Hahaha! Now the USA have to copycat Chinese anti-carrier missile

[obama.bin.laden]

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/01/hey-china-u-s-is-prepping-new-ship-killing-missiles-too/

Hey China: U.S. is Prepping New Ship-Killing Missiles, Too

* By Spencer Ackerman Email Author
* January 21, 2011 |
* 4:42 pm |
* Categories: Navy
*


Yeah, yeah, so the Chinese are working hard on a potentially deadly ballistic missile, designed to kill ships. That missile has long prompted a lot of debate about whether surface ships are ultimately a losing proposition for the U.S. Navy. If so, no one’s told the seafarers, who are moving forward with their own anti-ship missile upgrade.

Yesterday, Darpa and the Navy awarded Lockheed Martin $218 million to develop and test an experimental Long Range Anti-Ship Missile, a program to knock out enemy ships using guided missiles even when an adversary (read: China China China) is jamming the Navy’s GPS. The LRASM — “el-razzem” — will come in an air-launched version and a ship-launched one. It’ll use sensors made by BAE Systems to help it select targets autonomously. Lockheed vice president Rick Edwards boasted in a statement that the missiles will provide extraordinary range, willful penetration of ship self defense systems and precise lethality in denied combat environments.”

Exactly how extraordinary that range is remains unclear, making the program rather oddly named. A Lockheed spokesman said the company was hesitant to give out that information without the Navy’s say-so; and the Navy and Darpa are currently conferring to see if the range can be made public. I’ll update when and if I can, but at the very least, the missile will have to travel further than the 150 miles that aging anti-ship missiles like the AGM-84 Harpoon can reach. At least Darpa and the Navy are pinky-swearing that the missile will travel far and wide.

In any event, longer-range anti-ship missiles send a certain message: don’t bother developing a navy that can rival ours. Shipbuilding is expensive, which is one of the reasons the Chinese covet their DF-21D “carrier killer”: it’s a good tool to back a ship way out of your waters. But the People’s Liberation Army Navy is building its own aircraft carrier and expanding its own surface fleet. The U.S. Navy anticipates having the LRASM by 2013 — which essentially adds years onto the timetable for when China’s navy can outperform the U.S.’ No wonder Adm. Gary Roughead, the U.S.’ top naval officer, isn’t out of joint over Chinese seapower.

And then there’s what comes next for shipboard defense: lasers and electromagnetic railguns. The lasers burn through incoming anti-ship missiles; while the railgun sends a bullet at supersonic speeds to punch through a hull. Neither capability will be ready in the next decade, so consider the LRASM the interim step for distancing the U.S. Navy from its would-be rivals.

It’s not that the Chinese anti-ship missile isn’t a big deal. Nor is a debate about the future of surface warfare resolved or even put off by the U.S.’ countermeasure in building a longer-range missile. It just demonstrates that the U.S. is willing to make other modernizing navies consider the cost of challenging it at sea. And combined with its impending anti-missile lasers, which blunt the alternative to shipbuilding, the U.S. Navy is taking concrete steps over the near future to remain the undisputed master of the high seas. Now to see if it can keep agile, small missile-equipped boats away…

Photo: U.S. Southern Command

 

[obama.bin.laden]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2011-01/28/c_121035167.htm

