO.166). However, due to the disparate C3I systems,
it is most likely that China’s air defense assets operate in a more independent than
coordinated fashion. Furthermore – and more significantly from a fratricide
perspective – it is unlikely that China’s fighter aircraft and surface-based air defenses
communicate seamlessly.
Significantly improving China’s communications capabilities – especially
digitized communications – will not happen overnight. Yet, recent news accounts
suggest that China has taken steps that could bear fruit in several years. In January
163 Karniol, Robert, “Power to the People,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, July 12, 2000.
164 Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft 2000-2001, Jane’s Information Group, London:447.
165 Jane’s C4I Systems 1996-1997, Jane’s Information Group. London: 89.
166 Steven Zaloga. “Russian Area Defense SAMs,” World Missile Briefing, Teal Group Inc.

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2000, China was reported to have launched a military communications satellite that
is to serve as the foundation of its first integrated C4I system; called Qu Dian.
According to this report, China claims that Qu Dian is analogous to the U.S. JTIDS
(Joint Tactical Information Distribution System), a secure, high-capacity data
communications network. The potential impact of this nascent system apparently is
being debated. Some components of the U.S. intelligence community reportedly
argue that, when fully deployed, the Qu Dian system will enable coordination and
data-sharing at the joint forces level. Others in the intelligence community are said
to counter that inflexibility of the PLA command structure will limit the effectiveness
of the new military system.167
Supporting Aircraft/Missions. The fighter aircraft and other systems that
China has been acquiring will not operate in isolation but as part of a larger air force.
The effectiveness of the Su-27s, for instance, will depend on a large part on how well
these fighter aircraft are supported by, and integrated with, any future PLA aerial
refueling, airborne early warning, and electronic warfare capabilities.
Aerial Refueling. It has been reported that China has approximately10 aerial
refueling aircraft.168 China converted some B-6 (often referred to as H-6) bombers
by 1996.169 Since then, the PLA has conducted two known exercises with aerial
tankers. Considering the small number of these aircraft and the apparent lack of
training and limited integration with other parts of its air force, the PLA’s aerial
refueling capabilities in the near-term appear to be rudimentary. Equally important
(and as mentioned in a previous section of this report) , it appears that the Su-27
variant China imported from Russia does not have aerial refueling capability.
Furthermore, although the Su-30 fighters that China hopes to acquire do have aerial
refueling capability, it is believed that they are incompatible with the B-6 refueling
mechanism. Thus, in the immediate term, it does not appear that China has the ability
to use their best fighter aircraft up to their full range potential. However, the longer-
term implications of PLA acquisition of aerial refueling aircraft is significant, because
these aircraft can greatly increase the reach and capabilities of fighter and attack
aircraft.
Support from aerial tankers increase air operations effectiveness by expanding
the range and payload options of attack aircraft and by keeping air superiority fighters
flying combat air patrol (CAP) in the air longer. Aerial refueling also maximizes
cargo aircraft capabilities important for replenishing friendly ground forces operating
in distant theaters.
By refueling in the air rather than carrying extra fuel externally, combat aircraft
can take off with a maximum weapon load. When air operations are measured in
167 Gertz, Bill, “China’s Military Links Forces to Boost Power,” The Washington Times,
March 16, 2000:A1.
168 Sae-Liu, Robert, “Chinese Expand Aerial Refueling Capability to Navy,” Jane’s Defense
Weekly, June 21, 2000:14.
169 Gertz, Bill, “Chinese Arms Buildup Increases Attack Range,” Washington Times, March
12, 1996: 1.

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terms of aircraft squadrons (12-18 aircraft), this effect is an important force multiplier.
Combat aircraft with greater fuel capacity and refueling options have flexibility in
choosing target routes. Also, ubiquitous fuel enables fighter aircraft to fly at higher
speeds (consuming fuel at high rates) for maneuver and escape.
Air-to-air fighters on combat air patrol or escort missions benefit from aerial
refueling by remaining on patrol and engaging in combat for extended periods, instead
of returning to base for fuel. During Operation Desert Storm, for example, F-15s on
Scud patrol were able to loiter for hours over suspected launch sites due to the
approximately three refuelings each mission enjoyed.170
Airborne Early Warning. Despite several attempts to acquire this capability,
China has not yet acquired airborne early warning aircraft. Airborne early warning,
and airborne early warning and control (AWACS or AEWC2) aircraft significantly
improve the effectiveness of modern defensive and offensive air operations. AEW
and AWACS aircraft provide an expanded and clearer view of the battlespace, and the
ability to more coherently organize and employ large numbers of aircraft over great
distances and against a large number of targets.
Because radar is usually effective only to the extent of its direct line of sight, the
Earth’s curvature limits the ability of surface-based radars to detect low flying aircraft
at about 30 miles. Modern aircraft can travel this distance in less than a minute,
eluding detection until they are literally on top of their target. By elevating early
warning radars, say to 30,000 feet, low flying enemy aircraft can be detected at
approximately 250 miles, providing better ability to prepare defenses and eliminate
devastating surprise attacks.
AEW systems are often combined with command, control, and communications
(C3) equipment – such as identification friend or foe (IFF), electronic and
communications intelligence (ELINT and COMINT), advanced navigation, and jam-
resistant tactical data links. The resulting AWACS aircraft can be used not just to
provide warning to defenses, but also to effectively control large numbers of aircraft
on both defensive and offensive missions, over a large area against a large number of
threats or targets. In sum, AWACS aircraft may be considered “force multipliers.”
They enable the coherent use of large numbers of aircraft over great distances against
numerous threats or targets, that would otherwise operate in small groups with
relatively limited operational “vision.”
The military value of AEW/AWACS aircraft has been made explicit in numerous
conflicts. The success of Israel, for instance, against Syrian aircraft in the 1982
Lebanon War owed much to U.S.-built E-2 Hawkeye AEW aircraft in Israeli service.
E-2s routinely detected incoming Syrian aircraft at long range and vectored Israel
fighters to surprise them.171 The E-2 also enabled Israeli air attacks. In 1985, Israeli
F-15s, escorted by an E-2, flew 1,500 miles to bomb PLO headquarters in Tunisia.
By contrast, the British lack of AEW aircraft is considered a major contributor to the
loss of two destroyers during the 1982 Falklands war. Lacking long range
170 Coniglio, Sergio, “Modern Air Refueling Systems,” Military Technology, June 1991, p.93
171 Nordeen, Lon, Fighters Over Israel (Orion Books, New York, NY, 1990):163.

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surveillance, the British were forced to position the HMS Sheffield and HMS
Coventry in defensive postures that increased their vulnerability.172
Electronic Warfare. China has no electronic warfare (EW) aircraft. EW
aircraft, especially those systems that collect electronic intelligence and those that jam
or spoof an enemy’s electronic emissions, are central to modern aerial warfare. EW
warfare systems protect attacking aircraft by identifying threats such as SAMs,
helping to plan safer attack routes, and degrading the effectiveness of these threats
if they cannot be avoided. EW aircraft can also help air superiority aircraft by
providing early warning of approaching enemy aircraft. EW systems also reduce
fratricide by augmenting identify friend or foe (IFF) systems.
The importance of electronic warfare is strongly suggested by recent operational
experience. Air power has played a central role in the last three major conflicts in
which the United States has been involved. EW aircraft have been busily and
effectively protecting both offensive and defensive combat operations.
During Operation Desert Storm, only 38 allied aircraft were lost in 132,029
sorties. EW aircraft, such as the EA-6B Prowler and EF-111 Raven, flew 8,478
sorties during the war.173 Afterwards, a senior military official reported “We have no
reports that any SAM locked-up an attacking aircraft while being escorted by an EA-
6B...”174 Furthermore, a major NATO Conference after Desert Storm assessed how
suppression of enemy air defenses contributed to the Gulf War: “the Joint SEAD
campaign and SEAD support of the Gulf War will long be remembered as an
outstanding success.”175
During the 1995 conflict in Bosnia (Operation Deliberate Force), the NATO
allies flew 17,290 sorties and suffered only two aircraft casualties.176 The loss of the
second aircraft, Captain Scott O’Grady’s F-16, to a 30-year-old SA-6 SAM
highlighted the need for capable EW jamming aircraft.177 EW escorts became the
172 Luttwak, Edward, and Stuart L. Koehl. The Dictionary of Modern War (Harper Collins,
New York, NY, 1991): 10.
173 Gulf War Air Power Survey. Vol V. Statistical Compendium and Chronology. U.S.
Department of the Air Force. Washington, DC 1993: 150.
174 Nordwall, Bruce D., “Electronic Warfare Played Greater Role In Desert Storm Than Any
Conflict,” Aviation Week & Space Technology, April 22, 1991.
175 AAFCETLP Gulf War Conference Report, 1730.13.7/AFOOAT/S-078/92, 20 Feb 1992
NATO. As reported by Williamson Murray.
176 SFOR Air Component Fact Sheet,
[http://www.afsouth.nato.int/factsheets/sforaircomponent .htm]; “2 Pilots Seized, Serb Says,”
New York Times, October 19, 1995: 12; and Sparks, Michael, “One Missile Away from
Disaster,” Armed Forces Journal International, December 1995: 18.
177 Hitchens, Theresa, and Robert Holzer, “U.S. Extends Life of Radar-Jamming EF-111,”
Defense News, June 19-25, 1995: 3.

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norm after it was determined that O’Grady did not have such support when shot
down.178 No additional aircraft were lost during this operation.
In summary, modern aerial refueling, AEW/AWACS, and electronic warfare
capabilities strongly influence the effectiveness of overall offensive and defensive air
operations. China’s attempts to acquire these capabilities implicitly underscore their
value. Until the PLA Air Force has effective aerial refueling, AEW, and EW
capabilities, it will have difficulty flying its Russian-design fighter aircraft against
modern air defenses or using its air defenses against attacking air forces.
Assessment of Naval Acquisitions179
General Considerations180
Scope of Discussion. This section assesses the implications of China’s naval
acquisitions for regional security. As requested, the discussion focuses on the
implications for U.S. naval forces – notably, the U.S. forces most directly affected by
these acquisitions.
Although the discussion focuses on implications for U.S. naval forces, it is
important to note that China’s naval acquisitions, like its naval forces generally, can
also be used against other naval forces in the Western Pacific, including those of
Russia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Vietnam. U.S. naval forces
in the Western Pacific are considerably more capable than the forces of these and all
other navies in the region. In general, these other naval forces (when compared to
U.S. naval forces) would be more vulnerable to attack by China’s Russian-made ships
and submarines, and less able to attack them in turn.
A partial exception to this would be the Japanese navy, known more formally as
the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, which is a sizeable, modern, and capable
force. The Japanese fleet includes, among other things, four Aegis-equipped Kongou-
class destroyers (very similar to the U.S. Navy’s Aegis-equipped Arleigh Burke
(DDG-51) class destroyers), more than 40 other fairly modern and capable surface
combatants (equipped in part with U.S. sensors and weapons), about 18 modern and
178 Grant, Rebecca, “Airpower Made it Work,” Air Force Magazine, November 1999: 34.
179 Prepared by Ronald O’Rourke, Specialist in National Defense.
180 Unless otherwise stated, basic information concerning the naval systems discussed in this
section is taken from the following sources: Sharpe, Richard, ed. Jane’s Fighting Ships 2000-
2001. Alexandria (VA), Jane’s Information Group Inc., 2000; Polmar, Norman. The Naval
Institute Guide to the Soviet Navy. Annapolis (MD), Naval Institute Press, 1991. (5th
edition); Jackson, Paul, editor-in-chief. Jane’s All The World’s Aircraft 2000-2001.
Alexandria (VA), Jane’s Information Group, Inc., 2000; Friedman, Norman. The Naval
Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems 1997-1998. Annapolis (MD), Naval
Institute Press, 1997; Zaloga, Steven J. World Missiles Briefing. Fairfax (VA), Teal Group
Corporation, 2000. (Briefing Book Series, updated regularly).

