Posted on 01/26/2008 3:47:22 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Taiwan warship gets supersonic missiles
TAIPEI—Taiwan has installed locally developed anti-ship missiles on a warship in a significant boost of its naval defense against rival China, a report said Friday.
The supersonic Hsiung-feng (Brave Wind) 3 missiles were seen on the Perry-class Cheng Kung frigate in the southern port of Tsoying on Thursday, said the United Daily News.
The paper quoted commander-in-chief Admiral Wang Li-shen as saying that defense authorities will determine how to deploy the missiles and on which warships after testing is completed.
It also cited an unnamed navy official as saying that the authorities hope to wrap up testing by the end of the year.
Analysts say the Hsiung-feng 3 can be fitted with a variety of guidance systems and can function as a ship-to-ship, land-attack or anti-radar missile.
With a range of at least 130 km, the Hsiung-feng 3 has been designed to counter the Russia-made SS-N-22 Sunburn bought by China, analysts say.
Taiwan first unveiled the Hsiung-feng 3 missiles to the public in a rare military parade last Oct. 10, which was seen as a reminder to China that it has the weaponry to defend itself.
Beijing has repeatedly warned of an invasion should Taiwan declare formal independence.
In his New Year speech, Taiwan’s President Chen Shui-bian warned that China had increased the number of tactical ballistic missiles targeting Taiwan from 200 in 2000 to more than 1,300 now.
Taiwan and China split in 1949 at the end of a civil war, although Beijing regards the self-ruling island as part of its territory awaiting reunification. AFP
ping
We should just offer Taiwan a fully loaded Ohio Class sub.
Then they should declare independence.
Thats is a good idea. We should also give them a few Peachmakers, with 10 MIRV each. Should keep the dragon at bay a few more years.
We should probably buy some to replace the Harpoons.
Being an unsinkable island, Taiwan is in a position to decimate an invasion fleet with mobile land based ASCMs and landing craft with anti-tank missiles. Taiwan is also fortunate in having relatively few suitable beaches for amphibious assault, thus allowing them to focus their defense.
That said, they must be able to fend off a more distant blockade and protect their airspace from a major airborne assault.
Taiwan would have to do better than taking out only 10% of an invasion fleet if it wants to survive.
That depends. If the 10% is considered by the PLAN to be vital to the operation or if it consituties 90% of the first wave, then 10% of the total would likely be enough to cause a PLAN retreat.
The PLAN must cover 90 miles or more of water. If Taiwan could field a robust ASCM force, there is simply no way that China could make an amphibious invasion work.
Small infantry fired anti-tank weapons such as Javelin (two mile range) would be devastating to landing craft, even if the PLAAF owned the sky and the PLAN owned the deep water.
If I were Taiwan, I would heavily invested in such weapons.
Didn't know they used solid propellent for ram jets. Does it work sort of like a wood pellet furnace?
That’s the most common kind. It reduces weight by about 1/3 by using atmospheric oxygen just like a jet engine does. I’m not sure how they ensure proper mixture, but I doubt its in pellets, as that would create an uncrontrollable rate of burn, or at least a faster rate than they would want.
If past experience in Korea was an example the PLA will not retreat even if taking 90% loses in a first wave. After all they are only cannon fodder peasants and of no real importance to the party.
The Korean strategy is not relevant today. They won't be swimming to Taiwan, and China is not willing to lose its Navy. Nor would China consider losing a military confrontation with Taiwan to be an acceptable option.
Thus, always making it a real possibility is a must.
Harpoons are only a little over 30 years old...what’s the big deal? ;-)
The SS-NX-26 isn’t fun, either. What’s the latest on them...did China get some, anyone know?
Thank you General. I'll just shut up and listen.
Thanks for the promotion, but General is two up from my pay grade. Now for the relevant facts:
The Korean War was over 50 years ago. There is no more reason to think that the Chinese would fight a modern war in the same way, than there is to think that we would have taken Civil War muskets into action during WWI, or that the Germans would have used human wave tactics during WWII (because they had only 25 years before).
To trap yourself into thinking that your enemy never changes, never matures is both illogical and deadly. If the Chinese were to send men into such a meat grinder today, they would have mass desertions.
At 300 million, we have a far greater numerical advantage over most of our opponents than the Chinese do over us, yet we don't have human wave tactics in our play book.
The Harpoons are still as advanced as anything out there.
There is no firm evidence that China has got the SS-N-26.It’s probably building it’s own supersonic missiles.
Mach 2.5 provides many advantages to an ASCM, all other things being equal. The Soviets-Russians have poured tremendous R&D into ASCMs to make up for their lack of aircraft carriers. IMHO, they have the best ASCMs in the world.
Im not sure about the ‘brains’ & countermeasures capability aspect of most Russian weaponry.That being said,a supersonic weapon usually has lesser sea-skimming capability & also a larger IR/radar signature than a subsonic weapon.It’s not for no reason that the main western powers have not gone in for supersonic weapons yet.Frankly,both types belong to different niches-really can’t compare the 2 together.Fact is that most ships & subs(or aircraft) can deploy the bigger Russian weapons.
The 27 can be launched from a sub, surface, or air contact.
The kinetics of E= 1/2 mass x velocity squared is hard to argue with. These large missiles have far more destructive power than their warhead weight belies. 800 kilos (empty weight) going 1400 mph has more destructive force without a warhead than a Harpoon warhead delivers.
The U.S. has never considered the ASCM as the end all of anti-ship weapons. A 2000 lb. Mk-84 with a laser designator is far more destructive. The Harpoon is a great weapon, but I would not describe it as the pinnacle of ASCM technology.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.