美军效仿中国打造“舰船杀手” 剑指解放军航母
2011年01月28日 10:34:08 　来源： 东方网 【字号 大小】【留言】【打印】【关闭】

image
2009年，国庆阅兵式上亮相的二炮部队东风-21C中程弹道导弹部队

美国《连线》杂志网络版1月21日撰文《嗨！中国：美国也正在准备新型舰船杀手导弹》。文章表示，解放军“航母杀手”导弹已经引起美军高度重视与强烈反思，某种程度上正在重塑美国海军。就在解放军首艘航母“瓦良格”号即将首航之际，美军已经未雨绸缪，开始效仿中国，紧急研制“舰船杀手”导弹。文章如下：
　　
　　毋庸置疑，中国人为素有“航母杀手”之美誉的东风-21D反舰弹道导弹耗费了大量心血。“航母杀手”的出现引发美国海军内部热烈争论：这一新型导弹或许将让美国海军引以为豪的庞大水面舰队反成为其致命弱点。
　　
　　美国防务专家分析指出，东风-21D反舰弹道导弹是美国海军自第二次世界大战以来面临的最大潜在威胁，正在迫使美国海军作出必要的改变，以确保其固有的军事优势。美国军方人士透露，海军方面正在竭力探寻保护其航母的有效途径。鉴于东风-21D的射程长达900英里，美国海军正在“评估”和“规划”调整其太平洋舰队部署，以使其战舰远离东风-21D射程覆盖范围之外。
　　
　　在筹划被动调整部署的同时，美国海军也开始研制其自己的反舰导弹。美军内部消息人士透露，美国国防部高级研究计划署(DARPA)和海军方面已经于1月20日授予军工巨头洛克希德?马丁公司一份价值2.18亿美元的合同，用于研制并测试实验性远程反舰导弹(LRASM)专项计划。美国军方并对性能提出明确要求：即使在潜在对手(比如中国)对美国海军GPS全球定位系统实施干扰的情形之下，LRASM制导导弹也能有效击沉敌方舰只。
　　
　　根据美国海军需求，LRASM导弹将分为空射型和舰射型两种。该导弹还将使用英国航空航天系统公司生产的先进传感器，以自动识别选取攻击目标。洛?马公司副总裁吹嘘称，LRASM导弹将具备非凡的射程和精确的致命攻击性，可以在任何作战环境下来去自如，任意突破渗透敌方舰船的自我防御系统。
　　
　　然而，该导弹的所谓非凡射程覆盖范围迄今仍是一个谜。无论洛?马公司，还是美国海军与国防部高级研究计划署等均对此三缄其口，迟迟不愿将具体数据公诸于众。不过，有一点可以确定的是，新型导弹的覆盖范围肯定将大于濒临淘汰的AGM-84“鱼叉”反舰导弹150英里的射程。
　　
　　无论如何，射程更远的反舰导弹向潜在对手发出了一个明确的信号：即不要再白费心思，试图发展一支能与我们相匹敌的海军舰队。因为事实将最终证明，这一切是徒劳无功的。舰船建造代价高昂，这也正是中国改而诉诸东风 -21D“航母杀手”的一个主要原因：东风-21D毫无疑问是一个物美价廉的工具，可以有效迫使敌方战舰远离领海。
　　
　　与此同时，解放军也在建造自己的航母，并不断扩大其水面舰队规模。以下是当前中美军力的一个简单对比：中国年度国防支出约786亿美元，而美国高达7392亿美元；中国现役及预备役总兵力规模约279.5万人，美国约244.5万人；中国拥有各型战斗机1605架，美方则多达3695架；中国装备112架各型轰炸机，美方共配备154架；中国仅拥有1艘航母，美方则多达11艘；中国拥有61艘各型潜艇，美方则为72艘；……
　　
　　美国海军预计，LRASM导弹将于2013年装备部队，而这意味着中国海军要想赶超美国海军将需要耗费更多年时间。事实上，LRASM导弹仅仅是美国海军的过渡性武器，其最终目标是针对中国“航母杀手”打造新一代舰载防御系统：激光武器和电磁轨炮等。激光可以灼毁来袭反舰导弹，而电磁轨炮射出的超音速炮弹则可以击穿敌方船体。然而，激光武器和电磁轨炮可能需要十年之久才能准备就绪。
　　
　　是的，中国的反舰导弹的确是一个值得各方高度重视的重量级新武器。然而，在可以预见的未来，美国海军仍将无可争议的保持其远海霸主地位。(雅龙)

 

[obama.bin.laden]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2011-01/28/c_121035167.htm

