b********n
发帖数: 38600 | 1 http://gizmodo.com/5928295/chinas-df+21d-missile-is-a-one+shot-
Since the end of WWII, America's naval might has been undisputed and our
aircraft carriers have been its crown jewels. However, the days of dominance
could end with China's new DF-21D ballistic missile—the only device on
Earth capable of sinking an aircraft carrier—four and a half acres of
sovereign US territory—with one shot.
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi0d-eFiGN4&feature=player_embedded
The DF-21D (Dong-Feng 21 variant D) is the world's first and only anti-ship
ballistic missile (ASBM). It's a two stage, land-launched missile with a
maximum estimated range of 2,700 to 3,000 km. Its single fuel-air explosive
warhead packs 200 to 500 kilotons. It was developed by China Changfeng
Mechanics and Electronics Technology Academy as part of the country's
massive military modernization effort, an initiative focused primarily on
developing overwhelming missile technologies for which there are no
effective defenses. The Defense Department believes it entered active
service around 2009.
While the Chinese obviously aren't saying much on the inner workings of the
new missile system, military experts believe it will rely on China's Over
the Horizon radar (OTH) to monitor a 3,000-km swath of the South China Sea,
where China is now claiming dominion over. The OTH system bounces its radar
signal off the ionosphere to see past the curvature of the earth. If the OTH
detects a carrier battle fleet, the system instigates a set of Yaogan
satellites to search the area and provide precise targeting data.
Additionally, when the OTH detects an approaching fleet, the system will
reportedly launch a swarm of micro-satellites into low orbit where they will
help refine the targeting data further and transmit it back to the onshore
command center. Meanwhile, UAVs will be launched to track the fleet. Once
the missile has been launched and separated from its first stage, the
warhead employs synthetic aperture radar to find the carrier. It receives
real time telemetry data as it locks onto its target and initiates its
terminal descent.
This capability could be used to effectively deny US carriers from
intervening in, say, the Taiwan Strait. It could also be used as a very
large stick in resolving local territorial disputes. Many members of the
security community also worry that the FAE warheads could easily be replaced
with nuclear ones. If that occurred, it would very lead to an arms race
with Japan and India (neither of whom are particularly fond of the Communist
PRC). Or, it could dissolve the US-Russian INF Treaty, which prevents the
two countries from from deploying short and intermediate range land-based
ballistic and cruise missiles. [Strategy Page - Wired - Dept of Defense -
SinoDefense - Weapon and Technology - Wikipedia] |
|
