Posted on 05/13/2016 9:13:23 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
The defence capabilities possessed by the U.S., Russia and India are among the main factors driving China to modernise its nuclear force and bolster its strategic strike capabilities, the Pentagon has said.
In a report to Congress detailing Chinas nuclear power, Pentagon on Friday said the country was deploying new command, control and communications capabilities to its nuclear forces to improve control of multiple units in the field.
China, it said, insists that the new generation of mobile missiles, with warheads consisting of multiple independently targeted re-entry vehicles (MIRVs) and penetration aids, are intended to ensure the viability of its strategic deterrent in the face of continued advances in the U.S. and, to a lesser extent, Russian strategic ISR (Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance), precision strike, and missile defence capabilities.
Similarly, Indias nuclear force is additional driver behind Chinas nuclear force modernisation, the Pentagon said in its report.
Through the use of improved communication links, ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) units now have better access to battlefield information and uninterrupted communications connecting all command echelons, the report said.
According to the Pentagon, China is working on a range of technologies to attempt to counter the U.S. and other countries ballistic missile defence systems, including manoeuvrable re-entry vehicles (MaRVs), MIRVs, decoys, chaff, jamming, and thermal shielding.
China has acknowledged that it tested a hypersonic glide vehicle in 2014. The countrys official media also cited numerous PLASAF (Peoples Liberation Army Second Artillery Force) training exercises featuring manoeuvre, camouflage, and launch operations under simulated combat conditions, which are intended to increase survivability, it said.
Together with the increased mobility and survivability of the new generation of missiles, these technologies and training enhancements strengthen Chinas nuclear force and bolster its strategic strike capabilities.
Chinas nuclear arsenal currently consists of approximately 75100 ICBMs, including the silobased CSS4 Mod 2 (DF5A) and Mod 3(DF5B), the solidfueled, roadmobile CSS10 Mod 1 and Mod 2 (DF31 and DF31A), and the morelimitedrange CSS3 (DF4).
This force is complemented by roadmobile, solidfueled CSS5 Mod 6 (DF21) MRBM for regional deterrence missions.
Pentagon said Chinas nuclear weapons policy prioritises maintaining a nuclear force able to survive an attack and to respond with sufficient strength to inflict unacceptable damage on an enemy.
Further increases in the number of mobile ICBMs and the beginning of SSBN deterrence patrols will force the PLA to implement more sophisticated C2 systems and processes that safeguard the integrity of nuclear release authority for a larger, more dispersed force, it said.
The Pentagon said China continues to produce the JINclass nuclearpowered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), with four commissioned and another under construction.
The JIN will eventually carry the CSSNX14 (JL2) SLBM (submarinelaunched ballistic missile) with an estimated range of 7,200 km. Together these will give the PLAN its first credible longrange seabased nuclear capability. JIN SSBNs based at Hainan Island in the South China Sea would then be able to conduct nuclear deterrence patrols, it said.
AP
In this photo taken on Sept. 3, 2013 and released by the Chinese Navy on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, sailors line up on a Chinese nuclear submarine at the Qingdao submarine base in east China's Shandong province. In a sign of growing confidence, China's navy gave Chinese media on Sunday unprecedented publicity on its first nuclear submarine fleet, one of its most secretive military programs. China is devoting increasing resources to its naval forces to safeguard its maritime interests and assert its territorial claims. Orange blur in foreground is of flowers.
Ah.
It’s our fault that they want to conquer us.
Yeah what a bunch of bs.
Wrong. But it IS Bill Clinton’’s fault that they can successfully target our cities with nukes.
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