Submarines Role on the War on Terror and Beyond

• Conventional Operations Capability
  Regardless of air defenses, precision missiles, or weapons of mass destruction, submarines can enter the marine battle space and deliver conventional strikes every time.
• Special Operations
  Submarines can insert and extract special operations teams in many of the most dangerous and critical environments.
• Surveillance and Reconnaissance
  Unpredictability, proximity, endurance, and stealth make submarines ideal surveillance and reconnaissance platforms. They see what no one else can.
• Intelligence
  Stealth and high-technology components on submarines collect unique and critical intelligence about America's adversaries during tines of peace and war.
• Sea Control
  The vast blend of submarine capabilities make it the linchpin in America's ability vs ongoing struggle to assure trans-oceanic and littoral sea control during times of tension and conflict.
• Mine Warfare
  Submarines are adept at both laying mines, and detecting and reporting mines.
• Nuclear Deterrence
  Many nations maintain significant nuclear war fighting capabilities. Submarines can provide unique early indications and warnings regarding deployment of these assets.
• Conventional Deterrence
  Potential adversaries cannot know where U.S. submarines are, increasing risk in any operations, such as an invasion of Taiwan.
  

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Where is the Risk and Who's the Threat

 

 

THE CHINA THREAT IS REAL

• At the same time the U.S. submarine force dips to 40 or below, China is expected to have nearly 100 modern submarines.
• The Chinese trend is clear: According to Congressional Research Service (CRS), China will have commissioned at least 16 new attack submarines from 2005 through 2006.
• In 2005 alone, China had no less than 25 attack submarines under contract, with at least 16 under construction. Three shipyards in China and three in Russia are building submarines for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.
  
  

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It is not just the growth of the Chinese submarine force. Numerous other threats are emerging every day that increase the value of America's submarine force.

 

• Other nations are operating submarines.
  For example Russia maintains 53 submarines, North Korea has 26 and Iran has 3.
• Anti-ship cruise missiles are proliferating at an alarming rate.
  One of the greatest threats to America's surface fleet is high-speed, anti-ship cruise missiles. The Russians, Iranians and Chinese all proliferate these weapons, against which U.S. surface ships have limited defenses.
• Submarines are immune to surface dispersed nuclear and electromagnetic weapons.
  The spread of nuclear weapons to non-traditional nuclear states radically alters the
  vulnerability of America's fighting forces. Submarines are among the few American assets that can survive either a nuclear strike or an electronics-frying, nuclear-generated electromagnetic pulse.
• Technical information gathering is widely available.
  More nations are gaining access to high-technical capabilities, such as satellite
  surveillance, previously controlled by only a few countries. Submarines provide the United States with an asymmetrical advantage that allows it to maintain its military superiority.