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.

[Thumper1960]

I agree with you but one must remember who is the Commander in Chief these days. Would he have the guts to use a nuke?

We would be beyond caring what the fool who now occupies the office would care. As things are now, I'd support a military coup should the Reds play games.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

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.

1) As I understand it, if this missile works, it ia the first of its kind by any nation.
2) The US navy should be working very hard to do something about this threat, but as he promised in the election, Obama wants to cut weapons research.
3) This is one reason that I believe that the wealth that China accumulates in trading with us is dangerous.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

Unfortunately you'll notice that people are desperately clinging to the fantasy that it all ended with the election of George Bush.

Not only that, but Obama promised to cut weapons research. That must be what he means when he says he will "go through the budget line by line to eliminate wasteful spending. He doesn't intend to cut off money to ACORN.

[MediaMole]

The DF-21 is a ballistic missile, not a cruise missile.

Yes, it can fly at mach 10, but all ballistic missiles of a certain range have to.

The AEGIS system will have a field day with DF-21s.

[Gondring]

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

Especially against MaRVs.

[Will88]

This is all about Taiwan, and the old US commitment to defend that island nation if attacked. Our first line of defense of Taiwan has always been our carriers groups and other naval vessels in that area. For several years, the Chicoms have had a crash program going to develop systems to defeat our carrier groups.

Of course, our massive transfer of technology and jobs to China is financing this and their general military expansion and modernization. So, all you free traders, keep on working to send even more US plants to China to produce products to shipped back to the US. The Chicoms need the money to keep on modernizing their military, and to buy enough additional US debt to keep us continually wary of doing anything to upset them.

What a ‘brilliant’ strategy our China policy is proving to be. (They’re also working very hard on modern attack submarines and anti-submarine warfare.)

[Dick Bachert]

NOT TO WORRY. OBAMA HAS JUST THE WEAPON TO PROTECT THOSE CARRIERS.

Armed with a single MA-2 .50 caliber Browning, this much feared naval vessel carries up to 30 rounds of armor piercing ammunition. It is the first in an entirely new naval architecture being pushed on the Pentagon by the defense minded Obama Administration as a cost-saving measure. If you look closely, you can see the heavy-duty seat restraint which prevents the pilot/gunner – Kamakazi Kowalski – from leaping from the vessel prior to engaging the enemy. The 12 V trolling motor – which lacks a reverse function -- propels this sophisticated craft forward at a top speed of 4 knots. Reverse travel – at approximately 35 knots -- is achieved by firing the Browning.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

Of course, our massive transfer of technology and jobs to China is financing this and their general military expansion and modernization. So, all you free traders, keep on working to send even more US plants to China to produce products to shipped back to the US. The Chicoms need the money to keep on modernizing their military, and to buy enough additional US debt to keep us continually wary of doing anything to upset them. What a ‘brilliant’ strategy our China policy is proving to be. (They’re also working very hard on modern attack submarines and anti-submarine warfare.)

China is working on everything, including military nanotechnology applications and cyber warfare. The US military has not ever fought against an enemy who can kill our satellites (and if they can't do it now, they may be way ahead by the time we can get rid of Obama).

I always thought of our surface ships around China as a tripwire. Submariners call surface ships "targets."

[blasater1960]

If it is all that...mach 10 and steerable....guess that means we put a mini-nuke on the aegis system. Lets see it fly through a nuclear fireball....

Obama is the clear and present danger to the Unties States of America....not this China thing...(for now)

[Will88]

China is working on everything, including military nanotechnology applications and cyber warfare

That's true, but China has reverse engineered, or purchased from traitorous Westerners, or stolen through espionage, far, far more than they have developed on their own.

Thirty years ago they were still a very agrarian and backward society. The establishment of uncounted numbers of US factories and manufacturing processes in China handed them vast technological advances on a silver platter.

I've always believed our China policy will prove to be one of the most monumentally stupid in all of human history. We've done endless things to strengthen and advance a nation that might well become our most dangerous enemy ever.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

I've always believed our China policy will prove to be one of the most monumentally stupid in all of human history. We've done endless things to strengthen and advance a nation that might well become our most dangerous enemy ever.

"Our China policy" will be even worse under Obama, who is more concerned with greenhouse gases than weapons.

[JSteff]

Even more important, they do not value life as we do.

Our military gets in knots about “collateral damage”. No other force in the world has to worry about it's own legal system instituting legal action against it's own military.

Our officers have been conditioned to it. A JAG officer is a critical part of every mission planning. How screwed up is that?

[JSteff]

Expect multiple types used simultaneously.

[Always Independent]

One would think that the weapon would have to have an active seeker system to hit a moving targat involved because anything flying in close proximity to a carrier used to relay targeting info would be toast.

[JSteff]

Answering any deeper than that would be dangerous.

[TomasUSMC]

And we are converting Boomers to carry Seals and standard missiles. whoopy

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wWORTH REPEATING!!!!

Of course, thats all obambi has the guts for is sending white boys to die and blowing up empty caves.

[Always Independent]

One would hope so! How many hits do we need to take. As a nuclear power, the chicoms are not in our league.

[JSteff]

“Standard Missile”

Sadly they removed the inportant CIWS and though still listed on the DDG and CG’s they do not all have them. The problem with that is any target that gets through the Standard Missiles can not be effectively engaged.

[JSteff]

“Standard Missile”

Sadly they removed the important CIWS and though still listed on the DDG and CG’s they do not all have them. The problem with that is any target that gets through the Standard Missiles can not be effectively engaged.

[JSteff]

“unless they demand something first—like Hawaii.”

It will not be that blatant. Expect something less visual that an American president can hide in different language to the US population.