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capable diesel-electric submarines, developed ASW capability, and more than two
dozen mine warfare ships.
Compared to the U.S. Navy, however, the Japanese navy lacks, among other
things, aircraft carriers with fixed-wing aircraft and nuclear-powered attack
submarines. This reduces the ability of Japan’s navy, compared to U.S. naval forces,
to detect, track, and attack surface ships and submarines. Japan’s navy also appears
to have a proportionately less extensive at-sea replenishment (resupply) capability
than the U.S. Navy, which could limit the ability of Japan’s naval forces to operate for
a sustained period of time in areas that are outside Japan’s immediate home waters.
In assessing the implications of China’s naval acquisition for regional security in
general, the limitations of these other regional naval forces compared to U.S. naval
forces should be kept in mind. This would be particularly important for crisis or
conflict scenarios that might involve U.S. naval forces (either initially or from start to
finish).
In addition, although parts of the discussion below are set in the possible context
of a crisis or conflict involving U.S. naval forces, the section largely does not address
the potential likelihood or nature of a crisis or conflict that might involve PLA, other
Asian, and/or U.S. forces.
China’s Navy in General. China’s navy – more formally known as the People’s
Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) – has been primarily a coastal defense force built
around ships based largely on older or obsolete Soviet technology. Since the mid-
1990s, China has embarked on an effort to develop a navy with more blue-water
capabilities and more modern technology. The apparent intent of this program is to
develop a fleet that could challenge other Asian and U.S. naval forces during times
of crisis or conflict in areas such as the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, the East
China Sea, and (eventually) adjacent sea areas further into the Western Pacific, such
as the Philippine Sea. China’s acquisitions of Russian-made Sovremenny-class
destroyers and Kilo-class submarines form a key part of this effort.
In assessing the potential implications for U.S. naval forces of China’s purchase
of modern naval systems, a key issue will be the ability of China’s navy to maintain
them in good working condition, operate them proficiently, and support them
logistically. This, in turn, will depend on factors such as the quality, education, and
training of PLA Navy personnel, the realism and sophistication of PLA naval
exercises, and the capabilities of China’s shore-based industrial infrastructure and at-
sea logistical system.
A survey article on the PLA Navy by the U.S. naval attache to Beijing published
in December 1999 provided comments bearing on a number of these issues. The
article stated:
Conscripts serve for two years. Although there are recent provisions for sailors
to remain in service for up to 30 years, a cadre of senior enlisted personnel is not
yet well developed. PLAN academic training remains fairly basic by Western
standards; however, there is an increasing emphasis on improving the quality of
training through the use of automatic-data-processing resources. Large-scale fleet

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exercises are conducted several times each year, but there is little integration
between naval air and surface units, and even less integration of naval operations
with units of either the PLA Air Force or Army.181
The article states that, along with retirements of large numbers of outdated ships
and aircraft and acquisition of more modern technology, “the Chinese Navy has
focused on improving training for both its officer and enlisted ranks and, in
consonance with overarching PLA programs, developing a cadre of experienced
noncommissioned officers,” and that the navy “has relied heavily on Russian training
for the officers and enlisted personnel who will man” its Sovremenny-class destroyers
and Kilo-class submarines.182 The article states that there are
significant tactical and doctrinal shortfalls that the PLAN has not adequately
addressed. At-sea sustainability is modest, and the PLAN has not yet
demonstrated the ability to conduct complex coordinated air and surface
operations. The training of individual sailors remains basic by Western standards,
and the PLAN lacks a corps of experienced noncommissioned officers. From the
highest echelons of the service to individual commands, control is highly
centralized, with little flexibility and creativity in subordinate ranks.
The article also states:
Having noted these shortfalls, however, the PLAN has made remarkable progress
in its drive for modernization over the last decade. It has demonstrated the
capability to deploy naval forces as far away as South America and Australia....
The complexity and scope of fleet training have steadily increased.... Further,
improvements in individual training and the development of a corps of
noncommissioned officers offers the potential to improve the sustainability and
combat effectiveness of individual units significantly.183
Sovremenny-class Destroyers and Related Equipment
China’s Surface Combatant Force in General. The survey article on China’s
navy by the U.S. naval attache to Beijing provides the following assessment of
China’s surface combatant force and the place of China’s two Sovremenny-class
destroyers in it:
181 Kaplan, Brad, “China’s Navy Today,” Sea Power, December 1999: 29. For other recent
published overviews of China’s Navy, see Ahari, Ehsan, “China’s Naval Forces Look To
Extend Their Blue-Water Reach,” Jane’s Intelligence Review, April 1998: 31-36, and
Downing, John, “Maritime Ambition, China’s Naval Modernisation,” Jane’s Navy
International, April 1998: 10-12, 14-15, 17.
182 Kaplan, Brad, “China’s Navy Today,” Sea Power, December 1999: 29.
183 Another article states that “The current training programme comprises specifically
increased emphasis on joint warfare, greater use of combat simulators on a regular basis and
opposing force training in environments as close as possible to real warfare conditions.”
Downing, John, “Maritime Ambition, China’s Naval Modernisation,” Jane’s Navy
International, April 1998: 14-15.

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Although it has more than 400 fast-attack missile, patrol, and torpedo boats, the
PLAN only has about 50 units that are considered major combatants by Western
standards. Many of these obsolete small combatants are being replaced by more
capable C-801/802 [anti-ship cruise] missile configured Houjian-, Houxin-, and
Huangfen-class craft. During the 1980s, in a departure from its traditional
practice of relying on Russian Navy designs, the PLAN aggressively sought to
incorporate more advanced Western technology in its indigenous shipbuilding
program. The acquisition of these technologies resulted in China’s production of
more advanced surface combatants during the past decade – including a single
6,000-ton Luhai-class guided-missile destroyer (DDG), two Luhu-class DDGs
(4,200 tons), and nine Jianwei-class frigates (2,250 tons). These units are
equipped with the HQ-7 or HQ-61 short-range air defense systems that will likely
be replaced by a longer-range vertical-launch system within the next three to five
years. These ships also have integrated tactical data systems, an improved
antisubmarine warfare suite that includes embarked helicopters, and gas turbine
propulsion.
Notwithstanding these improvements, the backbone of the PLA surface fleet
remains its 16 aging Luda-class destroyers (3,250 tons) and 30 Jianghu-class
frigates (1,425 tons) that are largely inadequate to meet the requirements of
modern warfare. The planned acquisition of two 7,940-ton Russian-built
Sovremenny-class DDGs in the 2000 to 2001 period will improve the PLAN’s
surface combatant capability.... The PLAN’s HQ-61 and HQ-7 systems are based
on the French Crotale land-based surface-to-air missile system, and they do not
provide surface units with an effective area-defense capability. This deficiency
makes PLAN surface units extremely vulnerable to air attack.
The Chinese Navy also is limited by other operational constraints. Although it has
some capability to conduct shallow water antisubmarine warfare along its littoral
and in the Yellow and South China Seas, the PLAN’s antisubmarine warfare
capability remains modest at best. Towed-array sonar and sonobuoy systems use
technology that is more than 20 years old. The PLAN’s damage-control capability
remains limited, and few units have automatic fire-fighting or watertight door
systems. Anticontamination systems also are considered to be quite basic by
Western standards. The PLAN does field a broad spectrum of fairly sophisticated
sea-skimming cruise missiles – based on either Russian Styx [SS-N-2] or on
French Exocet technology.... Despite this capability, the lack of effective over-the-
horizon targeting sensors and coordinated targeting tactics limits the likely
effectiveness of these systems.184
The 2000 report of the Secretary of Defense to Congress on China’s current and
future military strategy states:
China’s fleet of major surface combatants includes about 40 frigates and 20
destroyers. All carry ASCMs [anti-ship cruise missiles], ranging from the
antiquated, first-generation CSS-N-1/SCRUBBRUSH to the more advanced
C801/SARDINE and C802/SACCADE. Two Russian-built SOVREMENNY
destroyers – both of which are scheduled for delivery in 2000 – will likely be
equipped with the SS-N-22/SUNBURN ASCM. While most of the newer surface
combatants are being equipped with short-range SAMs, the overwhelming majority
184 Kaplan, Brad, “China’s Navy Today,” Sea Power, December 1999: 32.

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of vessels mount no SAM system at all. Despite these limitations, the PLAN’s
surface fleet is expected to strive to enhance both its readiness and endurance for
extended operations. In addition, it can be expected to conduct more realistic
training exercises and deploy more advanced anti-ship [missiles], air defense
missiles and electronic counter measures.185
Sovremenny Class as a Soviet 1970s-era Design. The Sovremenny-class
destroyer, also known as the Project 956/956A or Sarych-class destroyer, was
designed by the Soviets in the early to mid-1970s. A total of 17 Sovremenny-class
ships were built for the Soviet/Russian Navy – the first began construction in 1976
and entered service in 1981, and the last began construction in 1988 and entered
service in 1994. China’s two Sovremenny-class ships are the 18th and 19th built by the
former Soviet Union or Russia.
Sovremenny-class ships are about 512 feet long and have a full load displacement
of about 7,900 tons. In terms of size and date of design, the Sovremenny-class design
is roughly comparable to the U.S. Navy’s Spruance (DD-963) class destroyer
design.186 The Sovremenny class was designed and built by the Soviets as part of an
effort in the Cold War years of 1970s and 1980s to deploy a blue-water fleet capable
of challenging the U.S. and allied naval forces for control of certain sea areas during
a potential NATO-Warsaw Pact conflict.
Under the Soviets’ concept of operations, Sovremenny-class ships would operate
as part of integrated naval formations composed of ships with differing and
complementary capabilities. The Sovremenny class, with four 130-mm (5.1-inch)
guns in two twin mounts and 8 SS-N-22 Sunburn ASCMs, was designed with an
emphasis on anti-surface warfare. The ship is also equipped with a fairly capable (by
Soviet/Russian Navy standards) area air-defense system that includes the SA-N-7
Gadfly surface-to-air missile (SAM).187 The ship’s ASW features, which include
facilities for embarking one Ka-27/Ka-28 Helix ASW helicopter, are more modest
– a characteristic consistent with the Soviets’ intent to operate Sovremenny-class
ships in naval formations that also included Udaloy-class ASW destroyers.
Intent of China’s Purchase. As a 1970s/1980s-era Soviet-designed warship,
China’s Sovremenny-class ships are considerably more technologically modern,
complex, and capable than most other PLAN surface combatants. This fact, plus
China’s decision to purchase two of the ships, has led some Western observers to
conclude that China acquired them in large part, if not primarily, for the purpose of
updating its surface-combatant technology base and accelerating its indigenous
185 Secretary of Defense, “Report on the Military Power of the People’s Republic of China,”
Report to Congress Pursuant to the FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act, June 2000.
186 The Spruance-class was designed in the late 1960s/early 1970s. The first ship in the class
began construction in 1972 and entered service in 1975. The ships are 563 feet long and have
a full load displacement of about 8,300 tons.
187 One article states that on the first of China’s two Sovremenny-class ships, “SA-N-7 Gadfly
is probably the temporary fit, with [the newer] SA-N-12 Grizzly to be fitted in due course.
Unconfirmed reports state that it is already fitted.” Farrer, Mark. China’s Navy Comes Of
Age. Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter, April/May 2000: 31.

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surface combatant design and construction efforts. Under this interpretation, one of
the ships could be kept in port for purposes of studying or reverse-engineering its
technology, while the other could be periodically sent to sea for purposes of gaining
proficiency in operating modern surface combatants. Although China could use the
ships in the near term to impress and intimidate other naval forces in the region, the
primary importance of the ships under this interpretation would be to enhance China’s
ability to field a larger fleet of indigenously-produced modern surface combatants
over the longer run.
Several articles in the defense trade press, however, have reported that China is
negotiating with Russia to purchase at least two additional Sovremenny-class ships.188
These reports, if true, suggest two possibilities. One is that China is acquiring
Sovremenny-class ships not just to support a longer-run modernization effort built
around indigenous designs, but to significantly improve China’s capabilities in the
nearer term as well. The other is that PRC officials may now have doubts about the
ability of China’s naval technological and industrial base to assimilate modern surface-
combatant technologies and produce modern indigenous ships quickly enough to meet
its longer-run naval modernization goals. If so, China may be seeking to acquire
additional Sovremenny-class ships as a hedge against a potentially slow rate of
progress in its indigenous shipbuilding effort.
China’s Ability to Operate. Since these ships are considerably more modern
and complex than most other PLAN surface combatants, they may pose a challenge
to the PLAN in terms of training proficient crews, developing effective operational
doctrine, and properly maintaining key systems. One recent article states that the first
of China’s Sovremenny-class ships “represents a logistics and support difficulty....”
It also, however, states that “the Chinese have learned much from the Israeli training
they have received in integrated logistic support (ILS). The Russians were reported
to have been surprised by the ILS and training packages purchased [by China] with
the two ships.”189
Another article states: “Military analysts say it could take China years of training
before its navy can handle such a sophisticated ship in an actual conflict.... [M]any of
the weapons systems China has purchased require extensive training and sophisticated
188 See, for example, “Russian Anti-Ship Missile Developments,” Jane’s Defence Weekly,
August 30, 2000: 26; Gertz, Bill, “Russia Readies Warship For China,” Washington Times,
July 12, 2000: 1; Farrer, Mark, “China’s Navy Comes Of Age,” Asia-Pacific Defence
Reporter, April/May 2000: 31; Novichkov, Nikolai, “Four Sovremennys In Total For
Beijing,” Jane’s Defence Weekly, March 15, 2000: 12; Sly, Liz, “China’s New Warship
Makes Waves Off Taiwan,” Chicago Tribune, February 12, 2000; Smith, Craig S., “New
Chinese Guided-Missile Ship Heightens Tension,” New York Times, February 9, 2000;
Brodie, Jonathan, “China Moves To Buy More Russian Aircraft, Warships And Submarines,”
Jane’s Defence Weekly, December 22, 1999: 13; Opall-Rome, Barbara, “Economics, Russian
Reluctance Slow PLA Arms Drive,” Defense News, February 8, 1999: 9. The additional
Sovremenny-class ships reportedly would be transferred directly from the Russian Navy,
which would permit the ships to enter service with the PLA Navy years earlier than if the
ships are built on order for China.
189 Farrer, Mark, “China’s Navy Comes Of Age,” Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter, April/May
2000: 31.

