The US-led coordinated strikes on Syria last week, in response to the Assad regime’s suspected use of chemical weapons, has given the Chinese military more impetus to develop its own precision airborne strike systems.
The Pentagon once again showcased its highly sophisticated weapons capabilities when targeted missile strikes allegedly crippled Assad’s chemical weapon facilities in the Syrian capital of Damascus and elsewhere.
People’s Liberation Army strategists and weapons experts followed the operation closely, taking note of the allied forces’ preparedness and potency in launching offensives.
US Joint Staff Director General Kenneth McKenzie said earlier this week that together with France and the United Kingdom, the joint raid deployed 105 missiles on Syrian targets and all the aircraft used returned safely to their bases.
The Beijing-based Global Times has admitted that the US “leads the world in precision strikes with battlefield experience and a comprehensive arsenal.”
Precision strikes rely on military expertise in global reconnaissance and early warnings, directing and navigating attacks as well as data links and command systems.
The tabloid also noted that the PLA has been quietly honing its precision attack capabilities over the years, building on China’s strides in technology such as with global navigation and positioning systems. For instance, more BeiDou satellites will be put into orbit this year to beef up coverage and precision to rival the military version of the US’s Global Positioning System.
State broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Monday that the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force had “activated” new intermediate, long-range missiles tailor-made for precision strikes against targets both onshore and offshore.
These missiles could contain nuclear warheads, but the report did not give details about the missile’s specifications.
Some analysts believe the missiles could be a new variant of the DF-26 class, with a hit radius of 3,000-4,000 kilometers that brings the US military installations on the outpost of Guam within its range.
Information on the DF-26 since its media debut at a 2015 parade show that the versatile and conventional anti-ship ballistic missiles, nicknamed Guam Express, can look for and lock onto moving targets on land and at sea, such as an aircraft carrier, while cruising at a top speed of up to 18 times the speed of sound after re-entry into the atmosphere.
As shown on the CCTV program, a PLA Rocket Force brigade is equipped with 18 such missiles.
Chinese commentators say they believe that the timing of the DF-26’s entry into full deployment versus the Pentagon’s ongoing raid on Syria can be a hint of the covert rivalry between Beijing and Washington as China’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ma Zhaoxu, joined his Russian counterpart in condemning Washington’s “encroachment of Syria’s sovereignty and UN’s principles.”
Are you happy with what America done to MENA- Middle East Nations.. That America is the Invader and Destroyer of Gods Creation… Killed Millions of Innocent people for the glory of greater Israel… For thier GREED Of G.O.D- Gold,Oil,Drugs.. Try to put your feet inside other shoes…
chinese missiles are not battle-tested.
America, back to the age of the wild wild west. Donald Trump, the Marshall.
Sure
Don’t blag so much about Russia’s weapons which have not been used in real situation yet!
Amr Boudj Who cares about the numbers of soldiers?
Does you mean when half of your population gone then you start to believe the nuclear weapon of the opposing party ?
Sofisticated. you say ! 71 where brought down by Syrian army!
Ground zero would have looked like the lunar surface if all 105 missiles had hit the 3 targets.
China’s missile is just like fire crackers never hit the target.. .and China’s army has no experience in war. ..
Amr Boudj in medieval times, wars were won by men, now by advanced weapons of war. even if china has the largest army, it still has to bring its war machine to the war front that is tantamount to suicide given the sophictication and ability of its opponent to annihitate a fighting force. tactical movements can no longer be concealed from the peering eyes of advanced surveillance sattilites. numbers is not a guarantee for victory in modern warfare.
speculative.
Russia hasitated to deploy S-300 , S-400 in Syria
The Chinese out number the Americans in number of soldiers.
The Russians were not telling the truth…
Lies. Out of 105 missiles launched by the US and its allies, 71 of them knock down by the old Russian anti missile used by the Syrians. What if the sophesticated S400 anti aircraft/ missile beind activated and use to counter those attacks of US and its allies? Surely embarassing isn’t it?
Df 26…a fire cracker missile….or just a vintage missile…before they lunch the missile is already blowned by b52 bomber….
The PLA defends China properly, always. The American war-makers are always playing "the short game" looting and plundering national wealth as much as possible, and when the wealth is gone so will too be the war-makers, retired to tropical mansions or where ever they will vanish to, the looting finished. The nation will revert to a primitive, natural anarchy of no interest to industrial states.
Peter Muyonga Shimenga: Sure, that must be why the Syrians were dancing on the streets after the "devastating" attack. Seriously.
"The Pentagon once again showcased its highly sophisticated weapons capabilities when targeted missile strikes allegedly crippled Assad’s chemical weapon facilities.." Urm, only if you believe the mainstream media. The Russian military has reported that the Syrian Arab Army, operating Soviet era anti-missile systems, took out 70% of the Tomahawks.
That’s impressive. On the Russian end. We’re not even taking about the S-300 and S-400 yet.