Chinese conventional submarine (SSK) has bigger missions; Russian submarine to take part in the world's biggest submarine rescue exercise under the aegis of NATO
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    • Reports noted that the recent images of a Chinese conventional submarine (SSK) that was first seen in September 2010 may shed further light on its possible missions. The new People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) SSK appears to be one third larger than the 2,500-3,000-ton Yuan-class SSK currently in production, indicating it may be intended for longer-range open ocean interdiction missions past the 'First Island Chain': China’s preferred term for the East China Sea and waters surrounding Taiwan. The SSK also has an unusually large sail estimated to be 17-20 ft (5-6 m) tall and 12-13 ft wide. Part of the sail's length is taken up by a new crew escape capsule - a first for a PLAN submarine - while periscopes and a mast-mounted radar are placed behind the capsule in a horizontal row to save space. Behind the sensors there is space for weapons, which, considering the sail's height, could include missiles.1

    Meanwhile, in a major development, reports noted that a Russian submarine will take part in the world's biggest submarine rescue exercise with its former cold war adversary NATO next week, the military alliance said on May 27. The Russian submarine will be the first to participate in any NATO exercise, off the coast of Cartagena, Spain. Around 2,000 military and nonmilitary personnel as well as ships and aircraft from more than 20 nations will take part in the exercise, dubbed Bold Monarch 11 that will run from May 30 to June 10. Held every three years, it "is the world's largest submarine rescue exercise," said a statement from NATO's SHAPE allied military headquarters based in Mons, Belgium. "The exercise is designed to maximize international cooperation in submarine rescue operations - something that has always been very important to NATO and all the submarine-operating nations," the statement said further. The inclusion of a Russian submarine in the exercise comes amid a warming of ties between Moscow and the 28-nation alliance, nearly three years after Russia's war with Georgia had sparked tensions between the two sides.2

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