Posted on 02/17/2016 2:36:20 AM PST by deks
Fox News reported that China had moved surface-to-air missiles to the Paracels, identifying them as two batteries of the HQ-9 system, along with radar targeting arrays. The missiles have a range of about 125 miles, making them a threat to all forms of civilian and military aircraft.
The move would follow China's building of new islands in the disputed sea by piling sand atop reefs and then adding airstrips and military installations. They are seen as part of Beijing's efforts to claim virtually the entire South China Sea and its resources, which has prompted some of its wary neighbors to draw closer to the U.S.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
“The HQ-9 is a program to develop a new long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM). The HQ-9 development effort may be based on a Chinese-designed missile motor, search and guidance hardware based on the Russian S-300PMU, and guidance technology from the American Patriot. China purchased four to six S-300PMU batteries (48 to 72 missiles) in 1991 and purchased an additional 120 missiles in 1994. In 1993 it was alleged that Israel had transferred a Patriot missile or missile technology to China, though Israel denied the charges.”
-—snip-—
“The HQ-9 in terms of speed alone is not comparable with the US-Russian anti-missile capability. The HQ-9 has the world’s largest warhead [180-kg] to increase its lethalisty and integrated combat capability”
-—snip-—
“Now the HQ-9A system is believed to be comparable in performance to the Russian S-300PMU1 (SA-20).”
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/hq-9.htm
Nice of China to put their advanced stuff out on those islands where the SEALs can get a good look at them. Plus if they ever fire one in anger some SSN is going to TLAM that ‘island’ into a smoking hole in the water.
Ping
Sounds like a mission for a seawolf ...
Sat photos show 8 batteries with 4 missiles each. Confirmed this morning by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense.
HQ-9s use a phased-array radar that could have only come from our Patriots that were only deployed to Israel and Germany.
We haven’t had a POTUS that wasn’t either closely tied to pro- China trade or pro-China agenda since early 1989. China laughs at us even allowing their NK puppet to mock and embarrass us. We became weak in the eyes of China when they rolled tanks over protesters and later when they successfully forced our military aircraft loaded with sensitive classified equipment to land while the POTUS’s uncle was there fixing to have dinner. That one was the first defense & foreign policy disaster under W.
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