It appears China has tried to gain access to Germany's/Siemen's
highly sensitive fuel cell air independent propulsion (FC-AIP)
technology, for submarines, via a bold Pakistani approach to Germany.
Shishir
Gupta for India's Hindustan Times, August 25, 2020 reports :
"Pakistan had requested Germany for access to the air independent propulsion (AIP) system that can recharge submarine batteries without having to surface for longer periods.
"Angela Merkel dashes [Pakistani Prime Minister]
Imran Khan hopes to make Pak subs more lethal, says won’t help"
"Pakistan had requested Germany for access to the air independent propulsion (AIP) system that can recharge submarine batteries without having to surface for longer periods.
A top German security panel headed by Chancellor Angela Merkel has
turned down Pakistan’s request for supply of air independent propulsion
(AIP) systems for its submarines that
would allow them to stay underwater for weeks, people familiar with the matter
said.
The decision taken by the German Federal Security Council headed by Chancellor Merkel was conveyed to the Pakistan embassy on August 6, people cited above said on conditions of anonymity.
Pakistan had made the request for access to the air independent propulsion system that can recharge submarine batteries without having to surface for longer periods. [the following bolded by Pete] Pakistan had proposed the upgrade for submarines in its inventory and the Yuan class submarines being manufactured under joint China-Pakistan project in China.
The decision taken by the German Federal Security Council headed by Chancellor Merkel was conveyed to the Pakistan embassy on August 6, people cited above said on conditions of anonymity.
Pakistan had made the request for access to the air independent propulsion system that can recharge submarine batteries without having to surface for longer periods. [the following bolded by Pete] Pakistan had proposed the upgrade for submarines in its inventory and the Yuan class submarines being manufactured under joint China-Pakistan project in China.
...Pakistan watchers in Delhi
said the primary reason for Germany to take a hard stance on Pakistan’s request
was being attributed to its role in promoting terror, particularly Pakistan’s
failure to cooperate in identifying the perpetrators of the truck bomb attack
on the Germany Embassy in Kabul in May 2017..."
SEE FULL HINDUSTAN TIMES REPORT (WHICH ALSO HAS GOOD LINKS)
PETE COMMENT
Yuans are China's most advanced conventional submarines, but they use older, less advanced, AIP technology.
Pakistan's terrorism
connections is one valid reason for the German rejection.
But I would say the risk of Germany's FC-AIP technology going to China would be the main concern. Pakistan would require extensive and sensitive German/Siemens help to integrate the
FC-AIP technology into the Yuans.
FC-AIP technology into the Yuans.
All through that process Chinese technicians working on
Pakistan's Yuans (in China and Pakistan) would have access to the FC-AIP technology and especially how to integrate it into Chinese designed
submarines (eg. Pakistan's Yuans). Then China would reverse engineer the FC-AIP
technology and learn how to integrate it into submarines.
German, Western and Indian navies would find Chinese and Pakistani subs would be more
of a threat with world class FC-AIP. Also China would market Yuans (with
FC-AIP) in competition to Germany's TKMS submarine builder. China would have the competitive business advantage of cheaper labour and a government willing to heavily subsidize submarine export prices to get a market and/or strategic foothold.
7 comments:
china is very actively ensuring that India remains 'boxed in' in S.Asia and remains a 'regional rival' at best. The ablest ally to support that end being the neighborhood mercenary cum panhandler cum 'useful idiot for all seasons' --> pakistan.
a brief background might help: I remember reading unverified but eminently conceivable accounts that after the Balakot airstrikes of 02/2019, India's P-8s and Type 209/Scorpene subs were able to locate the MESMA enabled Agosta 90 PNS Saad (rumored to be carrying N-tipped babur SLCMs) despite open 'claims' of 'detection failure' by the IN top brass happy to make pakistan 'heady' with 'pride' at the 'silence' exhibited by their SSK. However, the pakistanis have suspected ever since that Uncle Sam, Israel and France have supplied India with enough (degraded export version) electronics that were still good enough to locate the Saad in the deeper waters of the relatively shallow Arabian Sea.
Since the Yuans come with Stirling AIPs that are noisy enough to allow detection by currently 'in the process of being deployed' IN combat suites, the pakistanis figured out that the same problem of both heat and noise associated with the MESMA might occur with the Stirling AIPs too and tried to get the Germans to supply the PEMFC AIP. quite droll really.
The Germans are no doubt aware of the past perfidy of pakistan in helping China reverse engineer the BGM-109, study the F-16 to make the J-10, study the P-3 to make their MPAs and also stealing radar absorbent material from the copter that was used in the OBL ops thereby very likely helping China with the J-20 radar coatings.
it would be optimistic to the point of foolishness to assume Siemens PEMFC won't go to PLAN. I am glad for once that the Germans are not repeating the past mistakes of the US.
Why only AIP ? The terror factory called Pakistan should be denied everything,even Corona vaccines.
Hi Pete
TKMS and Siemens are two pillars of modern German submarine. The former has non-magnetic hull, floating deck and submarine integrating technologies. The latter has other key technologies including PMSM (Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor), fuel cell including fuel supply and storage system, LIB arrangement and snorkel. China needs fuel cell technology of Siemens.
If South Korea (SK) belongs to China in future, it might secretly offer Siemens-based fuel cell technology to China [1].
[1] Currently Japan controls export of three strategic materials (hydrogen fluoride, fluorinated polyimide, resist) to SK. It is said that USA found smuggling of Japan-made strategic materials to unfavorable third countries such as North Korea, Iran and China by SK. USA notified this information to Japan and ordered Japan export control of strategic materials against SK. Currently, angry SK files this case a WTO complaint, and of course USA supports Japan.
Hi Pete
Just now, Japan PM Abe has decided to resign. He reportedly suffers from recurrence of ulcerative colitis, intractable disease. His resignation will has great impact on Asia-Pacific defense strategy.
Regards
Hi Anonymous [at August 28, 2020 at 4:08 PM]
That is major new that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinzo_Abe
has decided to resign for health reason "He reportedly suffers from recurrence of ulcerative colitis, intractable disease."
After leading Japan since 2012 and being very knowledgable about defence Abe will be missed.
It will be interesting to see if Japan's defence policies change.
Regards
Pete
Hi ghalibkabir [your August 27, 2020 at 8:22 PM]
Chinese onselling all types of weapons (including nuclear) to Pak to surround "box in India" is a plus for China and Pak.
Yes China's growing economy, US like dedication to a high defense budget and ability to reverse engineer and improve on weapons all point to China
being able to buy PEMFC AIP from the Germans and then refine it to something better than Germany's in the medium-long term.
In the short-medium time China may buy-improve better Stirling AIP for its own and Pak's new Yuans.
Might Pak discard MESMA on its Agosta 90Bs then put Chinese Stirling in place of it?
Pete
Hi Anonymous [at August 28, 2020 at 11:39 AM ]
Yep China has a lot of money to buy all types of advanced German submarine tech (eg. AIP) just like South Korea does.
It is already known MTU has factories in China making MTU 396 and MTU 4000 marine engines (see https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rolls-royce-and-china-yuchai-to-jointly-produce-mtu-engines-300222849.html ) which China's large economy has alreaady optimised for submarine use.
See a 2013 report https://tiananmenstremendousachievements.wordpress.com/tag/submarine-engine/
"Arms trade data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) to the end of 2012 shows that 56 MTU-designed diesels for submarines have been supplied to the Chinese navy."
--------------------------------------
China buying German submarine tech via third countries is also what economic superpowers do.
Regards
Pete
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