The Dragonian Subsurface Abyss and Submarine Force's Ability to Counter the Rising Threat
Abstract
In January 2012, President Obama formally announced America's shift in strategic focus to the Asia-Pacific region. In March 2013, budget cuts and impending force reductions led Defense Secretary Hagel to order a reassessment of DoD capability to implement the new strategy. Regardless of the outcome of this assessment, the Asia-Pacific region will almost certainly remain a centerpiece of the current administration's national security policy for the near future. While the administration seeks the primary aim of enhancing America's relationship with China to secure vital U.S. economic and security interests, the lack of transparency in the build-up of the Chinese submarine force may threaten this goal. Meanwhile, China continues to enhance its anti-access and area denial capabilities, putting America's power projection capability in the Western Pacific at significant risk. Advancements in the numbers and capabilities of China's diesel-electric submarine fleet are enabling rapid development of its area denial capability in the vast littoral areas of the Western Pacific. Improvements in its nuclear ballistic missile submarine force will give China a subsurface nuclear strategic strike capability to rival that of the Cold War-era Soviet Union within the next few years. Finally, improvements in China's nuclear fast-attack submarine force are expanding the nation's reach and regional focus to an increasingly large expanse of the Pacific while helping to turn China's navy into one of the world's most formidable blue water forces. While the U.S. joint force operates many platforms that can contend with various elements of China's anti-access, area denial, and antisubmarine warfare capabilities, the unique characteristics of the U.S. Submarine Force makes its assets the optimum platforms to perform this role. Unfortunately, planned reductions in the U.S. Submarine Force's end-strength threaten to shift the balance of naval power in the Western Pacific to China.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 23, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA583843
Entities
People
- Kevin D. Chesnut
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College