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electronics and software to be used effectively. The People’s Liberation Army has not
demonstrated prowess in mastering such technology.”190 A third article, paraphrasing
an unnamed U.S. senior defense official, stated that “China is expected to take up to
two years to fully integrate the missile ships into the Chinese Navy.”191
Regarding China’s ability to operate these ships far from home ports for
extended periods of time, the survey article by the U.S. naval attache states: “The
Navy’s underway replenishment capability remains largely underdeveloped, and the
sustainability of PLAN [naval] units is likely to be severely limited by this
shortcoming.”192
Comparison with Western Surface Combatants. Compared to modern
surface combatants in the U.S. Navy and other Western navies, the Sovremenny class
design, though capable, is now a somewhat older design that lacks features found in
state-of-the-art surface combatants. The Sovremenny-class design, for example,
includes oil-fired steam turbine engines rather than the gas turbine engines used on
more recent Soviet/Russian, U.S., and European surface combatants. The
Sovremenny-class design does not appear to incorporate significant shaping features
for signature reduction (i.e., low observability), as certain more recent surface
combatant designs do. Moreover, the Sovremenny’s air-defense system, though fairly
capable, is considerably less sophisticated than the Aegis air-defense system installed
on U.S. Navy Ticonderoga (CG-47) class cruisers and Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) class
destroyers.193
Capability of SS-N-22 Against Surface Ships.194 The SS-N-22 anti-ship cruise
missile, code named Sunburn by NATO and known in Russia as the 3M-80 Moskit
missile, is considered by many observers to be the most threatening ship-launched
ASCM in service today. Developed by Russia’s Raduga missile design bureau, the
SS-N-22 is a supersonic (Mach 2.5), low-flying (7 to 20 meters, or about 23 to 66
feet, above the surface of the water) ASCM that performs evasive 15-g maneuvers
as it flies the final 5 to 7 kilometers (about 2.7 to 3.8 nautical miles) to its target. The
missile has a range of 160 kilometers (about 86 nautical miles). It uses active and
passive radar guidance and can be armed with either a 300-kilogram (660-pound)
190 Smith, Craig S., “New Chinese Guided-Missile Ship Heightens Tension,” New York Times,
February 9, 2000.
191 Gertz, Bill, “China Will Get Russian Ship This Week,” Washington Times, December 23,
1999: 1.
192 Kaplan, Brad, “China’s Navy Today,” Sea Power, December 1999: 32.
193 The Sovremenny’s air-defense system might be more comparable to the pre-Aegis New
Threat Upgrade (NTU) air-defense system installed on the U.S. Navy’s now-retired Kidd
(DDG-993) class destroyers and Leahy (CG-16) and Belknap (CG-26) class cruisers.
194 For a discussion of China’s purchase of SS-N-22s, see Saradzhyan, Simon, “Russians
Tout Antiship Sunburn Missile for Chinese,” Defense News, October 12-18, 1998: 28.

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conventional high explosive warhead or (in the Russian Navy) a 200-kiloton nuclear
warhead.195
If Russia sold the missiles to China with only conventional warheads, one
question would be whether China would want (and be able) to design a nuclear
warhead for the missile and successfully integrate it into the missile’s design.196
Equipping the SS-N-22 with a nuclear warhead would greatly increase its lethality.
Although the conventional warhead on the missile is large enough so that one hit from
a single missile could seriously damage or possibly even sink a U.S. Navy major
surface combatant, a hit from one or possibly even a few conventionally-armed SS-N-
22s might not be enough to halt flight operations on a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier
because of the carrier’s much larger size and its high degree of
compartmentalization.197 A nuclear-armed SS-N-22, however, could easily destroy
195 The characteristics of the SS-N-22 are described variously by different sources, perhaps
in part because the missile has undergone improvements since it was first deployed. The
description above follows that provided in the 2000-2001 edition of Jane’s Fighting Ships.
Another Jane’s publication recently provided a somewhat different description of the weapon:
The missile is powered by a solid rocket booster/ramjet sustainer combination
delivering a maximum speed of M2.1 [Mach 2.1] at low altitude and a maximum
range of up to 120km [about 65 nautical miles], depending on flight profile. The
later 3M82 Moskit-M version is thought to extend range to 150km [about 81
nautical miles]. The weapon’s Altair-designed multichannel seeker uses active
radar, anti-radiation and home-on-jam modes. Approaching its target at an
altitude of around 20m [about 66 feet], Moskit can execute a terminal ‘S’
manoeuvre (pulling up to 15g) to evade close-in defenses. The 300kg [660-pound]
penetrating warhead contains 150kg [330 pounds] of high explosive. Raduga has
publicised a number of further improvements to Moskit. These include more
internal fuel (pushing range to 200km [about 108 nautical miles]), an improved
warhead and seeker updates. (Russian anti-ship missile developments. Jane’s
Defence Weekly, August 30, 2000: 26.)
For an article discussing the SS-N-22 in some detail, see Zaloga, Steven J. Russia’s Moskit
Anti-Ship Missile. Jane’s Intelligence Review, April 1996: 155-158. See also Friedman,
Norman. Russians Unveil Two Missiles. U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, June 1993: 107-
108, and Bonsignore, Ezio. New Data On Russian Anti-Ship Missiles. Military Technology,
No. 4, 1993: 64-66, 68-69.
196 On this issue, one article states: “Conventions to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons,
as well as Russia’s own strategic interests, make it unlikely that the missiles will be delivered
with nuclear warheads. But Russia could provide, or China could develop, technology that
would enable the missiles to deliver a Chinese nuclear warhead.” Smith, Craig S., “New
Chinese Guided-Missile Ship Heightens Tension,” New York Times, February 9, 2000.
197 Russian marketing literature on the SS-N-22 states that 1.2 SS-N-22s are required to
disable a destroyer-sized ship, while 1.5 would be required to disable a 20,000-ton troop
transport ship. (Zaloga, Steven J., “Russia’s Moskit Anti-Ship Missile,” Jane’s Intelligence
Review, April 1996: 157; Friedman, Norman, “Russians Unveil Two Missiles,” U.S. Naval
Institute Proceedings, June 1993: 107-108.) To attack U.S. Navy aircraft carriers more
successfully with conventionally armed cruise missiles, the Soviets designed the very large SS-
N-19 Shipwreck ASCM, which has a 1,650-pound conventional warhead. These missiles
(continued...)

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CRS-50
a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier (and any other nearby ships), even if the warhead
detonates at some distance from the carrier (which is a possibility if the missile is
equipped with a so-called salvage fuze that immediately detonates the warhead if the
missile is intercepted during its approach to the target ship).
The SS-N-22's designers have stated openly that the missile was developed to
defeat the U.S. Navy’s Aegis air-defense system. A 1993 article, for example, states:
This author had the rare privilege of a long and open technical/operational
discussion with Prof. Igor S. Seleznyov, Director of the Raduga bureau and
Programme Head for the 3M-80.... Prof. Seleznyov confirmed that in the Russian
Navy’s view, the main interest of a highly supersonic anti-ship missile lies in
exactly the same key factor as identified by Western designers and users alike –
namely the sharp reduction in the time available for the target to identify the
attacking missile and react accordingly....
In particular, Prof. Seleznyov indicated that all the cinematic [kinematic]
characteristics of the 3M-80 have been optimised for the specific purpose of
overcoming the defensive barrier of the US AEGIS system. The starting point was
an in-depth analysis of the AEGIS’ characteristics, as regards detection range,
processing speed and reaction times (I judged it indelicate to enquire about how
these data were obtained), as well as cinematic characteristics of the STANDARD
SM2 missile – in particular, launch acceleration, maximum manoeuvre factor and
minimum engagement range. Taking it for granted that AEGIS will anyway be
able to pick up an attacking 3M-80 missile at considerable distances, Prof.
Seleznyov set himself the goal of designing an extremely fast, low-flying missile
that would be able to breach into the target ships’s inner defence zone – that is,
come closer than STANDARD’s minimum engagement range – before the Aegis
system could complete the detection/tracking/engagement decision/missile
launch/missile guidance sequence. Some simple rule-of-thumb calculations seem
to show that this is indeed the case. Even admitting that the latest versions of the
STANDARD missile are actually able to engage a small target flying at an altitude
of 7m (which is still to be demonstrated), Prof. Seleznyov is probably correct in
his belief that the Aegis system is nearly useless against a 3M-80 attack, and US
ships would have no better defence than their PHALANXs.198
197 (...continued)
were installed on Russia’s Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier, Kirov-class cruisers, and Oscar-
class submarines. The Kirov-class ships, with a full load displacement of about 24,000 tons,
are much larger than the Sovremenny-class ships. One article, however, states: “Even one of
[the SS-N-22's] conventional warheads could sink a cruiser or disable a carrier, depending on
where it hits, military analysts say.” (Smith, Craig S., “New Chinese Guided-Missile Ship
Heightens Tension,” New York Times, February 9, 2000.)
198 Bonsignore, Ezio, “New Data on Russian Anti-Ship Missiles,” Military Technology, No.
4, 1993: 66. Another article states:
The Moskit entered development in the 1970s.... The aim of the programme was
to make a major leap forward in anti-ship missile design, going from a subsonic
missile to a sea-skimming missile capable of multi-Mach speeds. The rationale for
the increase in speed was straight forward. By doubling or tripling the speed of
(continued...)

