The rapid growth of Chinese naval power , China on the East China Sea and South China Sea sovereignty requires a series of islands , as well as Beijing 's efforts to building a base in the Indian Ocean , forcing the United States and the Far East , Southeast and South Asian countries to take measures to strengthen its own security , even at this end to establish an anti-China alliance . The United States is trying to draw the Asia-Pacific countries to establish anti- dam in the Western Pacific , Indian Ocean and extends to most waters. Now that all the conditions precedent have been met. Just watch the map , you can find anti island and peninsula countries have formed an anti-China encirclement from the coast , the same as a natural barrier , together contain China.
Why the United States to build an international anti- dam ? Why the United States alone can not create barriers to restrict the activities of the PLA Navy ? The answer is obvious : today's Washington neither the strength nor the opportunity to individually contain China . This principle has important significance.
In the past two decades, the number of U.S. Navy ships decreasing due to budget constraints , especially combat ships . This U.S. Navy ships and aircraft in 1993-2013 Guide reflects very clearly . Although the U.S. military plans to use the new high-tech ship with more offensive and defensive potential replacement of old vessels , but even the most advanced high-tech ships can not simultaneously appeared in two different waters.
Now the U.S. In addition to 14 strategic nuclear submarines , as well as 55 multi-purpose submarines and missiles , 10 "Nimitz " class aircraft carrier , 22 "Ticonderoga " class guided missile cruisers, 62 "Arleigh Burke" class guided missile destroyers, 13 "Perry " class frigates, four Littoral Combat Ship and 13 " Avenger " class minesweepers , a total of 179 combat ships . At first glance it seems a lot, but a careful analysis can be found in the number of U.S. warships clearly insufficient .
In the 22 "Ticonderoga " class cruisers in order to save money this year will have 11 reserve archive . And most of the service period battleship has more than 25 years , will soon be retired. After 2030 is expected to be fitted out FSC " future surface combatant " , the ship is equipped with an electromagnetic railgun expected , directed energy ( laser ) combat system and advanced radar. Because the price is expensive, the number of warships built this apparently not too much. In other words, it will not completely replace the "Ticonderoga " class cruisers .
U.S. Navy warships are now the main 62 "Arleigh Burke" class guided missile destroyer , is very durable and can perform a variety of tasks, their number increased to 75 plans . However, in this type of warships to 75 on the occasion, "Ticonderoga " class cruisers will be retired . In other words , the total number of U.S. military -purpose surface warships will be further reduced by 9 .
As for the combat effectiveness of the U.S. military hype Littoral Combat Ship is questionable. The first ship LCS1 " free" service in 2008 , but has yet to truly combat effectiveness . Last year 's tour to Singapore is very embarrassing publicity tour , in July a power failure at the coast of Singapore , was forced to repair water pipes October accident took place , has led to the hold plate and hydraulic system failure , maintenance again. LCS2 " Independence" such incidents continue , especially in the anti-corrosion and electrical equipment. However, the main problem is even not limited to the failure too . Apart from a few initial glitches warships outside the U.S. cost is too high to make the same headache . " Free" cost $ 637 million , "Independence" cost $ 704 million . Moreover, the LCS is equipped with high-speed modular weapon design concept has not been proven . This year plans to install anti- mine warfare module , but anti-mine and speed contradictory. As for anti-submarine module does not know when to install , and its effectiveness is questionable . Module is simply anti-ship weapons alone make . In order to combat surface ships , or, more precisely, water boats, Littoral Combat Ship is scheduled to be equipped with the " Griffin " missiles , easy to use anti-aircraft missile defense system in recent RAM launchers. But this type of missile has a range of only a few kilometers , the warhead weighs only 5.9 kg , can only destroy small boats in a very close distance . In other words, the LCS is in fact the King "streaking " , the equivalent of waving a sword paper , naked . Once the 022 -type missile boats and Chinese naval encounter , in the case of one individual contest , the probability of defeat of the PLA Navy's only 0.1 %, as the 022 -type missile can carry eight "Eagle -83 " anti-ship missile with a range up to 95 km , warhead weight of 165 kg , the advantage is extremely clear.
Not long ago, the U.S. government decided to limit the number of Littoral Combat Ship , the original plan of 52 reduced to 32 , the official claimed that because of budget cuts , in fact, is to recognize that the lower its operational effectiveness, although this understanding comes a bit late. According to common sense , the construction plans should also be further reduced.
Bath Iron Works is currently under construction DDG-1000 " Zumwalt " class next-generation missile destroyer . Site last November 21 to consider the ship's U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said that this ship will play an important role in the Asia Pacific region. This is obviously a bit exaggerated . The main goal for the assault on the shore , " Zumwalt " sign and another two of the same type warships , should also prove their combat effectiveness . But in any case , they are not interested in the region 's balance of power greater impact . China's " Dongfeng -21D" anti-ship ballistic missile debugging and optimization work is nearing completion , with a range of up to 1,500 km , is mainly used for large surface ships against enemy . China is now beginning to develop "Dongfeng -26 " missiles to attack maritime targets within 3,000 km , can carry hypersonic warheads, even more powerful . Moreover, as the United States ' Navy "magazine pointed out , " Zumwalt "class destroyer cost up to $ 5 billion though , is very likely to be worth $ 2,500一枚mines destroyed.
The U.S. Navy is using " Virginia " class submarines to replace 40 multipurpose active " Los Angeles" class nuclear submarines. As of the end of the update process , count 3 "Sea Wolf " class nuclear submarines , including the U.S. Navy multipurpose nuclear submarines number will only 36 , compared with 15 now reduced . As modified by the "Ohio "-class ballistic missile submarines from the four cruise missile submarines to replace the problem is not yet discussed .
U.S. attempts to strengthen aviation battle group by the way make up for the shortage of the number of warships . In December last year, the U.S. Navy began deploying red Shengjia hand Kea latest P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft , the aircraft can not only search for and destroy submarines, but also to launch "Harpoon" anti-ship missile attack surface ships. Currently the U.S. military is also testing the use of B-1B supersonic strategic bombers mount LRASM remote antiship missiles, attack surface targets within 900 kilometers . But the other side there are able to deal with aviation and air defense weapons P-8A and the B-1B .
In short , the Far East , Southeast and South Asian countries , in order to protect their own safety, will have to rely mainly on its own strength . No wonder passionate arms race in the region over the past decade of unprecedented high, and special attention to the development of the Navy .
