Strategy Page

choi

(1) Submarines: China Exports For The First Time. Dec 6, 2013
strategypage.com/htmw/htsub/articles/20131206.aspx
("Bangladesh has ordered two submarines from China. The specific type of sub was not mentioned but it was probably the Type 39 class, which is relatively modern and very similar to the Russian Kilo class that is a popular export item. This would be the first Chinese sale of their submarines and the Type 39 is the first successful Chinese designed and built submarine. * * * The Songs look a lot like the Russian Kilo class and that was apparently no accident")


(2) Naval Air: China Catching Up With X-47BNaval Air: China Catching Up With X-47B. Dec 1, 2013
strategypage.com/htmw/htnavai/articles/20131201.aspx

Quote:

"The US Navy’s X-47B UCAV (unmanned combat air vehicle) successfully carried out more tests aboard an aircraft carrier during November [following successful] carrier landings for the first time on July 10th. The November tests further stressed the capabilities of the automatic landing system, especially in high speed and complex (different directions) winds. * * * The X-47B made its first catapult launch from an aircraft carrier on May 14th 2013.

"In 2011, the navy successfully tested its UCAV landing software. This test used a manned F-18 that landed on a carrier completely under software control. * * * The navy expected some glitches and bugs and appears to be rapidly catching up to the reliability of commercial landing software (which has been used very successfully on UAVs) within months rather than decades.

"A Chinese UCAV, called the Li Jian, was photographed moving around an airfield under its own power back in early 2013, which is the sort of thing a new aircraft does before its first flight (which took place in November, 2013). * * * The Li Jian is similar in size and shape to the US Navy X-47B.