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CRS-51
The SS-N-22 entered service in 1984 – a year after the U.S. Navy’s first Aegis-
equipped ship, the Ticonderoga (CG-47), entered service. As discussed in a 1984
CRS report, early congressional concerns over effectiveness of the Aegis system
centered to a large degree on the ability of the system to defeat the SS-N-22,
particularly since the Navy at that time did not have an air-defense target missile that
could fully replicate the supersonic, low-flying flight profile of the SS-N-22.199 The
Navy’s attempts over the years to develop such a target missile indigenously have met
with some failures, and Navy actions in recent years to acquire appropriate target
missiles have, ironically, included proposed or actual purchases of SS-N-22s
themselves as well as modified air-launched Russian ASCMs known as MA-31s.200
The fact that the SS-N-22 was designed to defeat the Aegis system does not
mean that it can. The Aegis system has undergone various improvements since it was
first deployed, some of which were intended specifically to improve the system’s
198 (...continued)
the missile and changing the flight profile to a low-altitude approach, the reaction
time of shipborne defences would be greatly reduced.... The speed and sea-
skimming flight path of the new Moskit missile was intended to complicate the task
of these new NATO defensive systems by substantially reducing the time in which
they could react once the missile was first detected. The missile was designed to
be undetectable until it crosses the radar horizon, about 18-27km [about 9.7 to
14.6 nautical miles] away from the targeted ship and only 25-35 seconds from
impact. Furthermore, even if such a supersonic missile would be hit near the ship
by a gun system such as [a] CIWS [close-in weapon system], there would be a
high probability that debris from the missile would continue to fly forward and
impact the vessel, causing considerable damage. (Zaloga, Steven J. Russia’s
Moskit Anti-Ship Missile. Jane’s Intelligence Review, April 1996: 155-156.)
199 For a discussion, see CRS Report 84-180 F, The Aegis Anti-Air Warfare System: Its
Principal Components, Its Installation on the CG-47 and DDG-51 Class Ships, and Its
Effectiveness, by Ronald O’Rourke. Washington, 1984. (October 24, 1984) p. 10-18. See
also U.S. Congress. Senate. Committee on Armed Services. Department of Defense
Authorization for Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1985, Hearings Before the Committee on
Armed Services, United States Senate, 98th Cong., 2nd Sess., on S. 2414, Part 8, Sea Power
and Force Projection. Washington, U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1985. p. 4309-4435; U.S.
Congress. House. Committee on Armed Services. Defense Department Authorization and
Oversight, Hearings on H.R. 5167, Department of Defense Authorization of Appropriations
For Fiscal Year 1985 and Oversight of Previously Authorized Programs Before the
Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, 98th Cong., 2nd Sess., Part 4 of 7
Parts, Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation – Title II. Washington, U.S. Govt. Print.
Off., 1984. p. 829-846, 1241-1255.
200 See, for example, Bohmfalk, Christian. Official: Navy Needs More Target Funding To
Meet New Fleet Demands. Inside the Navy, September 4, 2000; Bohmfalk, Christian. Navy
Launching Formal Study Whether To Buy Sunburn Missiles. Inside the Navy, August 28,
2000; Wall, Robert. Navy Target Win Boosts Orbital’s Base. Aviation Week & Technology,
July 10, 2000: 36; Bohmfalk, Christian. Virginia Company Wins EMD Contract To Develop
Supersonic Target. Inside the Navy, July 3, 2000; Duffy, Thomas. Navy To But Six Russian
‘Sunburn’ Missiles For Foreign Test Project. Inside the Navy, May 15, 2000; Koch, Andrew.
Boeing Poised To Convert Russian Drones For USN. Jane’s Defence Weekly, November 10,
1999: 14; Mulholand, David, and Simon Saradzhyan. Boeing To Buy Russian Missile for
Navy Tests. Defense News, October 11, 1999: 4, 27.

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CRS-52
ability to defeat the SS-N-22 and other fast, low-flying missiles. The ability of Navy
ships to defeat missiles like the SS-N-22 is being further improved by deployment of
the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), which is a system that allows ships
and aircraft to share and fuse their radar data on air-defense targets on a continuous
and real-time basis and permits ships to shoot and guide air-defense missiles using
data from other CEC-equipped platforms.201
Even with these improvements, however, the SS-N-22 missile probably remains
a challenging missile for the Aegis system. A 1993 article about U.S. attempts to
purchase some of the missiles for use as targets quoted an unnamed Navy official as
saying, “This missile is a source of great concern to the Navy” because of its speed.202
Ships equipped with an Aegis system (or some other rapid-reaction air-defense
system) might not be able to guarantee 100 percent effectiveness in defending
themselves against the missile, and ships not so equipped would be highly vulnerable
to the missile unless they operate under the protective cover of an Aegis-equipped
ship. A 1996 article states:
The Moskit has the [export] advantage of being the only major ship-launched
supersonic anti-ship missile on the market for years to come.... The likelihood of
widespread proliferation of the Moskit has already energized the ship-defence
field.... Many European firms are offering new generations of terminal-defence gun
systems, as [the U.S.-made] Mk 15 CIWS Phalanx is viewed in many quarters
inadequate to deal with the Moskit. A number of missile defense programmes are
underway such as NATO’s Enhanced Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) which is
aimed at deploying enhanced manoeuvring [sic] missiles capable of dealing with
the Moskit’s high-speed terminal evasive trajectory. Finally, various passive
electronic defences are being examined as an alternative to hard-kills. Without a
doubt, the Moskit remains the benchmark against which all future shipborne
defensive systems will be judged over the next several years.203
Longstanding concerns about the effectiveness of the air-defense systems of U.S.
Navy ships against potential adversary ASCMs were recently underscored by a GAO
201 For an introductory discussion of CEC, see CRS Report RS20557, Navy Network-Centric
Warfare Concept: Key Programs and Issues for Congress, by Ronald O’Rourke.
Washington, 2000. (Updated regularly) 6 p.
202 Mintz, John. Sweating Out The ‘Sunburn’. Washington Post, June 13, 1993: H1, H4-H5.
203 Zaloga, Steven J. Russia’s Moskit Anti-Ship Missile. Jane’s Intelligence Review, April
1996: 158. The final sentence in this passage might soon be overtaken by events, as the
Russians are now marketing to China, India, and other potential buyers a missile known as
the SS-N-27 Novotar Alpha or 3M54 that some observers believe to be at least as capable as
the SS-N-22. In addition, another Russian missile roughly comparable to the SS-N-22 – the
Yakhont or SS-NX-26 – is reportedly completing development and is now available for
export. (Zhang, Yihong. China Negotiates To Buy Advanced Russian Anti-Ship Missile.
Jane’s Defence Weekly, August 9, 2000; Russian Anti-Ship Missile Developments. Jane’s
Defence Weekly, August 30, 2000: 26.)

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report that significantly criticized as inadequate the Navy’s plans for upgrading the
air-defense systems of its various ships.204
Vulnerability of Sovremenny-class Design to Attack. China’s Sovremenny-
class ships, though fairly capable, would be vulnerable to U.S. air and submarine
attack.
Vulnerability to Air Attack. The Sovremenny-class air defense system is
described in reference sources as capable of engaging as many as six enemy targets
at once with its SA-N-7 SAM system. Published performance data on the SA-N-7
suggests that it is broadly similar to earlier (1970s/1980s) versions of the U.S. Navy’s
Standard air-defense missile. Targets penetrating the ship’s SA-N-7 defenses can be
engaged by the ship’s four radar-controlled 30-mm AK 630 close-in weapon system
(CIWS) Gatling guns. These are broadly similar to the U.S. Navy’s 20-mm Phalanx
CIWS but may have more stopping power due to their use of the larger 30-mm round.
The ship’s air-defense system also includes chaff launchers and electronic
countermeasures (ECM) systems for diverting incoming guided missiles.
This air-defense system, though fairly capable, is nevertheless based on 1970s-
era Soviet radar and computer technology and thus is limited in what it can
accomplish. The ship uses an older-style rotating air search radar rather than a more
capable phased-array air search radar like the SPY-1 radar on U.S. Navy Aegis ships.
The various parts of the Sovremenny-class’s air-defense system may not be as fully
integrated and automated as those on an Aegis ship; consequently, the system’s
reaction time may be slower than that of an Aegis ship. Also, the system might have
only a moderate or limited ability to operate in the presence of enemy jamming or
countermeasures.
In addition, given the more limited air-defense capabilities of most of China’s
other surface combatants, China’s Sovremenny-class ships, at least for the next few
years, may not gain much added protection against air attack from any other PLAN
ships that might be operating nearby. The Secretary of Defense’s report to Congress
on China’s current and future military strategy states:
Currently, the PLAN’s surface [naval] units are ill equipped for air defense,
particularly ASCMs. Only a handful of the PLAN’s approximately 60 destroyers
and frigates are equipped with SAMs; the remainder are outfitted with anti-aircraft
guns of various calibers. The few existing SAM systems have extremely limited
ranges and are useful only for point defense [i.e., defense of the ship on which they
are installed, but not of other ships in the area]. No long-range shipborne SAM
systems currently exist in the inventory. China is reportedly seeking to address its
naval air defense shortcomings through the development of a naval variant of the
HQ-9 SAM. The PLAN has already deployed – albeit in limited numbers – a
naval variant of the HQ-7. The SA-N-7 system which will be acquired from
Russia as part of the SOVREMENNY destroyer deal is a modern, medium-range
204 U.S. General Accounting Office. Defense Acquisitions: Comprehensive Strategy Needed
to Improve Ship Cruise Missile Defense. Washington, 2000. (July 2000, GAO/NSIAD-00-
149) 54 p.

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CRS-54
naval SAM system; however, it will have only a limited capability against cruise
missiles.205
In light of these considerations, the Sovremenny-class design imported by China
would likely be vulnerable to a U.S. coordinated air attack employing multiple
weapons arriving at about the same time, particularly weapons with a stand-off range
greater than the approximate 15-mile range of the SA-N-7. The U.S. Navy has had
many years to study the Sovremenny-class’s air-defense system and in all likelihood
has developed tactics for saturating and overcoming it, particularly when the ship is
not operating in the company of other ships with capable air-defense systems.
Air-launched weapons that could be used in such an attack include the High-
Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM), the air-launched version of the radar-guided
Harpoon anti-ship cruise missile, and the air-launched Standoff Land Attack Missile
(a version of the Harpoon with man-in-the-loop terminal guidance that, in spite of its
name, can be used against surface ships). Potential surface-launched weapons that
could be used, depending on the tactical situation, include the surface-launched
version of the Harpoon missile, the Standard missile (as used in its lesser-known
surface-to-surface mode), and the anti-ship version of the Tomahawk cruise missile
(if any are available206).
Vulnerability to Submarine Attack. As noted earlier, the Sovremenny-class
design is equipped with only a modest ASW capability. The design’s ASW systems
include a hull-mounted medium frequency sonar, two short-range ASW mortars for
launching small anti-submarine munitions or torpedo countermeasures, four torpedo
tubes for launching 21-inch diameter torpedoes, and facilities for embarking one Ka-
27/Ka-28 Helix ASW helicopter. The Ka-27/Ka-28 was developed in the 1970s and
first entered service in 1982. The Ka-27 is the basic version; the Ka-28 is the export
version. China’s purchase included 3 Ka-27s and 5 Ka-28s. The helicopters are
equipped with a dipping sonar and a magnetic anomaly detector (MAD). They can
also carry up to 36 sonobuoys or a single ASW torpedo, a single ASW rocket, two
bombs, or 10 depth charges. When operated in pairs, one is normally used to track
the hostile submarine while the other drops depth charges.207
Although these systems give the Sovremenny-class design some ASW capability,
a more capable ASW system would have included a low-frequency (i.e., longer-range)
hull-mounted sonar (rather than a medium-frequency hull-mounted sonar), an
additional variable-depth or towed-array sonar, a ship-launched ASW rocket for
rapidly delivering a depth charge or lightweight ASW torpedo to a longer range than
the ASW mortars, and facilities for embarking two ASW helicopters rather than one.
The capability of the ASW system on the Sovremenny-class design would be further
205 Secretary of Defense, “Report on the Military Power of the People’s Republic of China,”
Report to Congress Pursuant to the FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act, June 2000.
206 Many Tomahawk anti-ship missiles are being converted into Tomahawk land attack
missiles.
207 The radar on the helicopter can also be used to provide targeting data for the ship’s SS-N-
22 missiles.

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limited by its 1970s-era sonar signal-processing computers and accompanying
algorithms, unless these have been updated.
The limits of the ASW system on these ships could be compounded by a lack of
proficiency on the part of PLAN crews in operating these systems to their fullest
potential. ASW is a notoriously difficult operational skill to master and maintain.
Even Western navies, with their well-educated and highly trained crews, sometimes
find it challenging to achieve and maintain operational proficiency in ASW.
Given the limited ASW capabilities of the rest of the PLA Navy, China’s
Sovremenny-class ships may not gain much added protection against submarines from
other PLAN platforms. ASW is often best pursued as a team effort by multiple air,
surface, and submarine platforms operating as part of a broader ASW network.
Without the benefit of such a team effort, even a ship with a highly capable ASW
system might find it difficult, depending on the tactical situation and environmental
conditions (e.g., local acoustic conditions), to detect a hostile submarine in a timely
manner and maintain a reliable track on it. In this connection, it is worth recalling that
the Sovremenny-class design was originally intended by the Soviets to operate in
conjunction with Udaloy-class ASW destroyers and other Soviet ASW platforms.
In light of these considerations, the Sovremenny-class design acquired by the
PLAN would likely be very vulnerable to attack by one or more U.S. Navy attack
submarines. The U.S. Navy attack submarine fleet has had many years to study the
ASW weaknesses of the Sovremenny-class design and likely has developed tactics for
approaching and attacking it with minimum risk of being detected, particularly when
the ship is not operating in the company of other ASW platforms. Indeed, it is
conceivable that U.S. Navy attack submarines have accumulated considerable
experience since the early 1980s in covertly tracking and targeting Sovremenny-class
ships. It is sometimes said, only half in jest, that U.S. submariners divide the world’s
ships into two categories – submarines and targets. It is quite possible that U.S. Navy
submariners would rank China’s Sovremenny-class ships, particularly when not
operating in the presence of supporting ASW platforms, as potentially highly
vulnerable “sitting ducks.”
U.S. submarine-launched weapons that could be used against the Sovremenny-
class design include the submarine-launched version of the Harpoon anti-ship cruise
missile and the Mk 48 21-inch diameter heavyweight torpedo. Surface combatants
are highly vulnerable to torpedoes exploding below their hulls – the shock waves from
such explosions can break the ship’s keel and quickly sink it.
Conducting a submarine attack against a Sovremenny-class ship would not be
as simple a proposition as it was for the British attack submarine Conqueror when it
attacked and sank the Argentine cruiser Belgrano in the 1982 Falklands/Malvinas war.
Unlike the Belgrano, which had virtually no ASW capability and was steaming in
isolation, the Sovremenny-class design does have some ASW capability and could be
operating in the company of other PLAN platforms with at least some (albeit limited)
additional ASW capability. A U.S. Navy attack submarine would thus have to
conduct operations with some degree of care and skill, particularly so as to ensure its
ability to evade possible counterattack after launching its weapons. Still, U.S. Navy
attack submarines have been trained to conduct such attack missions for many years.

