A number of naval ships from the US, Japan and India will participate in Malabar 2018 naval exercise off the coast of Guam from June 6 to 15, according to media reports from India. The Chinese military expert Du Wenlong said in an interview with China Central Television that the target of the exercise is the Chinese submarines and the drill is intended to limit China’s underwater activities.
据印度媒体报道，6月6日至15日，美日印将出动大批军舰在关岛附近海域举行马拉巴尔联合军事演习。军事专家杜文龙在接受央视采访时表示，此次军演目标直指中国潜艇，是为限制中国的水下活动。目前看，这种所谓的反潜形式，能够在理论上起到一定的威慑作用。但实战中，这种威慑作用低下。
According to Indian media reports, the ships participating in the exercises all constitute as main combat forces of the naval anti-submarine warfare operations of these countries. The participating ships are equipped with advanced anti-submarine equipment and weapons and the joint anti-submarine warfare will be the core of the drill.
从印度媒体公开的军演信息来看，参加演习的舰艇全部为美日印海军反潜作战的主力，舰上均装备反潜设备和武器。
India will send three ships from its Eastern Fleet, along with the Indian Navy’s long-range maritime patrol aircraft. The US will send warships including the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier and its shipborne early-warning aircraft, fighter jets, an attack-type nuclear submarine, and P-8A patrol aircraft. Japan will also dispatch a helicopter carrier, a Sōryū-class submarine, and a P-1 maritime patrol aircraft.
联合反潜将是演习的核心内容，印方参加军演的三艘军舰均来自印度海军东部舰队，一同前往参演的还有印度海军的远程海上巡逻机。美国海军参演的舰机包括“里根”号航母及其舰载预警机、战斗机、一艘攻击型核潜艇和P-8A巡逻机等。日本也将派遣一艘直升机航母、一艘苍龙级潜艇和P-1型海上巡逻机前往参演。
But why is the joint anti-submarine operations the main subject of the Malabar 2018 US-Japan-India joint drill?
那么，即将举行的美日印马拉巴尔联合军演为什么要将联合反潜作为主要内容呢？
Du Wenlong believes that the joint drill aims to form an integrated air-surface-underwater anti-submarine network to target Chinese submarines and to limit China's underwater activities. At present, this so-called anti-submarine methods can theoretically play a deterring role. However, in actual combat, this deterrence effect is low.
军事专家杜文龙认为，美日印马拉巴尔联合军演把反潜训练当成重点，而且在广阔海域举行，实现水下、水面、空中一体化的反潜网络，其目标直指中国潜艇，是为限制中国的水下活动。目前看，这种所谓的反潜形式，能够在理论上起到一定的威慑作用。但实战中，这种威慑作用低下。
"As for the so-called anti-submarine warfare, we have many means to respond. For example, we can reduce the noise of the submarines. With continuous technological improvement, our shock absorption and noise reduction technology has reached the world's advanced level," Du Wenlong said.
“对于所谓的反潜，我们对付的手段很多，比如技术手段上，可以让潜艇的噪声降低，随着国产舰艇技术不断进步，目前我们减震降噪技术已经达到世界先进水平。”杜文龙说。
Tactical coordination is also very important for conducting anti-submarine operations. For example, submarines can conduct stealth activities in the designated sea area with the help of surface and air operations. So, it's still a big challenge to locate a submarine in actual combat. Therefore, even though the target of this joint drill is underwater activities in China, the actual combat value is quite low.
战术方面的配合也非常重要。比如在水下潜艇活动过程中，通过水面、空中的掩护行动，可以让潜艇在预定海域隐蔽活动。所以，尽管此次军演目标直指中国水下活动，但实际作战价值相当低下，这也反映出美国在从亚太向印太转型过程中，对于中国的封锁和遏制，正在达到一个新状态。
Du believes that this joint drill also aims to promote the advanced anti-submarine equipment of the US. At present, Japan has developed a large number of P-1 anti-submarine aircraft. Although India has purchased a certain number of P-8 anti-submarine aircraft, it is far from enough for the US. If Japan and India can purchase a large number of US anti-submarine equipment in accordance with the US standards, it will have an important significance in binding allies, strengthening the so-called strategic alliance, and expanding arms sales.
杜文龙认为，此次军演，推销美国的先进反潜装备，也是题中应有之意。目前日本大量研制了P-1反潜机，印度虽然采购一定数量的P-8反潜机，但对美国来说，采购数量远远不够。如果日本和印度能够按照美国的标准，大量引进其反潜装备，这样，美国在捆绑盟友、强化所谓的战略联盟关系，以及扩大军火销售、弹装方面也有重要意义。
Disclaimer: The author is Huang Zijuan, reporter with the People’s Daily. The article is translated from Chinese into English and reedited by the China Military online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn. Chinamil.com.cn does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. If the article carries photographs or images, we do not vouch for their authenticity.
声明:本文作者为人民网记者黄子娟。本文由中国军网编译，文中出现的信息、观点均出自原作者，并不代表中国军网观点。中国军网不承担任何责任。
