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Missile deal to boost Beijing's naval prowess
Taipei Times ^ | 6/18/02 | Brian Hsu

Posted on 06/18/2002 7:04:32 AM PDT by Enemy Of The State

Missile deal to boost Beijing's naval prowess

RUSSIAN CONNECTION: A military official in Taiwan said Moscow's deal for the sale of anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles is more a threat to the US than Taiwan
By Brian Hsu
STAFF REPORTER

Russia has agreed to sell China two powerful missile systems, including a supersonic anti-ship missile with a range of 300km, for use on two new Sovremenny-class destroyers it will acquire from Moscow, defense sources said yesterday.

The anti-ship missile, the SS-N-26 Yakhont, is much more powerful than the SS-N-22 Sunburn missile in service on two Sovremenny-class destroyers already in the Chinese navy.

The other missile that China will buy from Russia as part of the new arms deal is the SA-N-17 Grizzly anti-aircraft missile, which is an upgraded version of the SA-N-7 Gadfly missile.

"We tend to think the new missile system is aimed at attacking the US navy. But if they want to use the weapon against us, we have already developed a tactic to deal with the threat."
An unidentified naval general

The two Sovremenny-class destroyers already operational in the Chinese navy, called Hanzhou and Fuzhou, now count on the SA-N-7 as their main air-defense weapon.

The two destroyers of the same class that China is to get from Russia are expected to become a much bigger threat to the Taiwan navy with the deployment of SS-N-26 and SA-N-17 missiles.

In response, a naval general said the navy does not believe that China is buying the Yakhont for use against Taiwan.

"We tend to think the new missile system is aimed at attacking the US navy. But if they want to use the weapon against us, we have already developed a tactic to deal with the threat," the general said.

"The tactic, simply speaking, is to stay out of the firing range of the Sovremenny-class destroyers," he said, declining to speak more on the subject.

The tactic referred to was developed by Chief of the General-Staff Admiral Li Chieh (§õ³Ç) during his term as the navy chief.

The tactic, called "the navy's open-seas mobility," was initially developed for the four Kidd-class destroyers that the navy will buy from the US."

To counter the threat from the Sovremenny-class warships, the navy plans to deploy fleets led by the Kidds on seas far from Taiwan, in the vicinity of Guam. The tactic received much criticism from lawmakers on the legislature's Defense Committee when they were briefed during the previous session.

It was criticized by some lawmakers as "unrealistic" and "ridiculous," as they couldn't understand how running away from the enemy would win battles.

In the computerized war simulation of the just-ended Hankuang No. 18 exercise, the consequences of putting the Kidds in harm's way were highlighted, sources said.

In the game, which simulated a war in the Taiwan Strait in 2005, all four Kidd-class destroyers sank under enemy fire after they were forced to engage in battle.

But in the simulation, the Chinese used fighter planes, rather than the Sovremenny-class destroyers, to sink the Kidds.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: china
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1 posted on 06/18/2002 7:04:32 AM PDT by Enemy Of The State
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To: Enemy Of The State
"But in the simulation, the Chinese used fighter planes, rather than the Sovremenny-class destroyers, to sink the Kidds."

Simulation is the key word here...The so called Chinese "fighters" stand about as much chance against a US fighter pilot as a guy with one leg in a butt kicking contest.

Chinese "fighter" pilots dont even log 1/4 of the flight time that US fighter pilots do...

2 posted on 06/18/2002 7:07:50 AM PDT by Enemy Of The State
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To: Enemy Of The State
Due to the obvious overwhelming size of Chinas navy Im sure that US navy is just fightened to death about a confrontation with both of their ships. /sarcasm
3 posted on 06/18/2002 7:14:09 AM PDT by Enemy Of The State
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To: tallhappy; b4ranch; maui_hawaii; t-shirt; hopalong; backhoe; Rain-maker; Slyfox; Asclepius...

4 posted on 06/18/2002 7:14:55 AM PDT by Enemy Of The State
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To: belmont_mark
RUSSIAN CONNECTION: A military official in Taiwan said Moscow's deal for the sale of anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles is more a threat to the US than Taiwan

I remember Putin criticizing Bush for arming Taiwan, calling it equivalent to giving nukes to Iran. The SOB apparently knew what he was talking about. He was targeting the US indeed.

5 posted on 06/18/2002 7:42:59 AM PDT by lavaroise
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To: Enemy Of The State
The Chinese are going to continue to acquire and develop new weapons and then come up with ways to employ them in asymetrical fashions against us, and in more traditional fashions against weaker foes.