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Potential Tactical Implications. Given the capabilities of the SS-N-22 missile
and the vulnerability of China’s Sovremenny-class ships to U.S. air and submarine
attack, the threat that China’s Sovremenny-class ships might pose to U.S. Navy
surface ships in a crisis or conflict would appear to depend on the scenario in which
the Sovremenny-class ships engaged U.S. forces.
If a crisis involving China and the United States develops in a way that provides
U.S. forces with some warning of an impending PLA attack, U.S. national
intelligence-gathering systems and U.S. naval forces operating in or near areas where
PLAN forces operate could continuously track the location of the Sovremenny-class
ships. In addition, U.S. naval forces could prepare to launch a rapid air or submarine
attack against the ships should the crisis develop into a conflict, keep U.S. surface
ships at a distance from the Sovremenny-class ships, attempt to use cover,
concealment, and deception so as to confuse PLA forces as to the location and
identity of U.S. surface ships, orient U.S. ships so as to maximize their ability to
defend against any SS-N-22s approaching from the potential general direction of
attack, and place the air-defense systems of U.S. surface ships on high-alert status.
This would put U.S. forces at a strong advantage. At the outbreak of hostilities, it
could lead to the disabling or destruction of the Sovremenny-class ships before they
could fire many (or any) of their SS-N-22 missiles while maximizing the chances of
defeating any SS-N-22s that are launched.
If, on the other hand, the crisis develops in a way that provides U.S. forces with
little or no warning of an impending PLA attack, and if U.S. surface ships are
operating within range of the SS-N-22, this could put U.S. forces at a potentially
strong disadvantage. If China uses its Sovremenny-class ships to carry out a no-
warning attack with SS-N-22 missiles against unalerted nearby U.S. surface ships,
then there is a significant possibility that the Sovremenny-class ships would succeed
in launching at least some, if not all, of the SS-N-22s they intended to launch before
being counter-attacked by U.S. forces, and a not-insignificant chance that one or more
of these missiles would hit and significantly damage one or more U.S. surface ships.
A November 1999 article quoted a retired U.S. Navy admiral as stating that “The
scariest scenario is the first-shot theory.... If Beijing decided to take a potshot at a
(U.S. aircraft) carrier, this missile would give us something to worry about.”208
During the Cold War, this second scenario – a no-warning, close-quarters attack
by a cruise-missile-armed ship – was a particular concern to U.S. naval planners,
because U.S. naval forces that were forward-deployed to the Mediterranean
frequently operated in close proximity to – and were often trailed by – Soviet ships
armed with ASCMs. In the 1970s, the Soviets modified some of their Kashin-class
destroyers to include four aft-facing ASCMs. Some Western analysts believed this
modification was done specifically so that these ships could conduct a no-warning,
close-quarters attack at the outset of a NATO-Warsaw pact conflict and then quickly
attempt to leave the area.
208 Slavin, Barbara, and Steven Komarov, “China’s Military Upgrade May Raise Stakes in
Taiwan,” USA Today, November 19, 1999: 16. The retired admiral being quoted was Rear
Admiral Eric A. McVadon, who served as the U.S. defense and naval attache in Beijing in
1990-1992.

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A key issue for U.S. military planners and policymakers is the likelihood of a no-
warning, close-quarters attack by China’s Sovremenny-class ships against U.S. Navy
surface ships. Under what circumstances might U.S. Navy surface ships be required
to operate in close proximity to China’s Sovremenny-class ships, and to what degree
are those circumstances consistent with the scenario of a no-warning attack? During
the Cold War, the United States forward-deployed naval forces to the Mediterranean
on a continuous basis, and Soviet naval forces deployed there frequently as well. It
was thus a common (and often unavoidable) circumstance for U.S. naval forces to
operate in proximity to Soviet naval forces in the Mediterranean. The U.S. Navy,
however, normally does not continuously deploy surface ships to China’s primary
blue-water naval operating areas, and China’s Sovremenny-class ships deploy to those
waters on only an occasional (as opposed to continuous or near-continuous) basis.
Thus, instances of U.S. surface forces operating in proximity to Sovremenny-class
ships are probably infrequent. Moreover, if China attacked U.S. surface ships with
SS-N-22s as part of a broader attack on U.S. forces in the area, preparations for this
broader attack might be detected by the United States, permitting U.S. Navy surface
ships to take preparatory defensive measures. In this sense, a no-warning, close-
proximity attack by SS-N-22s on unalerted nearby U.S. Navy surface ships would
appear to be an unlikely scenario.
It is not, however, a scenario that can be ruled out, particularly if China decides
than an SS-N-22 attack conducted in the absence of other military activities would
serve some political or military purpose. China could, for example, deliberately
conduct a no-warning SS-N-22 attack against a U.S. Navy surface ship to either
highlight the capabilities of the SS-N-22, embarrass United States by demonstrating
the vulnerabilities of U.S. Navy ships, or exact retribution for the U.S. attack on the
PRC embassy in Yugoslavia during Operation Allied Force.
Following the attack, China could claim that it was either an accidental missile
launch (like the October 1992 accidental U.S. Navy missile attack on a Turkish
destroyer209), a case of mistaken target identity (like the U.S. attack on the PRC
209 The incident, which occurred in the Aegean Sea, involved two Sea Sparrow air defense
missiles that were launched from the U.S. aircraft carrier Saratoga when crew members
mistook a surprise air-defense drill for an actual attack on the ship. One of the missiles hit
the bridge of the Turkish destroyer Muavenet, killing 5 persons (including the commanding
officer) and injuring 15 others. Gellman, Barton. U.S. Missile Hits Turkish Destroyer.
Washington Post, October 2, 1992: A1, A45; Seper, Jerry. Carrier Missile Hits Ship.
Washington Times, October 2, 1992: A1, A6; Gellman, Barton. Navy Blames Accident on
Crew Error. Washington Post, October 3, 1992: A1, A6; Schmitt, Eric. Navy Seeks Cause
of Errant Missile. New York Times, October 3, 1992: 2; Gellman, Barton. Navy Missile
Used Halted Pending Incident Probe. Washington Post, October 4, 1992: A8; Schmitt, Eric.
Navy Deactivates Sparrow Missile in Inquiry. New York Times, October 5, 1992: A6; Faram,
Mark D. Costly Mistake: Missile Kills 5. Navy Times, October 12, 1992: 4; Saratoga
Missile Incident Blamed on Human Error. Washington Post, November 27, 1992: A10;
Gordon, Michael R. Drill Mistaken for Actual Attack Led to U.S. Firing on Turkish Ship.
New York Times, November 28, 1992: 1, 6; Gellman, Barton. Saratoga Missile Firing Seen
As Accidental; 7 Disciplined. Washington Post, December 2, 1992: Pexton, Patrick. ‘A
Failure to Communicate’: Why Saratoga Fired on Turks. Navy Times, December 14, 1992:
(continued...)

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embassy, the July 1988 U.S. Navy downing of an Iranian airliner in the Persian
Gulf,210 or – as Iraq claimed – its May 1987 attack on the U.S. Navy frigate Stark in
the Persian Gulf.211), or an attack based on a mistaken understanding of the target’s
nature or actions (like the U.S. Navy downing of the Iranian airliner,212 or – from
Sudan’s perspective – the punitive August 1998 U.S. Navy Tomahawk cruise missile
attack on what turned out to be a pharmaceutical plant in Sudan).
Kilo Class Submarines
China’s Submarine Force in General. The survey article on China’s navy by
the U.S. naval attache in Beijing provides the following assessment of China’s
submarine force and the place of its four Kilo-class submarines:
Although it deploys a force of more than 60 submarines, PLAN units lag behind
Western standards, and most weapons and sensor systems are based on older
Russian technology. Lack of crew proficiency and hull quieting remain significant
problems, and acoustic systems are two to three generations behind the world’s
first-line units. All units can carry either torpedoes or mines, and the acquisition
of wake-homing torpedo technology has significantly improved the PLAN’s
submarine antisurface capabilities. As the PLAN modernizes, it is phasing out its
fleet of more than 30 older Romeo-class conventional diesel submarines, replacing
them with indigenously produced Ming- (19 units) and Song- (3 units) class
[boats], or Russian-built Kilo (type 877 and 636) submarines.
The PLAN’s four Kilo units remain the submarine force’s most capable boats,
although the capability of their crews to operate them effectively in a tactical
environment is suspect. The PLAN’s continuing reliance on Russian-built hulls
reflects the lack of success of [the] indigenous Ming and Song designs, and this
situation is likely to continue as the Navy pursues acquisition of advanced air-
independent propulsion systems [for its non-nuclear-powered submarines]....
Given its slow progress with indigenously produced [nuclear-powered] submarine
units, as well as the prohibitively high construction costs, the PLAN is likely to
209 (...continued)
36
210 Crew members aboard the Navy ship, the Aegis cruiser Vincennes, believed the airliner
was an Iranian F-14 fighter.
211 Although Iraq’s Exocet cruise-missile attack in 1987 against the U.S. Navy frigate Stark
was officially explained by Iraq as an accident, there was some speculation that it was a
deliberate act by Iraq intended either to draw the United States into the Iran-Iraq war or
punish the United States for selling arms to Iran. Most of those who considered the incident
in detail, including the House Armed Services Committee, appear to have concluded that it
was not a deliberate attack. For a discussion, see Levinson, Jeffrey L., and Randy L.
Edwards. Missile Inbound, The Attack on the Stark in the Persian Gulf. Annapolis (MD),
Naval Institute Press, 1997. p. 110-115.
212 Crew members aboard the Vincennes believed the aircraft was descending as it approached
the ship, as if it were getting ready to launch a weapon. In fact, the airliner was climbing as
its flight path took it near the ship.

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emphasize acquisition of cheaper, more efficient, and less complex conventional
submarines.213
The 2000 report of the Secretary of Defense to Congress on China’s current and
future military strategy states:
China’s subsurface warfare capabilities are modest compared with Western
standards, but they are considered effective against most other East Asian navies.
The PLAN’s equipment is less sophisticated, older, and noisier. Its personnel are
undereducated, the senior enlisted concept is new, and training and exercises lack
realism. China currently has access to a wide variety of technology sources and
actively engages in technology transfer to further its antisubmarine warfare (ASW)
programs. As China combines domestic research and development with
submarine-related technology acquired through direct purchase and transfer from
foreign countries, particularly Russia, China’s ASW capabilities are expected to
improve over time.
The acquisition of four KILO attack submarines from Russia reportedly has
provided the PLAN with access to technology in quieting and sonar development,
as well as weapon systems. China can be expected to try to incorporate some
aspects of these technologies into its domestic submarine construction programs,
although it will take the navy many years before it can use effectively the advanced
technology now available....
Although the [submarine] force is oriented principally toward interdicting surface
ships using torpedoes and mines, China is expected to begin arming some [of] its
submarines with submerged-launch cruise missiles. The capability of Chinese
submarines to conduct ASW operations is expected to improve, particularly in
light of the acquisition of Russian-built Kilo-class submarines and the greater
emphasis reportedly being placed on ASW training. As a result, China’s
submarine fleet could constitute a substantial force capable of controlling sea lanes
and mining approaches around Taiwan, as well as a growing threat to submarines
in the East and South China Seas.214
Kilo Class as a Late 1970s-era Design. The Kilo-class diesel-electric
submarine, also known as the Project 877/636 or Vashavyanka-class submarine, was
designed by the Soviets in the late 1970s. A total of about 24 Kilo-class boats were
built for the Soviet/Russian Navy, of which 12 remain in service. Additional Kilos
were built for export to Algeria (2 boats), China (4 boats), India (10 boats), Iran (3
boats), Poland (1 boat), and Romania (1 boat). The first Kilo was launched in 1979-
1980 and entered service with the Russian navy in 1982.
Kilo-class boats are about 242 feet long with a maximum beam (diameter) of
about 32.5 feet and a submerged displacement of 3,076 tons. In terms of date of
design, the Kilo-class is roughly comparable to the Dutch Walrus-class design or the
213 Kaplan, Brad, “China’s Navy Today,” Sea Power, December 1999: 31.
214 Secretary of Defense, “Report on the Military Power of the People’s Republic of China,”
Report to Congress Pursuant to the FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act, June 2000.