美军效仿中国打造“舰船杀手” 剑指解放军航母
2011年01月28日 10:34:08 　来源： 东方网 【字号 大小】【留言】【打印】【关闭】

image
2009年，国庆阅兵式上亮相的二炮部队东风-21C中程弹道导弹部队

美国《连线》杂志网络版1月21日撰文《嗨！中国：美国也正在准备新型舰船杀手导弹》。文章表示，解放军“航母杀手”导弹已经引起美军高度重视与强烈反思，某种程度上正在重塑美国海军。就在解放军首艘航母“瓦良格”号即将首航之际，美军已经未雨绸缪，开始效仿中国，紧急研制“舰船杀手”导弹。文章如下：
　　
　　毋庸置疑，中国人为素有“航母杀手”之美誉的东风-21D反舰弹道导弹耗费了大量心血。“航母杀手”的出现引发美国海军内部热烈争论：这一新型导弹或许将让美国海军引以为豪的庞大水面舰队反成为其致命弱点。
　　
　　美国防务专家分析指出，东风-21D反舰弹道导弹是美国海军自第二次世界大战以来面临的最大潜在威胁，正在迫使美国海军作出必要的改变，以确保其固有的军事优势。美国军方人士透露，海军方面正在竭力探寻保护其航母的有效途径。鉴于东风-21D的射程长达900英里，美国海军正在“评估”和“规划”调整其太平洋舰队部署，以使其战舰远离东风-21D射程覆盖范围之外。
　　
　　在筹划被动调整部署的同时，美国海军也开始研制其自己的反舰导弹。美军内部消息人士透露，美国国防部高级研究计划署(DARPA)和海军方面已经于1月20日授予军工巨头洛克希德?马丁公司一份价值2.18亿美元的合同，用于研制并测试实验性远程反舰导弹(LRASM)专项计划。美国军方并对性能提出明确要求：即使在潜在对手(比如中国)对美国海军GPS全球定位系统实施干扰的情形之下，LRASM制导导弹也能有效击沉敌方舰只。
　　
　　根据美国海军需求，LRASM导弹将分为空射型和舰射型两种。该导弹还将使用英国航空航天系统公司生产的先进传感器，以自动识别选取攻击目标。洛?马公司副总裁吹嘘称，LRASM导弹将具备非凡的射程和精确的致命攻击性，可以在任何作战环境下来去自如，任意突破渗透敌方舰船的自我防御系统。
　　
　　然而，该导弹的所谓非凡射程覆盖范围迄今仍是一个谜。无论洛?马公司，还是美国海军与国防部高级研究计划署等均对此三缄其口，迟迟不愿将具体数据公诸于众。不过，有一点可以确定的是，新型导弹的覆盖范围肯定将大于濒临淘汰的AGM-84“鱼叉”反舰导弹150英里的射程。
　　
　　无论如何，射程更远的反舰导弹向潜在对手发出了一个明确的信号：即不要再白费心思，试图发展一支能与我们相匹敌的海军舰队。因为事实将最终证明，这一切是徒劳无功的。舰船建造代价高昂，这也正是中国改而诉诸东风 -21D“航母杀手”的一个主要原因：东风-21D毫无疑问是一个物美价廉的工具，可以有效迫使敌方战舰远离领海。
　　
　　与此同时，解放军也在建造自己的航母，并不断扩大其水面舰队规模。以下是当前中美军力的一个简单对比：中国年度国防支出约786亿美元，而美国高达7392亿美元；中国现役及预备役总兵力规模约279.5万人，美国约244.5万人；中国拥有各型战斗机1605架，美方则多达3695架；中国装备112架各型轰炸机，美方共配备154架；中国仅拥有1艘航母，美方则多达11艘；中国拥有61艘各型潜艇，美方则为72艘；……
　　
　　美国海军预计，LRASM导弹将于2013年装备部队，而这意味着中国海军要想赶超美国海军将需要耗费更多年时间。事实上，LRASM导弹仅仅是美国海军的过渡性武器，其最终目标是针对中国“航母杀手”打造新一代舰载防御系统：激光武器和电磁轨炮等。激光可以灼毁来袭反舰导弹，而电磁轨炮射出的超音速炮弹则可以击穿敌方船体。然而，激光武器和电磁轨炮可能需要十年之久才能准备就绪。
　　
　　是的，中国的反舰导弹的确是一个值得各方高度重视的重量级新武器。然而，在可以预见的未来，美国海军仍将无可争议的保持其远海霸主地位。(雅龙)

 

[obama.bin.laden]

US upgraded harpoon is still too small to compare with DF-21-D

http://weapons.technology.youngester.com/2010/08/df-21d-chinese-aircraft-carrier-killing.html

Thursday, 5 August 2010
DF 21D - Chinese Aircraft Carrier-killing missile
at 16:37
From Weapons and technology

Nothing projects U.S. global air and sea power more vividly than supercarriers. Bristling with fighter jets that can reach deep into even landlocked trouble zones, America's virtually invincible carrier fleet has long enforced its dominance of the high seas.

"China may soon put an end to that"

U.S. naval planners are scrambling to deal with what analysts say is a game-changing weapon being developed by China — an unprecedented carrier-killing missile called the Dong Feng 21D that could be launched from land with enough accuracy to penetrate the defenses of even the most advanced moving aircraft carrier at a distance of more than 1,500 kilometers (900 miles).

Analysts say final testing of the missile could come as soon as the end of this year, though questions remain about how fast China will be able to perfect its accuracy to the level needed to threaten a moving carrier at sea.

The weapon, a version of which was displayed last year in a Chinese military parade, could revolutionize China's role in the Pacific balance of power, seriously weakening Washington's ability to intervene in any potential conflict over Taiwan or North Korea. It could also deny U.S. ships safe access to international waters near China's 11,200-mile (18,000-kilometer) -long coastline.

While a nuclear bomb could theoretically sink a carrier, assuming its user was willing to raise the stakes to atomic levels, the conventionally-armed Dong Feng 21D's uniqueness is in its ability to hit a powerfully defended moving target with pin-point precision.

