10 December 2020

China Shipbuilding, CASC sign deal on military technologies

by Jon Grevatt

The China Shipbuilding Corporation (CSC) has entered a “strategic co-operation agreement” with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) to develop military technologies.

The agreement was announced on 11 December just a few days after CSC – also known as China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) – signed a similar strategic accord with CASC’s sister enterprise, the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC).

The China Shipbuilding Corporation has signed a collaborative agreement with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), developer of the autonomous D3000 unmanned oceanic combat vessel (pictured). (Janes/Kelvin Wong)

Both arrangements are expected to be focused on integrating capabilities in C4ISR, unmanned systems, missiles, and advanced weaponry – the specialisms of CASC and CASIC – into naval projects undertaken by CSC, which dominates China’s naval shipbuilding sector.

CSC said in a statement that its new agreement with CASC, which was signed on 7 December in Beijing, will promote technological innovation, independent capabilities, and the joint expansion of aerospace and naval ship technologies.

It added that under the accord the two state-owned corporations will “expand new areas of co-operation in scientific research and production, industrial development, technological innovation, international business, skills, and culture”.

CSC also made direct reference to Chinese government ambitions to develop world-leading military and defence-industrial capabilities in China. “The two corporations will take this opportunity to… jointly build a world-class military, aerospace power, maritime power, manufacturing power, and science and technology power,” it said.

CSC signed a similar agreement with CASIC on 1 December. This accord was also aimed at supporting closer joint projects in military research, development, and production activity, with an emphasis on supporting programmes for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

The China Shipbuilding Corporation (CSC) has entered a “strategic co-operation agreement” with the C...

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