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Japanese Yuushio-class design.215 In terms of size, the Kilo-class design is one of the
world’s larger diesel-electric submarines216 and is roughly comparable to the Walrus-
class design, Australia’s Collins-class design, or Japan’s Oyashio- or Harushio-class
designs.217
The Kilo-class design is usually divided into two basic variants – the Type 877
and the Type 636. The Type 877 is usually described as the basic version; the Type
636 is usually described as an improved version with quieter propulsion and a more
capable fire-control system. Until recently, Russia exported only Type 877 boats
while reserving Type 636 boats exclusively for its own use. This pattern was broken
when Russia agreed to sell China two Type 636 boats as the second part of China’s
four-boat purchase. Russia may have also sold a Type 636 boat to India as the final
boat in India’s 10-boat purchase.
At least three variants of the Type 877 are now recognized – the basic Type 877,
the 877K, and the 877M. The K variant includes an improved fire-control system
while the M variant is equipped to fire wire-guided torpedoes from two of its tubes.
In addition, export versions are designated with the letter E. China’s two Type 877
boats are described as 877EKMs.218
The Kilo-class design is equipped with six 21-inch diameter torpedo tubes and
can carry a total of 18 torpedoes (6 in the tubes and 12 reloads in the torpedo room)
of various types, including wake-homing torpedoes. In lieu of torpedoes, the Kilo-
class design can also carry 24 mines or (possibly in the future) submarine-launched
ASCMs.
The Kilo-class design has a diving depth of 790 feet, a cruising or transit range
of 6,000 nautical miles at 7 knots using snorkeling, and a stealthy patrol or tactical
range of 400 nautical miles at 3 knots when submerged and operating on batteries.
The Kilo is usually described as a quiet or very quiet submarine when operating on
batteries. Graphs published by the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Intelligence in 1996
show that at tactical speeds of 5 to 7 knots, a Type 877 Kilo is as quiet in terms of
broadband noise as a German-made Type 209 diesel-electric submarine, while a Type
636 Kilo is as quiet as an Improved Los Angeles (SSN-688) class nuclear-powered
215 The first Walrus-class boat was laid down in 1979 and launched in 1985. (A serious fire
delayed its entry into service until 1992.) The first Yuushio-class boat was laid down in 1979,
launched in 1981, and commissioned into service in 1982.
216 Most modern diesel-electric submarines in operation today are smaller than the Kilo-class
design. Most versions of the widely exported German-made Type 209 submarine, for
example, are about 183 to 200 feet long with a maximum beam of about 20.3 feet and a
submerged displacement of about 1,200 to 1,600 tons.
217 The approximate lengths (in feet), maximum beams (in feet) and submerged displacements
(in tons), respectively, of these designs are as follows: Walrus (223, 27.6, 2,800), Collins
(255, 25.6, 3,353), Oyashio (268, 29.2, 3,000) and Harushio (253, 32.8, 2,850).
218 Iran’s three Kilos are 877EKMs, while India’s Kilos (except possibly the last one) are
877EMs.

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CRS-61
attack submarine (SSN) – and quieter than either a basic Russian Akula-class SSN,
a British Trafalgar-class SSN or a basic Los Angeles-class SSN.219
The Kilo-class submarine, like most other diesel-electric submarines, was
designed to help the operating country defend its home waters against an attempt by
opposing naval forces to enter, operate in, and establish control over those waters.
Kilo-class submarines can also be used for other classic submarine missions, such as
interdicting merchant ships and enforcing a blockade, conducting covert intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, and covert insertion and recovery
of special operations forces.
Intent of China’s Purchase. China’s intent in purchasing Kilo class boats could
be essentially the same as its intent in purchasing Sovremenny-class destroyers. As
a 1970s-era Soviet-designed submarine, China’s Kilos-class boats are considerably
more technologically modern, complex, and capable than China’s obsolescent Romeo-
class boats. This fact, plus China’s decision to purchase two Type 877s and two Type
636s, has led some Western observers to conclude that China acquired them in large
part for the purpose of updating its submarine technology base and accelerating its
indigenous submarine design and construction efforts. Under this interpretation, for
either the Type 877 or the Type 636, China could keep one boat in port for purposes
of studying or reverse-engineering its technology, while the other could be
periodically sent to sea to gain proficiency in operating modern diesel-electric
submarines.
As with the Sovremenny-class acquisition, however, articles in the defense trade
press have reported that China may be negotiating with Russia to purchase one or
more additional Kilo-class subs. Such reports, if correct, again suggest either that
China might be acquiring Kilos to significantly improve China’s submarine capabilities
in the nearer term, or that PRC officials may now have doubts about the ability of
China’s naval technological and industrial base to assimilate modern submarine
technologies and produce modern indigenous boats quickly enough to meet its longer-
run naval modernization goals.220
A group of four capable submarines – unlike a group of two capable surface
combatants – can by itself easily constitute an operationally effective combat force in
operations against a large and capable opposing navy. Submarines, unlike most
surface ships, are designed to operate effectively in combat as individual units,
without support from other platforms. Even one capable, well-operated submarine
can pose a significant tactical concern for an opposing naval force, even one with
ample ASW assets and training.221 In this sense, China’s acquisition of Kilo-class
219 U.S. Department of the Navy. Office of Naval Intelligence. Worldwide Submarine
Challenges, 1996. Washington, 1996. (February 1996) p. 11.
220 For discussions of the difficulties China has experienced in its indigenous submarine
construction programs, see Corliss, Josh, “China Looks To Second Song Class For Solution,”
Jane’s Navy International, October 1999: 9; Sae-Liu, Robert, “Second Song Submarine Vital
To China’s Huge Programme,” Jane’s Defence Weekly, August 18, 1999: 17.
221 A case often cited in support of this argument is the considerable difficulty experienced by
(continued...)

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CRS-62
submarines, perhaps more than its purchase of Sovremenny-class destroyers, may
reflect as much a desire to improve China’s naval capabilities in the nearer term as it
does a desire to provide a technological foundation for improving them in the longer
term.
China’s Ability to Operate. China reportedly has experienced difficulty
keeping its Kilos in good working condition, and some additional difficulty in training
proficient crews to operate them. Some of China’s difficulties in keeping the boats
in operational condition have been due to the Kilos’ batteries, which have caused
problems for other Kilo-operating countries, particularly Iran and India.222 The
PLAN, however, has also experienced other problems as well. One press report
states: “Two of the Kilos were out of service for lengthy spells because of electrical
and engine problems caused by faulty maintenance, for example.”223 Another states:
Two of the first three Chinese Kilos were seriously damaged through inadequate
training but have since been repaired.... The best personnel on these three boats
have been combined to crew the fourth vessel, whose performance shows
significant improvement. Additional training is underway but the PLAN will still
not take the Kilos below a depth of 50m [about 164 feet].224
An earlier report states that:
the Chinese submarine force has had severe difficulties operating the first Project
636 [boat] that it received last year [1997] because of a lack of trained personnel.
The navy sent only a small number of officers to Russia to train on the Project 636
[boat] and intended to fill the rest of the crew with personnel who were proficient
on the two less advanced Project 877EKM submarines that the PLAN acquired
from Russia in 1995. However, when the PLAN received the Project 636 [boat],
it discovered that the vessel was significantly different from the earlier class and
its Project 877EKM crew were not qualified to handle the vessel. Adding to its
difficulties, one of the two Project 877EKMs has been out of operation for more
than a year because of generator problems.225
Comparison with Western Submarines. Although the basic Kilo-class design
dates to the 1970s and is referred to as “elderly” by Jane’s Fighting Ships, the design
221 (...continued)
the British Navy during the 1982 Falklands/Malvinas war in countering the San Luis,
Argentina’s one operational German-made Type 209 submarine.
222 One press report states that China’s Kilos “have proved troublesome, with batteries that
have a very short life.” Saradzhyan, Simon, “Russia Ponders Selling Nuclear Submarines To
China,” Defense News, September 27, 1999: 26.
223 Brodie, Jonathan, “China Moves To Buy More Russian Aircraft, Warships And
Submarines,” Jane’s Defence Weekly, December 22, 1999: 13.
224 Sae-Liu, Robert, “Second Song Submarine Vital To China’s Huge Programme,” Jane’s
Defence Weekly, August 18, 1999: 17.
225 “New PLAN To Train, Purchase Vessel Mix,” Jane’s Defence Weekly, December 16,
1998: 25. See also “Two Of China’s Kilos Are No Longer in Operation,” Jane’s Defence
Weekly, September 2, 1998: 17.

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remains a fairly capable one by Western standards. The Kilo appears to be
comparable to larger Western diesel-electric submarines in terms of number of
torpedo tubes, total number of torpedo-sized weapons, diving depth, and range. And
as mentioned earlier, the Kilo-class design is also quiet by Western standards.
As a Soviet-designed submarine, the Kilo-class design has features intended to
give it more ability to withstand attack than standard Western submarines. The Kilo-
class design has a reserve buoyancy of 32 percent (a much higher figure than for
typical U.S./Western submarines) and a pressure hull with multiple compartments. As
a result, the Kilo-class design might have a better chance than a Western submarine
of surviving a hit by an enemy torpedo, particularly a lightweight (12.75-inch
diameter) surface- or air-launched torpedo. Even if it survives such a hit, however,
a Kilo-class boat might no longer be able to conduct effective combat operations.
Although their fire-control systems have been updated, China’s Kilo-class
submarines may not be as advanced and capable in terms of their combat systems as
newer U.S. or Western submarines. Nor are Kilos equipped with the air-independent
propulsion (AIP) systems that are now being fitted on state-of-the-art Western non-
nuclear-powered submarines, which will give non-nuclear-powered boats a low-speed
submerged endurance greater than that of standard diesel-electric submarines, like
Kilos-class boats.
As diesel-electric submarines, Kilo-class boats have much less submerged
endurance than nuclear-powered submarines. Kilos might be able to remain
underwater for a few days when lying in wait or operating at low speeds, or for as
little as 1 to 3 hours when operating at high speeds. (High-speed operations drain the
boat’s batteries very quickly.) When traveling longer distances at moderate speeds,
diesel-electric boats must snorkel periodically, making them vulnerable to detection
and tracking when they are transiting to or from operating areas that are more than
a couple of hundred miles from home port. A nuclear-powered submarine, in
contrast, has tremendous submerged endurance at any speed – a U.S. SSN’s
submerged endurance is effectively limited only by the amount of food that can be
carried aboard. If need be, a U.S. SSN can transit oceanic distances to an operating
area, remain on station in that area for weeks or even months, and then return to
home port – all without surfacing a single time.
Capability of Kilo Against Ships and Subs. The PLA Navy’s Kilo-class
submarines can launch attacks against surface ships and submarines operating in the
region.
Torpedo Attack Against Surface Ships. China’s Kilo-class boats reportedly
carry two types of Russian-made, 53-centimeter (21-inch) diameter torpedoes. One
is the Type 53-65 wake-homing torpedo, which is used for attacking surface ships.
It has a speed of 45 knots, a range of 19 kilometers (about 10 nautical miles), and a
305-kilogram (670-pound) warhead. The other is the TEST-96 torpedo, which is
used for attacking submarines. This torpedo is wire-guided and uses both active and
passive sonar homing. It has a speed of 40 knots and a range of 15 kilometers (about

