Chinese Navy submarines, ocean black holes, Kilo-class imported less than 30 years ago don't want it?

Zhanjiang National Defense Expo Park is quietly displaying a carefully restored 8771KM submarine at this moment, which is not unknown, but an outstanding representative of the shoot-down-class submarine that has attracted the attention of the world, the Kilo-class submarine. This submarine not only has a profound historical background, but also the first and only conventional submarine introduced by the Chinese Navy from Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Historically, the Chinese Navy and the Soviet Union (later Russia) have a long history of submarine technology exchanges. As early as the 50s of the 20th century, the Chinese Navy introduced the Type 613 submarine from the Soviet Union, which is known to us as the Type W submarine, with the domestic designation Type 6603, which was later renamed Type 03. Subsequently, the Soviet Union provided China with more technologically advanced Type 633 submarines, which we call Type 033. The introduction of these submarines laid a solid foundation for the modernization process of the Chinese Navy.

In the late Cold War, the Chinese Navy successfully developed the deeply improved Type 035 submarine, which became the main submarine model of the Chinese Navy before the end of the Cold War, demonstrating the continuous progress of mainland naval technology. Despite the fact that we have achieved certain successes, we did not have such advanced conventional submarines as it before the introduction of Kilo-class submarines. The introduction of Kilo-class submarines is undoubtedly an important milestone in the history of the development of the Chinese Navy. With its excellent performance and advanced technology, this submarine has brought a qualitative leap in the Chinese Navy's anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare capabilities in shallow coastal waters.

Kilo-class submarines are known not only for their powerful firepower, but also for their low-noise characteristics. The introduction of Kilo-class submarines provides strong support for the Chinese Navy to perform a variety of tasks, such as patrolling, reconnaissance, escort and strike.

Today, the restored 8771KM submarine is quietly displayed in the Zhanjiang National Defense Expo Park, as if telling us its glorious history and outstanding contributions to the Chinese Navy. Its existence is not only a witness to the development of the Chinese Navy, but also an expectation and encouragement for the future development of the Chinese Navy.

An in-depth examination of the development of the Chinese Navy in the 80s shows that the Type 6603, Type 033 and Type 035 submarines, which were widely used at that time, were obviously relatively backward and outdated in terms of technology. This lag is not only reflected in a single technical level, but also in the overall backwardness of the entire submarine system.

First and foremost, the technical limitations of sonar systems stand out. The sonar system used by these submarines is still in the active sonar stage of searchlight rotary sweeping, which lacks spectrum analysis function, and its performance is almost equivalent to that of the sonar system of World War II, which is difficult to meet the needs of modern warfare.

Secondly, the backwardness of the weapons system is even more alarming. Due to the lack of acoustic performance, the performance of domestic torpedoes has long failed to meet the standard. Until the 80s, our submarines still relied mainly on direct-sailing torpedoes when attacking targets, and did not yet have the ability to launch anti-ship missiles underwater, which greatly limited the combat range and power of submarines.

These submarines also have significant deficiencies in their quietness. These submarines were designed and built without adequate consideration of the effects of the marine acoustic environment and without the installation of effective sound-dampening nets. At the same time, the design of its propeller also lacks advanced performance optimization, resulting in large noise during the navigation of the submarine and easy to be detected by the enemy.

From a tactical point of view, the Chinese Navy in the 80s still adhered to the tactical concept of air diving and fast diving, and regarded submarines mainly as a kind of underwater torpedo boats equipped with large direct-sailing torpedoes. Although this tactical concept has its rationality in a specific historical period, it has become too simplistic and backward in modern warfare.

It is not difficult to see that in the eighties there was a significant gap between the Chinese Navy and the advanced countries in terms of submarine technology. We need to further increase investment, strengthen technology research and development, and personnel training, so as to narrow the gap with advanced countries and enhance the overall strength of the mainland navy.

Looking back at the past, in the field of conventional submarines of the Chinese Navy, the Type 039 was once regarded as the pinnacle of technology, and compared with the world's top Western conventional submarines, we can still feel the subtle gap, like a runner who continues to forge ahead, although the speed is fast enough, but the leader in front is still out of reach.

However, history always favors those who are far-sighted and prepared. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Chinese Navy keenly seized new opportunities and set its sights on Russia's newest conventionally powered submarine, the Type 877. It is like a beacon on the sea, illuminating the way forward for us. Compared to the Type 039, the Type 877 showed significant advantages in hull design and tactical performance. Its unique teardrop-shaped design not only surpasses the cigar-shaped appearance of the 039, but also provides more space in the interior of the yacht, while significantly improving the quietness performance. This is not only a technological leap for the Chinese Navy, but also a firm hope for us to catch up and surpass the West.

Not only that, but the Type 877 submarine is also equipped with an advanced large-diameter stop-and-stop sonar array, making it more competitive in underwater combat. It's like equipping a runner with a stronger pair of legs, making them more comfortable in the race. This technological innovation has made us deeply realize that only by continuous learning and progress can we be invincible in the fierce international competition.

The transformation from Type 039 to Type 877 is not only a leap forward in the technical strength of the Chinese Navy, but also an improvement in our national self-confidence. It convinces us that nothing is impossible as long as we are willing to put in the effort. In terms of silent technology, the Project 877 Kilo-class submarine is distinguished by its excellent silent performance. It adopts a variety of noise reduction measures, including single-shaft propulsion, the interior of the submarine is divided into six watertight compartments, etc., so that it has a highly automated reloading system, a single launch tube can be reloaded in 15 seconds, and all six torpedo tubes can be reloaded in two minutes. These designs and configurations made the Project 877 Kilo-class submarine one of the quietest submarines of its time, earning the title of "black hole of the ocean".