IMHO, if we are not very vigilant, if we do not change our current "engagement" policy to something more akin to what Reagan did against the Soviets, and if we do not cut off one of the major sources of the ChiComm funding (the tremendous trade imbalance) it will ultimately lead to conditions like those decribed here:


DRAGON'S FURY - BREATH OF FIRE

A story of the next World War

Volume Two will be available in July.

FRegards.

6 posted on 06/18/2002 7:58:01 AM PDT by Jeff Head
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To: lavaroise
Russia has sold arms to China for decades. The US has sold arms to Iraq and Iran and Afghanistan. Everyone has his customeres. Fact is, the US has sold more arms to countries it later deemed rogue nations than any country on earth. Big countries have big military budgets and need big financing from big arms deals. Goes with territory.
7 posted on 06/18/2002 8:04:21 AM PDT by mikhailovich
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To: mikhailovich
I was not talking about Russians, I was talking about Putin. As far as I know America is not selling arms to nations aggressing Russia these days. I think it is Putin that is not coming out of the cold war.
8 posted on 06/18/2002 8:14:48 AM PDT by lavaroise
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To: mikhailovich
Goes with territory.

This is true ... but so do the potential ramifications and consequences.

FRegards.

9 posted on 06/18/2002 8:31:07 AM PDT by Jeff Head
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To: Enemy Of The State
"We tend to think the new missile system is aimed at attacking the US navy. But if they want to use the weapon against us, we have already developed a tactic to deal with the threat."

An unidentified naval general

I'm sorry, but the last time I checked, the US Navy did not have "generals." Perhaps the author meant "admiral."
10 posted on 06/18/2002 8:33:47 AM PDT by Doc-Joe
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To: lavaroise
Putin was the best thing that ever happened since the Cold War. Judging from your many, many posts enamoring that era, you just cannot "let go."
11 posted on 06/18/2002 9:19:52 AM PDT by mikhailovich
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To: mikhailovich
Putin was the best thing that ever happened since the Cold War.

Please, you're going to make me cry for Little Andropov.

12 posted on 06/18/2002 9:37:15 AM PDT by lavaroise
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To: mikhailovich
Judging from your many, many posts enamoring that era, you just cannot "let go."

As if the onus was on me. Last I knew I do not have my hand on the button. But I guess it fits within the Putinesque sinless consumption of attacking others' personalities and behaviors while forbiding anyone from criticizing Putin ... or where did the Russian TV mass media go indeed.

13 posted on 06/18/2002 9:38:57 AM PDT by lavaroise
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To: Enemy Of The State
Russia has agreed to sell China two powerful missile systems, including a supersonic anti-ship missile with a range of 300km, for use on two new Sovremenny-class destroyers it will acquire from Moscow, defense sources said yesterday.

It can reach out 300km, huh?

OK, here's the really important question: can the Chinese detect, track, and classify targets at 300km?

14 posted on 06/18/2002 9:40:49 AM PDT by Poohbah
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To: Doc-Joe
I'm sorry, but the last time I checked, the US Navy did not have "generals." Perhaps the author meant "admiral."

I believe the author is Taiwanese, so when he(?) refers to "The" Navy he probably means Taiwan's.

15 posted on 06/18/2002 9:52:09 AM PDT by etsuVol
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To: etsuVol
Hmm. I guess "Taipei Times" should have tipped me off. Additionally, a previous line also spelled it out:
In response, a naval general said the navy does not believe that China is buying the Yakhont for use against Taiwan.
16 posted on 06/18/2002 9:57:25 AM PDT by Doc-Joe
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To: Poohbah
OK, here's the really important question: can the Chinese detect, track, and classify targets at 300km?

Do you mean in relation of the Sovremenny-class destroyers? They probably can at times with surveillance A/C or satellites, but only near home waters, and they surely can't do it with any consistency.

17 posted on 06/18/2002 9:59:19 AM PDT by demlosers
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To: demlosers
Ah, grasshopper, you begin to grow in wisdom.
18 posted on 06/18/2002 9:59:57 AM PDT by Poohbah
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To: Poohbah
Ah, grasshopper, you begin to grow in wisdom.

Master Kan, I thank you for spiritual growth and enlightenment.

19 posted on 06/18/2002 10:18:42 AM PDT by demlosers
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To: Poohbah; demlosers
Good points.
20 posted on 06/18/2002 11:31:10 AM PDT by batter
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