Executive Summary
This RAND report analyzes the People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN) approach to maintenance management amidst its rapid modernization and fleet expansion. It examines how series production of new ships stresses the maintenance workforce and logistics, comparing the PLAN's strategy to the US, Japanese, and Soviet navies. The report highlights challenges in maintainer proficiency, a focus on self-sufficiency, and the organizational strain of sustaining a technologically advanced and growing fleet, which has implications for both competition and conflict.
Why It Matters
Understanding the PLAN's maintenance capabilities is critical for assessing its long-term power projection and operational readiness, directly impacting strategic competition and potential conflict scenarios.
Key Takeaways
- The PLAN is adopting a hybrid maintenance approach, combining self-sufficiency with reliance on higher echelons for complex repairs.
- Rapid fleet modernization has strained the PLAN's maintenance workforce and organizations, potentially leading to future overhaul backlogs.
- Despite efforts to promote innovation, the PLAN's maintenance culture still emphasizes strict adherence to standards, which could hinder adaptability.
- The PLAN's maintenance capabilities are crucial for its ability to sustain a modernized force, with implications for competition and conflict.
- The PLAN's maintenance approach is evolving, with a focus on improving organization, processes, and culture to sustain its most capable assets.
Strategic Relevance
The PLAN's ability to maintain its rapidly growing and modernizing fleet directly impacts its operational tempo, sustainability in prolonged conflicts, and overall power projection capabilities in the Indo-Pacific and globally. Deficiencies or strengths in this area will significantly influence strategic calculations for competitors like the U.S. and its allies.