Posted on 04/06/2009 7:58:46 AM PDT by freedomwarrior998
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.
ASBM is said to be a modified DF-21 The ASBM is said to be a modified DF-21
While the ASBM has been a topic of discussion within national defense circles for quite some time, the fact that information is now coming from Chinese sources indicates that the weapon system is operational. The Chinese rarely mention weapons projects unless they are well beyond the test stages.
If operational as is believed, the system marks the first time a ballistic missile has been successfully developed to attack vessels at sea. Ships currently have no defense against a ballistic missile attack.
Along with the Chinese naval build-up, U.S. Navy officials appear to view the development of the anti-ship ballistic missile as a tangible threat.
After spending the last decade placing an emphasis on building a fleet that could operate in shallow waters near coastlines, the U.S. Navy seems to have quickly changed its strategy over the past several months to focus on improving the capabilities of its deep sea fleet and developing anti-ballistic defenses.
As analyst Raymond Pritchett notes in a post on the U.S. Naval Institute blog:
"The Navy's reaction is telling, because it essentially equals a radical change in direction based on information that has created a panic inside the bubble. For a major military service to panic due to a new weapon system, clearly a mission kill weapon system, either suggests the threat is legitimate or the leadership of the Navy is legitimately unqualified. There really aren't many gray spaces in evaluating the reaction by the Navy…the data tends to support the legitimacy of the threat."
In recent years, China has been expanding its navy to presumably better exert itself in disputed maritime regions. A recent show of strength in early March led to a confrontation with an unarmed U.S. ship in international waters.
If that’s a DU troll post, we need more like him/her.
The carrier can only manuever a certain amount in a given period of time.
I suspect the intent is to fire the missles in salvos and bracket the ship.
Thank the Clinton administration for giving the Chinese sophisticated missile tracking technology.
If you say so.
Possible ChiCom Troll sighting at #9
I have always thought ballistic missiles would be the Achilles heel of the supercarrier.
In a real war, they would be attacked with nukes delivered by suborbital projectiles.
please dont use such name calling on this site. I dont like being called an idiot, troll, child nor weasel.
You have been reported to the site managers.
I think you owe me and the other fine posters here an apology. your use of name calling and personnel attacks is not acceptable here.
If you dont apologize, i’ll ask the managers here to ban you from posting, you have clearly broken the rules here
try to stay on subject, if you object to what I or other post, come up with a good counter argument,your name calling is childish, and does nothing to help your cause, what ever that may be.
again I state that the US needs a strong missile defensive system. Be it airborne laser defense, ship borne anti-missile missiles or other technologies.
because we have been lacking in developing these defenses we are in danger. because we sold out to the chicoms with granting them free trade, and given them high tech knowledge, we have caused them to be a big threat. That threat needs to be neutralized.
China is not to be trusted.
Name calling posters are not post.
I am awaiting the apology from wtc911.
whats your probelm RC one???? I advocate a strong defense and you call me a DU troll? what the heck is that??? I dont like the way it sounds. I think you owe an apolgy. In fact why do you even post on this pro-America site if you dont like my post that states we need to better secure our carriers aginst commie ballistic missles?
care to explain that DU troll thing to me, or will your remain a rabid anti-strong defense nut job???
ok virgina ridge runner, what in my post makes me a chicom troll? I am not even sure what that term means, but I dont like the context of it.
So what specifically in my Pro_American defense post was so upsetting to you to have me be labled as a chicom troll?????
you got a brain dont you, so post it, what is wrong with my post????
here we got three posters that have called me names, and/or reported me for my por-american post.
I am thinking we got a bunch or anti-defense liberal posters here today.
Not if it takes 12 minutes to get there
Thank you. maybe now the likes of wtc911 and virgina runner will go away back to liberal land.
Kiss off, newbie...
dhm914
Since Mar 17, 2009
thanks!!!!
SOOOO BUSTED, he is.
Hey, noob...
Virginia Ridgerunner
You've posted a total of 222 threads and 10,592 replies.
You're protesting way too much. Makes me think even more that you're a new ChiCom troll, based on your sign-up date and iffy English in your posts.
Give a break. When he (they) promotes China, be alarmed!
To virgina ridge runner: you are posting name calling (noob????) and you just cant articulate what you object to in my original post.
now for you it is coming down to how many posts I have or my date of sign up?? what is with that?
does my date of sign up have any signicance??? please explain that??? are you a numeralogist?
You rather large number of posts, is no doubt made of onliner insults and name calling.
so stop the name calling, and please state what you find bad in my post???? where do you disagree with my post??
we need quality logical posts here, not this name calling that you and two others have started doing in responce to my post. i took the time and answered a posters question about carrier speed (about 50 mph) and gave my opinion that we need to beef up our missle defense. The airborne laser defense is neat technology, as is our antimissle missle system. we need more of that stuff.
so what do you not agree with virgina ridge runner????? (and try to keep the name calling out of your reply, please)
a await a civil discussion on the missle defense systems for our navy.
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.