"The Russian Navy is moving again."
That was the description given Wednesday by Adm. Gary Roughead, the U.S. Navy's chief of naval operations (CNO), when asked for his assessment of America's former Cold War opponent.
"The Russian Navy still has great ambition, still has great pride," he said.
The collapse of the Soviet Union significantly reduced the navy, Roughead noted, with most shipbuilding programs coming to a halt or dragging out.
"That has stopped in recent years," he said. An improving Russian economy will mean "you're going to see an increase in their capability and capacity, with new shipbuilding programs taking hold." Roughead noted the recent move by Russia to acquire several French-designed Mistral-class amphibious ships as an indication of rising interest in increased operations.
The navy "will now begin to rebuild itself," he said, "and bring more modern capability to bear and operate more widely."
Roughead did not speak of a growing Russian naval force as a threat.
"I believe we should work closely with the Russian Navy to see where we can work together," he said, and cited operations with Russian ships working to counter pirates off Somalia.
Roughead was asked for his assessment of the Russian and Chinese navies during an appearance before the Senate Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee. It was the last of several hearings before the House and Senate to present the 2012 budget request.
The Chinese Navy is the fastest-growing in the world today, Roughead said.
"We see their submarine fleet expanding, their surface combatants expanding. But it's also how they're using their command and control facilities," he said, "and the nature of expanding beyond the first island chain," the ring of islands that surround the Chinese mainland.
The strategic objectives of China's naval expansion seem to be same "that nations and navies have had throughout history," Roughead said. "As economies rise it follows there will be a strong navy."
"They want to ensure their sea lanes are able to be used," he told Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., who specifically asked about China's anti-carrier missile capability.
"There has been a lot of discussion about the Dong Feng 21 missile," Roughead acknowledged. "But the DF 21 is no more an anti-access weapon than a submarine is. I would argue that you can put a ship out of action faster by putting a hole in the bottom than by putting a hole in the top."
Noting the superiority of the U.S. Navy's Virginia-class attack submarines over the several types China is building, Roughead declared that "even though the DF 21 has become a newsworthy weapon, the fact is our aircraft carriers can maneuver, and we we have systems that can counter weapons like that."
"My objective," in regards to the Chinese, Roughead said, "is to not be denied ocean areas were can operate, or not be restricted in our ability to operate."
The Chinese being constantly scrutinized as to their intentions, Roughead told Coats.
"I think it's important to gain insight into what their intent is," he said. "So we watch developments very closely."
China's designs on the Arctic Ocean were also questioned by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who asked how the Navy planned to respond to increased activity in the region due to climate change.
"There is no question in my mind that the Arctic is changing," Roughead said. But along with working closely with the Coast Guard, the CNO again observed that "the most important thing is to become party to the convention of the Law of the Sea" treaty, long hung up in the Senate. "If we are not party to that treaty we will not have a seat at the table as this unfolds."
The U.S. Navy seeks ways to work with the Chinese and Russian navies, said Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations. (MCS Tiffini Jones Vanderwyst / Navy)
"The Russian Navy still has great ambition, still has great pride," he said.
The collapse of the Soviet Union significantly reduced the navy, Roughead noted, with most shipbuilding programs coming to a halt or dragging out.
"That has stopped in recent years," he said. An improving Russian economy will mean "you're going to see an increase in their capability and capacity, with new shipbuilding programs taking hold." Roughead noted the recent move by Russia to acquire several French-designed Mistral-class amphibious ships as an indication of rising interest in increased operations.
The navy "will now begin to rebuild itself," he said, "and bring more modern capability to bear and operate more widely."
Roughead did not speak of a growing Russian naval force as a threat.
"I believe we should work closely with the Russian Navy to see where we can work together," he said, and cited operations with Russian ships working to counter pirates off Somalia.
Roughead was asked for his assessment of the Russian and Chinese navies during an appearance before the Senate Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee. It was the last of several hearings before the House and Senate to present the 2012 budget request.
The Chinese Navy is the fastest-growing in the world today, Roughead said.
"We see their submarine fleet expanding, their surface combatants expanding. But it's also how they're using their command and control facilities," he said, "and the nature of expanding beyond the first island chain," the ring of islands that surround the Chinese mainland.
The strategic objectives of China's naval expansion seem to be same "that nations and navies have had throughout history," Roughead said. "As economies rise it follows there will be a strong navy."
"They want to ensure their sea lanes are able to be used," he told Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., who specifically asked about China's anti-carrier missile capability.
"There has been a lot of discussion about the Dong Feng 21 missile," Roughead acknowledged. "But the DF 21 is no more an anti-access weapon than a submarine is. I would argue that you can put a ship out of action faster by putting a hole in the bottom than by putting a hole in the top."
Noting the superiority of the U.S. Navy's Virginia-class attack submarines over the several types China is building, Roughead declared that "even though the DF 21 has become a newsworthy weapon, the fact is our aircraft carriers can maneuver, and we we have systems that can counter weapons like that."
"My objective," in regards to the Chinese, Roughead said, "is to not be denied ocean areas were can operate, or not be restricted in our ability to operate."
The Chinese being constantly scrutinized as to their intentions, Roughead told Coats.
"I think it's important to gain insight into what their intent is," he said. "So we watch developments very closely."
China's designs on the Arctic Ocean were also questioned by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who asked how the Navy planned to respond to increased activity in the region due to climate change.
"There is no question in my mind that the Arctic is changing," Roughead said. But along with working closely with the Coast Guard, the CNO again observed that "the most important thing is to become party to the convention of the Law of the Sea" treaty, long hung up in the Senate. "If we are not party to that treaty we will not have a seat at the table as this unfolds."
No comments:
Post a Comment