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CRS-64
8 nautical miles), or alternatively a speed of 25 knots and a range of 20 kilometers
(about 11 nautical miles). It carries a 205-kilogram (450-pound) warhead.226
In recent years, Western diesel-electric submarines posing as adversary
submarines in NATO naval exercises reportedly have been able on at least some
occasions to penetrate the ASW defenses of U.S. aircraft carrier battle groups and
conduct mock attacks before being counterattacked.227 Some observers, moreover,
have expressed concern in recent years about what they view as a deterioration in the
U.S. Navy’s ASW capabilities and proficiency.228 In light of these considerations, it
appears plausible that U.S. naval forces might have difficulty under some
circumstances detecting and tracking a well-maintained, proficiently operated Kilo-
class submarine, particularly if the Kilo is stationary or operating at low speed, or if
acoustic conditions degrade the performance of U.S. sonars.
In a combat situation, if the Kilo approaches close enough to a U.S. Navy
surface ship (or vice versa) without being detected and attacked by U.S. naval forces,
it could fire one or more torpedoes at the U.S. ship. This would pose a serious
situation for the U.S. Navy ship: Surface-ship torpedo defense has been a concern in
the U.S. Navy for several years, and while the Navy is working to improve its
226 The TEST-96 is also reported to have wake-homing guidance and an ability to be used
against surface ships.
227 One recent press report, for example, states that one of Australia’s Collins-class boats
“penetrated a screen of US surface ships to be in a position to sink a US aircraft carrier in
[an] exercise off Hawaii.” (Lague, David. ‘Dud’ Subs Fleet Impresses US. Sydney Morning
Herald, July 27, 2000.) Another article states:
In October [1997], a Russian Oscar-class nuclear-powered submarine left
its home port at Vladivostok and prowled the Pacific Ocean, shadowing the USS
Coronado, flagship of the U.S. Third Fleet, for several days. The U.S. Navy never
knew it was there.... A year earlier, a Chilean diesel sub penetrated the perimeter
of a U.S. Navy battle group and moved among its ship for several days. U.S.
forces knew the sub, participating in an exercise with the Navy, would operate in
an attack mode. Yet the Pacific Fleet Could not find it. The Chilean sub
demonstrated that it could have targeted and fired on U.S. navy ships at any time.
In exercises over several years, the U.S. Navy’s most advanced antisubmarine
warfare (ASW) ships have been unable to detect the South African Navy’s
Daphne[-class diesel-electric] subs, which were built 30 years ago. (Holzer,
Robert. Dangerous Waters: Submarines, New Mines Imperil Ill-Prepared U.S.
Navy Fleet. Defense News, May 4-10, 1998: 1, 14-15.)
228 See, for example, Gildea, Kerry, “Pacific Naval Officials See ASW Shortage As Growing
Problem,” Defense Daily, July 20, 2000: 4; Skibitski, Peter J., “Navy Official Warns
‘tenuous’ ASW Road Map Is Underfunded,” Inside the Navy, April 24, 2000; Holzer, Robert,
“U.S. Navy To Review Antisubmarine Warfare Ability,” Defense News, August 23, 1999:
10; Abel, David, “Navy Seeks To Shore Up Flagging Anti-Sub Warfare,” Defense Week,
June 21, 1999: 2; Donnelly, John, “An Asymmetric Threat ‘Below The Layer’,” Sea Power,
July 1999: 42-46; Doney, Art, “Bring Back ASW – Now!,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings,
March 1999: 102-104. See also General Accounting Office. Defense Acquisitions:
Evaluation of navy’s Anti-Submarine Warfare Assessment. Washington, 1999. 14 p. (July
1999, GAO/NSIAD-99-85).

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capabilities in this area, particularly in terms of deploying new sonar systems for
rapidly detecting incoming torpedoes, the Navy does not currently have a surface-ship
counter-torpedo weapon (i.e., an active-defense or “hard-kill” weapon) for destroying
an incoming torpedo.229 U.S. Navy ships instead would rely entirely on passive-
defense techniques for diverting (i.e., achieving a “soft-kill” on) an incoming torpedo.
These include evasive maneuvering or the use of a towed acoustic (i.e., noise-
emitting) decoy such as the SLQ-25 NIXIE system.
An attack by a wake-homing torpedo would pose a particular threat to a U.S.
navy ship, for two reasons. First, “the torpedoes are difficult to detect because they
approach the ship from the rear where their sound is masked by the noise of the ship’s
propellers.”230 Second, a wake-homing torpedo would not be fooled by a towed
acoustic decoy, and the ship might find it difficult to maneuver quickly enough to
reduce or eliminate its wake.
Given these considerations, U.S. Navy officials might not be able to guarantee
100 percent effectiveness in defeating an incoming torpedo. Some analysts, in fact,
might argue that the chance of defeating a torpedo attack would be considerably less
than 100 percent.
If a 21-inch diameter torpedo detonated against or under the hull of a U.S. Navy
surface combatant, the results could be devastating. At a minimum, the ship would
be seriously or severely damaged and could lose much if not most or all of its combat
potential. At a maximum, the keel of the ship could break and the ship would sink
quickly. If the target were a larger ship such as an amphibious ship or an underway
replenishment (resupply) ship, the larger size of the ship might permit the ship to
withstand the attack somewhat better, but the damage to the ship would still be
significant, and the ship’s ability to continue performing its mission might still be
compromised. If the target ship were an aircraft carrier – an even larger ship with a
high degree of compartmentalization and perhaps a multiple-bottom hull designed to
provide protection against torpedo attack231 – the ship might have some ability to
withstand a torpedo detonation, though its ability to maintain flight operations would
by no means be guaranteed. Detonations from more than one torpedo, however,
229 For discussions of U.S. and Western torpedo-defense programs and torpedo-defense in
general, see Skibitski, Peter J., “Navy Believes Big-Deck Ships Can Defend Against
Torpedoes,” Inside the Navy, April 10, 2000; Seigle, Greg, “Improved Torpedo Defense
Detection For Key USN Destroyers and Cruisers,” Jane’s Defence Weekly, December 9,
199: 8; Vogel, Uwe, “Torpedo Defense – An Overview,” Naval Forces, No. 4, 1999: 70-72,
74-75; Marvin, Ernest A. III, “Protecting The Surface Fleet From Torpedo Attack,” Naval
Forces, No. 3, 1999: 80-82 (Special Issue 1999, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, p. 36-38);
Scott, Richard, “Seven Up For UK navy’s Torpedo Defence System,” Jane’s Defence
Weekly, August 11, 1999: 10.
230 Smith, Craig S., “New Chinese Guided-Missile Ship Heightens Tension,” New York Times,
February 9, 2000.
231 U.S. Navy battleships were known to have multiple-bottom hulls for protection against
torpedo attack; it is thus possible that the Navy’s even larger and more valuable aircraft
carriers have similar hulls.

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could well reduce or eliminate the carrier’s ability to support flight operations, or
possibly even threaten the survival of the ship itself.
Torpedo Attack Against Submarines. Reported incidents in 1992232 and 1993233
in which U.S. attack submarines have collided with more modern Russian nuclear-
powered submarines suggest that U.S. submarines have sometimes had difficulty
maintaining constant or accurate tracks on quiet Russian-made submarines. Western
diesel-electric submarines posing as adversaries in U.S. naval exercises have also
reportedly been successful in conducting mock attacks on U.S. Navy attack
submarines.234 These incidents suggest that U.S. attack submarines, like U.S. surface
ships, could have difficulty under some circumstances detecting and tracking a well-
maintained, proficiently operated Kilo-class submarine, particularly if the Kilo is
stationary or operating at low speed, or if acoustic conditions degrade the
performance of U.S. sonars.
In a combat situation, if the Kilo approaches close enough to a U.S. Navy attack
submarine (or perhaps more likely, vice versa) before the Kilo is detected and
attacked by U.S. naval forces, it could fire one or more torpedoes at the U.S.
submarine. This would again pose a serious situation for the U.S. attack submarine:
The Navy does not currently have a submarine counter-torpedo weapon for
destroying an incoming torpedo. U.S. submarines would instead would rely on
evasive maneuvering and the use of expendable acoustic decoys ejected from the ship.
As with surface ships, U.S. Navy officials might not be able to guarantee 100
percent effectiveness in defeating a torpedo approaching a U.S. attack submarine, and
the effect on a U.S. Navy submarine of a hit from a 21-inch torpedo could be
devastating. Soviet-designed nuclear-powered attack submarines are designed with
232 In February 1992, the Baton Rouge, a Los Angeles (SSN-688) class attack submarine,
collided with a Russian submarine (by one account a Sierra-class attack submarine) in the
Barents Sea. Lancaster, John. U.S., Russian Subs Collide in Arctic. Washington Post,
February 19, 1992: A1, A24; Evans, David. Insider to Probe Sub Collision. Chicago
Tribune, February 20, 1992: 6; Offley, Ed. Navy to Investigate Only the Cause of Sub
Collision. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 24, 1992: 1; Gertz, Bill. Russian Sub’s Sail
Damaged in Collision. Washington Times, February 27, 1992: 4; Steigman, David S. Subs
Slam at Periscope Depth. Navy Times, march 2, 1992: 12; Miasnikov, Eugene. Submarine
Collision off Murmansk: A Look from Afar. Breakthroughs, Winter 1992/93: 19-24.
233 In March 1993, the Grayling, a Sturgeon (SSN-637) class attack submarine, collided with
a Russian Delta III-class ballistic missile submarine in the Barents Sea. Gellman, Barton.
U.S. and Russian Nuclear Subs Collide. Washington Post, March 23, 1993: A12; Gordon,
Michael. U.S. and Russian Submarines Collide in the Arctic. New York Times, March 23,
1993: A12; Gertz, Bill. Clinton Apologizes for Sub Collision. Washington Times, April 5,
1993: 8; U.S. Reviews Strategy of Trailing Russian Subs Following Collision. Inside the
Pentagon, April 15, 1993: 12-13; Matthews, William. Sub vs. Sub. Navy Times, May 24,
1993: 12-13; Aspin Discloses ‘Major Changes’ by US to Avoid Sub Collisions. Associated
Press wire service report, June 6, 1993.
234 The report about one of Australia’s Collins-class boats penetrating a screen of US surface
ships in an exercise off Hawaii also stated that in an earlier exercise, the Collins-class boat
“was able to stalk and ‘kill’ US Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarines.” (Lague,
David. ‘Dud’ Subs Fleet Impresses US. Sydney Morning Herald, July 27, 2000.)

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multiple features intended to give them some ability to withstand a hit from an enemy
torpedo. These include double hulls (i.e., a second, outer hull separated by a few or
several feet from the inner pressure hull), a large amount of reserve buoyancy, and
multiple watertight compartments.235 U.S. submarines, in contrast, are single-hulled
and have much less reserve buoyancy and possibly fewer watertight compartments.
Cruise Missile Attack Against Surface Ships. China’s four Kilo-class boats
reportedly are not equipped with anti-ship cruise missiles. Jane’s Fighting Ships,
however, states that if China orders any additional Kilos, these boats might possibly
come equipped with the SS-N-27 Novator Alpha ASCM. Another source cites
reports that China may be acquiring SS-N-27s for its current Kilos.236 A recent press
report states that China is negotiating to purchase the 3M54 ASCM for its Kilos;237
this missile is either the SS-N-27 or a closely related missile.
A Kilo armed with SS-N-27s could pose a more serious threat to U.S. surface
ships than China’s SS-N-22-armed Sovremenny-class destroyers, for two reasons.
First, and perhaps most important, the Kilos could be more difficult to detect, track,
and attack than a Sovremenny-class ship. They might thus be more likely to succeed
in firing one or more missiles at U.S. Navy ships than a Sovremenny-class destroyer.
Second, the SS-N-27 is considered at least as capable as the SS-N-22. The SS-
N-27 is thought to be a derivative of the subsonic Soviet/Russian SS-N-21 land attack
cruise missile (the Soviet analogue to Tomahawk). It has a range of possibly 200
kilometers (about 108 miles) and cruises to the target area at subsonic speeds (making
it potentially less visible to infrared sensors than the SS-N-22). A special warhead
stage then separates from the missile and uses a rocket booster to fly to the target at
a speed of more than Mach 2 and at an altitude of only 5 to 7 meters (as opposed to
7 to 20 meters for the SS-N-22). The warhead reportedly weighs 200 kilograms (440
pounds).
The ability of a Kilo-class ship to use the SS-N-27 effectively, however, would
depend on China’s over-the-horizon targeting ability, its ability to transmit over-the-
horizon targeting information to Kilo-class ships, and the ability of the Kilo to receive
this information without being detected. As noted in an earlier-cited passage, China’s
over-the-horizon targeting capability is limited. Its ability to transmit this information
in a timely manner to Kilo-class boats may be similarly or even more limited, and
receiving the information could make the Kilo vulnerable to detection.
235 These features appear to have reflected a judgment by Soviet officials that in a U.S.-Soviet
submarine engagement, the U.S. submarine, with its superior quieting and combat system,
would likely be able to fire at the Soviet submarine before the Soviet submarine could fire
back, and that the Soviet submarine would therefore need to be able to withstand a hit from
a U.S. torpedo.
236 Zaloga, Steven. World Missiles Briefing. Fairfax (VA), Teal Group Corporation, 2000.
(Regularly updated.) Entry on Russian Anti-Ship Missiles (February 2000), p. 6.
237 Zhang, Yihong. China Negotiates To Buy Advanced Russian Anti-Ship Missile. Jane’s
Defence Weekly, August 9, 2000.

