Admiral Joseph Mulloy, Deputy Head of Naval Operations for Capacities and Resources, during his last report to the Armed Forces Committee subcommittee, also stated that China is expanding the geographical areas of submarine activity as well as the duration of each deployment.
In the Indian Ocean, China has deployed some units for as many as 95 days.
The quality of Chinese submarines - added Mulloy - remains lower than in the United States.
The size of the entire submarine fleet - the military added - has now surpassed that of the United States.
According to a Pentagon spokesman, the US Navy commissioned 71 submarines. American submarines are built by Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. and General Dynamics Corp.
In its latest annual report to Congress on Chinese military developments, the Pentagon claimed that China possesses 77 surface fighter ships, more than 60 submarines, 55 amphibious vessels of large and medium size and about 85 missile small missile boats.
The report from the Department of Defense
The Chinese submarine force is composed of 56 boats: 51 with diesel-electric propulsion and five with nuclear propulsion.
This is what emerges from a report by the US Department of Defense, presented to the Congress last April.
China, compared to last year, has increased its 5,7% defense budget for 145 billion dollars invested in military spending. According to the report, the five nuclear-powered submarines would be able to launch ballistic missiles.
Specifically, 'Jin' class submarines would be able to launch the 'JL-2' missile, considered the first credible deterrent weapon embarked on the Beijing regime's disposal. The 'JL-2', whose design is based on the 'DF-31' missile, has an estimated range of 7.400 kilometers and can carry single or multiple warheads (conventional or nuclear). This means that if the missiles were launched from the Western Pacific, they could hit California.
The report, published last April, talks about submarine 56, while Mulloy reported a fleet composed of at least 60 boats. In the last year, therefore, the Chinese would have put in service or at sea for the tests from four to six submarines. But it would not be the only data that does not coincide with previous official releases. In fact, according to the Pentagon, the United States has "commissioned 71 submarines", but these numbers would not coincide with the budget cuts according to which, within the 2029, the US Navy should have 42 boats available compared to current 52.
Likely, the Pentagon refers to future boats for the entire life cycle that will end in the 2040 / 2050.
China, however, is not the only country in the region to invest in attack submarines. India has submarine 15, while Vietnam continues to buy from Russia having already operated three 'Kilo' class boats and three others in production. Indonesia would have twelve submarines, while Australia has invested twenty billion dollars to build a new fleet of twelve boats and retire what remains of the "Collins": this will not happen before the 2025. Singapore has an undersea force of six boats with two others in production. Taiwan has four submarines, but only two are on duty.
Washington was commissioned to build a new class of boats.
Franco Iacch
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