Below is an old report.
To date China has at least 3-4 Kilo subs, 12 Sovremenny Class
Missle Destroyers ... 1 for each american aircraft carrier. each
destroyer packed with 8 moskit SS-N-22 sunburn anti-ship missles,
the fastest in the world. The SS-N-22 is land/sea/air deployable, 3
times faster than the harpoon missle. Not to mention nuclear
capable as well, designed during cold war to be a killer for
american aircraft carriers.
Russian manufacturers claimed that between 1-2 missles will
incapicate a destroyer, 1-5 missles a 200,000 tonne oil tanker.
Also being 3-5 times faster conventional sea skimmers means there's
very little reaction time allowed to jam the missle only 20-25
seconds before impact ... let alone try to deploy any
countermeasures.
Also by 2006 the chinese varvag will be completed.
Russia Readies Warship for China
By Bill Gertz
Washington Times, July 12, 2000
BEIJING Russia has completed work on a second cruise-missile ship
for China and started sea trials for the new vessel two weeks ago,
The Washington Times has learned.
According to Pentagon intelligence officials, the ship is the
second Sovremenny-class advanced warship purchased by Beijing. It
was spotted in the Gulf of Finland during the last week of June
undergoing sea trials.
The exercises are expected to include at least one test launch of
an SS-N-22 Sunburn anti-ship cruise missile, the officials
said.
The ship is likely to be sent to China toward the end of this year.
It is the second cruise-missile ship purchased from Russia and will
give the People's Liberation Army new capabilities against U.S.
aircraft carrier battle groups.
"The SS-N-22 is the most dangerous anti-ship missile in the
Russian, and now the Chinese, fleet," said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher,
California Republican. "Our Navy admittedly has scant ability to
defend against this 200-kiloton nuclear-capable weapon."
The missile has a range of 65 miles and can deliver nuclear or
conventional warheads. Chinese military writings have indicated
that Beijing is working on weapons to defeat U.S. carrier battle
groups.
A bill authored by Mr. Rohrabacher would prevent the United States
from bailing out Russia with international lending institutions
until Moscow ends all sales of Sunburn missiles.
The bill has bipartisan support and could be debated in the next
several days. It states that the first of the two Sovremenny
destroyers was delivered to the People's Liberation Army navy in
February, operated by a mixed crew of Russian and Chinese
sailors.
"Currently the Russian and Chinese government are discussing the
sale of two additional Sovremenny destroyers," in addition to the
first two ships, the legislation says. "The supersonic Moskit
[SS-N-22] missile, which can be mounted on a naval or mobile land
platform, was designed specifically to destroy American aircraft
carriers and other warships equipped with advanced Aegis radar and
battle management systems.
"The United States Navy considers the missile to be extremely
difficult to defend against," the bill says.
The first Sovremenny destroyer arrived in China in February, and
the first shipment of 24 SS-N-22s this spring, said Pentagon
intelligence officials.
Increasing Russian arms sales to China are one sign of a growing
alliance between Moscow and Beijing aimed at undermining the U.S.
position as the sole superpower.
A U.S. official here said he is concerned about Russian arms
deliveries as part of China's military modernization program. The
missile destroyers, sales of Su-27 aircraft and Kilo-class
submarines are the alarming signs, the official said, speaking on
the condition of anonymity.
"Those are the three things that could be very important," the
official said. "They reflect a relationship between Russia and
China that we need to keep an eye on."
Russian arms sales began in 1991 with 26 Su-27s worth an estimated
$1 billion. In 1994, China purchased four Russian diesel-powered
Kilo submarines, which the U.S. Navy considers advanced and
difficult to detect. Russian technicians also have been spotted by
U.S. intelligence agencies assisting China's program to build
land-attack cruise missiles, similar to the U.S. Tomahawk.
Russian scientists also are reportedly assisting China's
development of laser weapons, space-based weapons, and nuclear
submarines. China also plans to use Russia's satellite navigation
system for missile guidance.
Defense Secretary William S. Cohen arrived here yesterday to hold
talks with his Chinese counterpart, Defense Minister Chi Haotian.
The issue of Chinese weapons exports will be discussed, defense
officials said.
Official Chinese spokesmen yesterday attacked U.S. plans for a
national missile defense, calling it part of American plans to
dominate the world. "We urge the United States to drop as soon as
possible this plan, which does not serve its interest and harms
that of others," Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi told a news
conference as the defense secretary arrived in the Chinese
capital.
Mr. Cohen said earlier he will tell the Chinese military that the
limited U.S. national missile defense will not pose a threat to
China's small strategic nuclear arsenal.
A Chinese commentator writing in the Guangming Daily yesterday said
that the U.S. missile defense "is aimed at building up an
overwhelming military superiority for the United States and
permanently maintaining its status as the only superpower in the
world." A U.S. missile defense would force both China and Russia
"into developing new weapons," said the commentator, Xu
Fukang.
Asked about the Chinese report, Mr. Sun said: "We will determine
our disarmament policy in accordance with the development of the
anti-missile system."
Disclosure of Russia's completion of the new cruise-missile
destroyer comes as Congress is set to debate legislation to punish
Moscow for those sales.
Russia's AVN news agency reported on Monday that the Sovremenny
destroyer will be supplied to the Chinese in November. The agency
quoted a spokesman for the Russian Baltic Fleet headquarters as
saying the ship is undergoing "state tests." It did not
elaborate.
The report said the Chinese crew would begin training on the new
ship in October.
In a related development, Russia's Itar-Tass news agency announced
last week that Russia will send China the first batch of 10
advanced Su-30 warplanes by the end of the year. The Chinese have
purchased a total of 40 Su-30s.
