Report: Chinese Develop Special "Kill Weapon" to Destroy U.S. Aircraft Carriers

U. S. Naval Institute ^ | 3/31/09

[Evil Slayer]

With tensions already rising due to the Chinese navy becoming more aggressive in asserting its territorial claims in the South China Sea, the U.S. Navy seems to have yet another reason to be deeply concerned.

After years of conjecture, details have begun to emerge of a "kill weapon" developed by the Chinese to target and destroy U.S. aircraft carriers.

First posted on a Chinese blog viewed as credible by military analysts and then translated by the naval affairs blog Information Dissemination, a recent report provides a description of an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) that can strike carriers and other U.S. vessels at a range of 2000km.

The range of the modified Dong Feng 21 missile is significant in that it covers the areas that are likely hot zones for future confrontations between U.S. and Chinese surface forces.

The size of the missile enables it to carry a warhead big enough to inflict significant damage on a large vessel, providing the Chinese the capability of destroying a U.S. supercarrier in one strike.

Because the missile employs a complex guidance system, low radar signature and a maneuverability that makes its flight path unpredictable, the odds that it can evade tracking systems to reach its target are increased. It is estimated that the missile can travel at mach 10 and reach its maximum range of 2000km in less than 12 minutes.

Supporting the missile is a network of satellites, radar and unmanned aerial vehicles that can locate U.S. ships and then guide the weapon, enabling it to hit moving targets.

[Strategerist]

They sank an aircraft-carrier sized container ship (the "Atlantic Conveyor") but never got near the real targets.

The Argentinian Sub San Luis got multiple close range shots at the British Carriers, but because of a fault in their fire control system (someone cleaning contacts had switched two wires) all the torpedoes missed.

The British never came anywhere close to finding the San Luis and dropped over 100 torpedoes on assorted whales, etc. that they thought might be submarines.

[Freeport]

For the light beam itself this is true. But for the beam steering and tracking systems, it’s not trivial.

[Big_Monkey]

"We shot at, and hit, a freakin' junk satellite outside the atmosphere.

I believe that satellite was traveling greater than Mach 17 (roughly 12,000 MPH). I think most satellites above LEO travel at speeds in excess of 17,000 MPH. If we can hit that, we can hit anything.

[Strategerist]

This is different from the Sunburn anti-ship missiles they’ve brought from the Russians?

As many people have pointed out, these are BALLISTIC missiles that are traveling out of the atmosphere for most of their flight. Nothing like previous anti-ship missiles.

[Strategerist]

I think most satellites above LEO travel at speeds in excess of 17,000 MPH. If we can hit that, we can hit anything.

Satellites are much easier than an incoming IRBM or ICBM that may be launching decoys, etc.

Satellites have predictable, repeatable orbits you've tracked for months beforehand.

[Strategerist]

The question is “How would we respond?” Like “Nuke our fleet and 3 Gorges dam is GONE

Why are you assuming these missles are armed with nukes?

[Big_Monkey]

"Satellites have predictable, repeatable orbits you've tracked for months beforehand.

You are undoubtedly correct. But, that satellite's orbit had already begun to decay and I believe the satellite had started to tumble. But still, that would be much easier than hitting something that was only airborne for a few minutes. Hopefully, the missile shield technology can adapt.

[Paco]

uh, yeah, sniper63, you took the words right out of my mouth, I was thinking the exact same thing! I’m working on the math as we speak...let me know what you get first and I’ll tell you if you’re right. ;o)

[tc45a]

I am amazed at the number of Americans that continue to underestimate the ability of our enemies to think outside the box and be creative enough to defeat us. I am also amazed at the number of Americans that continue to overestimate the USA’s resolve and military power. A news flash - World War 2 was over a long time ago. Our current enemies are highly creative, almost as technologically sophisticated as we are (in some technologies they already lead), they are blessed with a huge advantage in manufacturing and manpower, they have overwhelming numbers of sometimes simple but effective weapons (as compared to our handful of smart weapons), and they are not hamstrung with political correctness and a self-hating political leadership. Some of you folks will still be blinded to this reality right up until the point that you get vaporized. And, while our enemies are dramatically improving their capabilities, we are a shadow of our former selves and our military and nuclear deterrent capability has been in radical decline since Daddy Bush was in office. The US hasn't fielded a new nuclear weapon in what, 2 decades? We have scrapped all of our Peacekeeper ICBM’s? These are only a few of the examples. I suggest some of you people regroup and reevaluate our security situation. The enemy is preparing for a checkmate, and it appears that we are not only allowing it to happen, but we are actually assisting in our own destruction. Repeat after me, the Islamic/terrorist enemy can do great damage to us, but only the clenched fist of Russia and China have the ability to annihilate the USA. Food for thought.

I'm reposting your comment. One of the best arguments I have read in a long, long time. Right to the point and accurate. Americans have become full of apathy and relying on past accomplishments to keep the warm and fuzzy feeling of security.

We are going to have our ass** handed to us one day unless we get out heads out of the sand regarding China.

[Mad Dawgg]

"Yeah, no kidding. My thoughts exactly. That’s 7,414.5 / MPH"

If it hit anywhere on the side of a ship at that speed it would make a hole in the side big enough to drive another ship through.

[SampleMan]

This is different from the Sunburn anti-ship missiles they’ve brought from the Russians?

Sunburn is <100 mile sea skimming cruise missile. This is a very long range ballistic missile.

[sam_paine]

It wouldn’t be necessary to use a nuke to take out the Three Gorges Dam; two or three well-placed cruise missiles with bunker-buster warheads would do the trick, I would think. Or we could fire 10 or more just to be sure...

You think this president is going to smash a public works project and drown 100s of thousands of civilians, displace millions from their homes....in retaliation for the Chicom Navy taking out what Obama probably considers an evil legacy of imperialist aggression (a carrier group)?

You're insane. Obama will send them a combo apology/thank you note.

[Strategerist]

Well, IRBMs aren’t doing Mach 10 at the surface after re-entry; more like Mach 7, IRRC.

You wouldn’t want to be hit by even a nerf football or a Q-tip doing that speed.

[Little Ray]

Yup. I think they’re nukes.
I don’t think the Chinese can hit a moving flight deck with a projectile from a ballistic missile; I don’t know if we can. The radius of error is too large.

[snarks_when_bored]

(heh)

[dragnet2]

Will this affect my stock in Walmart?

I hope people keep shopping there.

I quite shopping their years ago

But what about those great Walmart specials?

:o

[null and void]

Do you believe we would hit their cities with nukes in this case? I dunno, assuming in a coldblooded way the loss of 5-6000 US navy men, would the population of the US countenance the killing of millions of Chinese?

And one blond.

[dragnet2]

I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that we are extending preferential trade status to a country that is working on ways to militarily attack us.

The banksters demand it..And when everything goes completely south with Red China and it will, the banksters will make even more money when they demand a war to save their bottom lines.

[SuperLuminal]

"A reminder that fire one of these advance missiles and guess what will happen. Shortest war in history."

Not while oscumbo is our benevolent emperor.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Right now, the chinese have the high ground.

They know the current squatter in the White House would not dare to retaliate with unconventional weapons against them should they destroy one of our carriers. It's just not going to happen.

Every enemy we have is emboldened to mischief and it can all be laid back in the lap of emperor bammy and the damned fools who were gulled into believing his mantra of hopechange.

This nation is in grave danger every second that sneering scoundrel infests the oval office.