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Vulnerability of Kilo-class Design to Attack. As discussed above, U.S. forces
might have difficulty under some circumstances in detecting and tracking a well-
maintained, proficiently operated Kilo-class submarine, particularly if the Kilo is
stationary or operating a low speed, or if acoustic conditions degrade the performance
of U.S. sonars. U.S. ASW forces might have to commit significant ASW assets and
conduct a sustained ASW effort to detect and maintain a reliable track on such a Kilo.
If U.S. ASW proficiency at the time were degraded due to reduced ASW training, the
difficulty of the task would be compounded.
Kilo-class boats are nevertheless vulnerable to detection and attack by U.S.
forces. As a diesel-electric submarine, the Kilo-class design has limited submerged
mobility, and U.S. ASW forces could exploit this limitation. (A classic strategy is to
wait in the general area where the submarine is believed to be, until the submarine is
forced to surface.) Kilo-class submarines would be particularly vulnerable to
detection and attack when leaving port, transiting to more distant operating areas
(which would require periodic use of their snorkels), or after firing any of their
weapons (which creates significant noise). They would also be vulnerable if they are
operated in ways that compromise their stealth. This could include using a periscope
or data-receiving antenna or traveling quickly at a shallow depth, which can induce
propeller cavitation (a significant source of noise). Although U.S. and Western naval
officials express concern about Kilo-class submarines, they also appear confident in
their ability to eventually detect and attack it.
Although the Kilo, as discussed earlier, has some built-in features for surviving
a hit from a torpedo attack, a hit from a single torpedo might still compromise its
combat capability. Even if the Kilo is still capable of fighting after that hit, the
damage to the ship could well increase the ship’s vulnerability to follow-on attack.
Hits from additional torpedoes would then more certainly eliminate the ship’s combat
capability or sink it entirely.
U.S. naval forces have had many years to study the Kilo-class design, particularly
since it is operated not only by Russia, but by countries in regions of the world where
forward-deployed U.S. naval forces regularly operate. As a consequence, the U.S.
Navy probably has developed an extensive understanding of the design’s capabilities,
as well as tactics for detecting, tracking, and attacking it. U.S. weapons that could
be used against Kilo-class submarines include the submarine-launched Mk 48
heavyweight (21-inch diameter) torpedo or surface- or air-launched Mk 46, Mk 50,
or Mk 54 lightweight (12.75-inch diameter) torpedoes.
Potential Tactical Implications. If China can maintain its Kilos in good
condition and operate them proficiently, then the threat that these boats might pose
to U.S. naval forces in a crisis or conflict would (like the case with the Sovremenny-
class destroyers) appear to depend on the scenario in which the Kilos engaged U.S.
forces.
If, at the outset of a crisis involving China, the United States already knows
locations of China’s Kilo-class boats – perhaps through day-to-day use of satellite
observation of the Kilos while in port, or covert tracking by U.S. submarines of the
Kilos while at sea – U.S. naval forces could take many of the kinds of preparatory
actions discussed earlier in relation to engaging Sovremenny-class ships. This could

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significantly reduce the threat to U.S. naval forces posed by the Kilos: At the outbreak
of hostilities, a rapid attack by U.S. ASW forces could lead to the disabling or
destruction of the boats before they could fire many (or any) of their torpedoes (or
cruise missiles) while maximizing the chances of defeating any that are launched.
If, on the other hand, the United States at the outset of a crisis does not know
the location of one or more of the Kilos, or is not able to maintain a reliable track on
them, then the threat posed by the Kilos to U.S. naval forces would likely be greater.
U.S. naval forces might need to approach potential Kilo operating areas more
cautiously, or perhaps even temporarily avoid them. They might also need to increase
the scale and intensity of their ASW operations. Ships might need to position
themselves to optimize their contribution to the fleet’s collective ASW effort, which
could reduce their ability to perform other missions. As a result, the time needed for
U.S. naval forces to enter and establish control over certain sea areas could increase
by hours, and perhaps by as much as several days. This delay could significantly
affect subsequent course of the conflict, particularly if it permits Chinese military
forces to complete other key tasks in the opening phases of their military plan.
Alternatively, in the absence of a crisis or regional tension, China could use a
Kilo-class ship to conduct a no-warning attack on U.S. naval forces operating near
China, perhaps for the kind of political purposes discussed earlier in relation to the
scenario of a no-warning SS-N-22 attack. Such an attack would pose a grave danger
to a U.S. ship that was not on ASW alert, and (if a wake-homing torpedo is used) a
still-significant danger to a U.S. ship that was on ASW alert. In the case of an
unalerted U.S. ship, the attack could, barring a torpedo malfunction, have a high
chance of success.
Following the attack, China could claim that it was an accident or a case of
mistaken identity – or even disavow responsibility for it, as Iran did in the case of
mine attacks on some ships in the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq war.
Circumstances might point strongly to China as the responsible party, but China could
point out that it is not the only country that operates submarines in the Western
Pacific,238 or argue (in defiance of any evidence to the contrary) that the U.S. ship was
damaged by one or more internal explosions (the explanation which the United States
told Russia it believes to be the most likely for the August 2000 sinking of the Russian
Oscar-class submarine Kursk) or that it was hit by an errant mine (one of the
alternative explanations advanced by Russian officials for the sinking of the Kursk).
Although much attention has been paid in the press to China’s purchase of
Sovremenny-class ships armed with SS-N-22s, the Kilos, with their potential for
avoiding detection and their potent torpedoes, might represent a greater threat to U.S.
naval forces, particularly in light of the U.S. Navy’s current torpedo-defense
capabilities. The threat posed by Kilos could become even greater if they are armed
with the SS-N-27 cruise missile and China improves its over-the-horizon targeting
capabilities. This would permit the Kilos to launch attacks at much greater distances,
238 Eight of Russia’s 12 Kilos are based in the Pacific at Rakovaya. Several of Russia’s
nuclear-powered attack submarines are also based in the Pacific.

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increasing their likelihood of being able to launch their weapons before they are
attacked or even detected by U.S. forces.
China’s Kilo-class submarines are by no means invulnerable. Their limited
mobility can be used against them, and problems in maintaining the ships properly or
operating them proficiently could easily increase their chances of being detected and
tracked. However, there are the potential difficulty of detecting and tracking a well-
maintained, proficiently-operated Kilo as well as the grave danger that a torpedo
attack would pose to an unalerted U.S. ship. Hence, one option for the United States
would be to adopt a policy – if China shows evidence of being able to maintain the
ships properly and operate them proficiently – of attempting to maintain knowledge
of the location of the Kilos at all times, and of putting all U.S. Navy ships deployed
to potential Kilo operating areas on ASW alert when any of the Kilos are not known
to be in port and their location at sea is not known. Such a policy, or something like
it, may already be in effect.
Integrated Operations239
Although previous sections of the report assessed China’s air power acquisitions
and naval acquisitions separately, the operational significance of China’s conventional
arms acquisitions will also depend in part on the PLA’s ability to conduct effective
joint military operations that integrate its air force and navy, as well as missile and
other assets. The PLA’s ability to achieve jointness and integration might be
particularly significant in examining potential crisis or conflict scenarios situated in the
Taiwan Strait or the South China Sea, where China might be expected to employ
land-based aircraft, navy, and other assets.
In such scenarios, operating air and naval assets as a single, integrated force
could permit land-based aircraft to provide over-the-horizon targeting data for
missile-armed PLAN ships or help defend such ships against attack by opposing
aircraft. Conversely, PLAN ships deployed some distance from shore could provide
early warning of opposing aircraft flying toward China, which could help China’s
land-based air defense systems in countering those aircraft. Effective integration of
aircraft and ship ASW operations could also improve China’s efforts to detect and
counter opposing submarines.
As noted earlier, PLA military exercises to date have displayed little integration
between air force and naval (as well as missile and army) forces. As also noted
earlier, however, the complexity and scope of PLA military exercises have steadily
increased, and PLA leaders understand the potential warfighting benefits of operating
forces in a joint, integrated manner. As a result, China might be expected to
incorporate the concept of joint and integrated operations increasingly into its
exercises and may achieve some proficiency in such operations in coming years.
Achieving jointness and integration is more important to some kinds of military
operations than others. For some military operations, such as amphibious assault and
239 Prepared by Ronald O’Rourke and Christopher Bolkcom.

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close-air support operations, jointness and integration can be critical to success. A
lack of integration between air and other units in such operations could easily prove
disastrous.
For other military operations, such as air defense or local ASW operations,
achieving integration between air and surface units might not be essential but could
still significantly improve effectiveness. In these cases, a lack of integration could
reduce the efficiency of China’s military efforts but would not prevent PLA forces
from achieving some degree of effectiveness.
For still other military operations, achieving jointness and integration might be
relatively unimportant. These include ballistic missile attacks, air intercept and strike
operations by land-based aircraft, attacks on surface ships by either ships or land-
based aircraft (if the attacking platforms can locate the target ships without outside
assistance), offensive mining operations (provided that friendly ships are informed to
stay away from the areas to be mined), and submarine operations (which traditionally
have often been carried out in isolation from other military forces). In these cases, a
lack of jointness or integration might not significantly effect operational effectiveness.
Potential PLA operations of concern to other Asian and U.S. military planners
fall into all three of these categories. A full-scale PLA attack on, and invasion of,
Taiwan, for example, could require considerable jointness and integration to have
some chance of success. Other potential military operations of concern – such as a
large-scale ballistic missile attack intended to neutralize Taiwan’s defense systems and
intimidate Taiwan generally, or an offensive mining operation intended to intimidate
commercial shipping in the area – might require little or no jointness and integration
to have a reasonable chance of success. Thus, the importance of China’s ability to
achieve joint and integrated military operations as a factor to consider in assessing
China’s conventional arms acquisitions could depend on the scenario in question and
the kinds of specific, potential PLA operations associated with it.
In summary, China has made some significant qualitative upgrades through
foreign arms acquisitions, but it remains to be seen how these acquisitions will be
expanded and linked to other PLA improvements. The operational significance of
China’s conventional arms acquisitions will also depend on the PLA’s training to
eventually conduct effective joint military operations and the scenario in which the
systems might be used. These developments in PLA modernization will bear
watching.

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Appendix: Acronyms and Abbreviations
AAM
Air-to-air missile
AEW
Airborne early warning
ASCM
Anti-ship cruise missile
ASW
Anti-submarine warfare
ATBM
Anti-tactical ballistic missile
AWACS
Airborne warning and control system
C4I
Command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence
CAP
Combat air patrol
COMINT
Communications intelligence
CVBG
Carrier battle group
ECM
Electronic countermeasures
ELINT
Electronics intelligence
EW
Electronic warfare
IFF
Identification friend or foe
IOC
Initial operational capability
IR
Infra red
kg
Kilogram
km
Kilometer
kt
Kiloton
lb
Pounds
mi
Miles
mph
Miles per hour
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
nm
Nautical miles
PLA
People’s Liberation Army
PLAAF
People’s Liberation Army Air Force
PLAN
People’s Liberation Army Navy
PRC
People’s Republic of China
ROE
Rules of engagement
SAM
Surface-to-air missile
SAR
Semi-active radar
SS
Diesel-electric submarine
SSBN
Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine
SSN
Nuclear-powered attack submarine
SEAD
Suppression of enemy air defenses
TBM
Tactical ballistic missile
TEL
Transporter-erector-launcher
UAV
Unmanned aerial vehicle
UN
United Nations
WX
Weather

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