Funded by annual double-digit increases in the defense budget for almost every year of the past two decades, the Chinese navy has become Asia's largest and has expanded beyond its traditional mission of retaking Taiwan to push its sphere of influence deeper into the Pacific and protect vital maritime trade routes.

"The Navy has long had to fear carrier-killing capabilities," said Patrick Cronin, senior director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program at the nonpartisan, Washington-based Center for a New American Security. "The emerging Chinese antiship missile capability, and in particular the DF 21D, represents the first post-Cold War capability that is both potentially capable of stopping our naval power projection and deliberately designed for that purpose."

Setting the stage for a possible conflict, Beijing has grown increasingly vocal in its demands for the U.S. to stay away from the wide swaths of ocean — covering much of the Yellow, East and South China seas — where it claims exclusivity.

It strongly opposed plans to hold U.S.-South Korean war games in the Yellow Sea off the northeastern Chinese coast, saying the participation of the USS George Washington supercarrier, with its 1,092-foot (333-meter) flight deck and 6,250 personnel, would be a provocation because it put Beijing within striking range of U.S. F-18 warplanes.

The carrier instead took part in maneuvers held farther away in the Sea of Japan.

U.S. officials deny Chinese pressure kept it away, and say they will not be told by Beijing where they can operate.

But the new missile, if able to evade the defenses of a carrier and of the vessels sailing with it, could undermine that policy.

"China can reach out and hit the U.S. well before the U.S. can get close enough to the mainland to hit back," said Toshi Yoshihara, an associate professor at the U.S. Naval War College. He said U.S. ships have only twice been that vulnerable — against Japan in World War II and against Soviet bombers in the Cold War.

Carrier-killing missiles "could have an enduring psychological effect on U.S. policymakers. "It underscores more broadly that the U.S. Navy no longer rules the waves as it has since the end of World War II. The stark reality is that sea control cannot be taken for granted anymore."

Yoshihara said the weapon is causing considerable consternation in Washington, though — with attention focused on land wars in Afghanistan and Iraq — its implications haven't been widely discussed in public.

Analysts note that while much has been made of China's efforts to ready a carrier fleet of its own, it would likely take decades to catch U.S. carrier crews' level of expertise, training and experience.

But Beijing does not need to match the U.S. carrier for carrier. The Dong Feng 21D, smarter, and vastly cheaper, could successfully attack a U.S. carrier, or at least deter it from getting too close.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned of the threat in a speech last September at the Air Force Association Convention.

"When considering the military-modernization programs of countries like China, we should be concerned less with their potential ability to challenge the U.S. symmetrically — fighter to fighter or ship to ship — and more with their ability to disrupt our freedom of movement and narrow our strategic options," he said.

Gates said China's investments in cyber and anti-satellite warfare, anti-air and anti-ship weaponry, along with ballistic missiles, "could threaten America's primary way to project power" through its forward air bases and carrier strike groups.

The Pentagon has been worried for years about China getting an anti-ship ballistic missile. The Pentagon considers such a missile an "anti-access," weapon, meaning that it could deny others access to certain areas.

Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us

The Air Force's top surveillance and intelligence officer, Lt. Gen. David Deptula, told reporters this week that China's effort to increase anti-access capability is part of a worrisome trend.

He did not single out the DF 21D, but said: "While we might not fight the Chinese, we may end up in situations where we'll certainly be opposing the equipment that they build and sell around the world."

Questions remain over when — and if — China will perfect the technology; hitting a moving carrier is no mean feat, requiring state-of-the-art guidance systems, and some experts believe it will take China a decade or so to field a reliable threat. Others, however, say final tests of the missile could come in the next year or two.

Former Navy commander James Kraska, a professor of international law and sea power at the U.S. Naval War College, recently wrote a controversial article in the magazine Orbis outlining a hypothetical scenario set just five years from now in which a Deng Feng 21D missile with a penetrator warhead sinks the USS George Washington.

That would usher in a "new epoch of international order in which Beijing emerges to displace the United States."

While China's Defense Ministry never comments on new weapons before they become operational, the DF 21D — which would travel at 10 times the speed of sound and carry conventional payloads — has been much discussed by military buffs online.

A pseudonymous article posted on Xinhuanet, website of China's official news agency, imagines the U.S. dispatching the George Washington to aid Taiwan against a Chinese attack.

The Chinese would respond with three salvos of DF 21D, the first of which would pierce the hull, start fires and shut down flight operations, the article says. The second would knock out its engines and be accompanied by air attacks. The third wave, the article says, would "send the George Washington to the bottom of the ocean."