Article

2008-02-22 Science & Technology

The satellite shoot-down and China: doing the math

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Posted by Mike 2008-02-22 06:16|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [11133 views ] Top

#1 This explains their desire to get more subs. They can threaten one leg of our anti-ICBM triad, as well as hound our task forces.

Thanks for the intel spook.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2008-02-22 06:50|| 2008-02-22 06:50|| Front Page Top

#2 Nice to know. Thanks Old Spook

Posted by danking70 2008-02-22 12:53|| 2008-02-22 12:53|| Front Page Top

#3 The Chinese have only 24 confirmed operational ICBMs.

Why so few?

Posted by danking70 2008-02-22 13:55|| 2008-02-22 13:55|| Front Page Top

#4 Thank you Old Spook for the excellent coverage.

Guess that test puts my copy of Defcon out of date : )

Posted by swksvolFF 2008-02-22 15:16|| 2008-02-22 15:16|| Front Page Top

#5 The Chinese are not al lthat rich in terms of spending on tech. They ahve traditionally been more worried about India, Russian and Taiwan.

That and their military has always been an arm of the politics, and is more useful in control of the country than in fighting other places.

So they build enough to keep the Russians nervous, and to rattle at other people. Problem is the US BMD changed the equation, so they'll have to spend money now to modernize.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-02-22 16:00|| 2008-02-22 16:00|| Front Page Top

#6 The Indian BMD program is another problem for the Chinese.
They have had SRBMs based in Tibet aimed at Indian cities. India by contrast has had to develop longer range missiles to reach the main Chinese cities.

The Indian exo- and endo- atmospheric interceptors will handle SRBMs and some IRBMs, negating much of the Chinese arsenal. They will have to use their limited supply of DF-31 ICBMs to target India, which they would rather use to target the USA.

With India now attempting to develop interceptors capable of hitting ICBMs, the Chinese will have to ramp up production of a missile they have barely tested. They have reportedly had problems casting large diameter solid fuel rocket motors for the DF-31.

Posted by john frum 2008-02-22 17:16|| 2008-02-22 17:16|| Front Page Top

#7 As a reminder, CNN > WOLF BLITZER'S SITUATION ROOM > PENTAGON SAYS ALL SIGNS [post-strike/impact] POINT TO SUCCESS IN SATELLITE HIT/SHOOTDOWN.

A good start - hopefully, for the sake of future generations SHADO/SADE can improve upon same ala COMET APOPHIS = Year 2030 and anything, everything BIGGER AND BADDER TO COME, AND WIDOUT BLOWING UP MOONBASE ALPHA, ETC. ["SPACE 1999" show] + GOLD-LUMINOUS BRIT LUNAR BASE BABES ["UFO" show] IN THE PROCESS.

The setup/background for the next test of future OWG Planetary Defense will be realized this summer.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2008-02-22 18:46|| 2008-02-22 18:46|| Front Page Top

#8 Here's another thought: If the Russians see China fire all guns at us, what are they likely to do, and to whom?

Posted by Clyde 2008-02-22 20:47|| 2008-02-22 20:47|| Front Page Top

#9 90% of China's nukes (IRBMs, SRBMs and bombers) are aimed at Russia, India or Japan, not the US. The exceptions are US Asian bases.

Posted by ed 2008-02-22 21:02|| 2008-02-22 21:02|| Front Page Top

#10 The 31's are SLBM. ANd truthfully, givne the level of seamanship and engineering in the PLA Navy, I'd be surprised to see the submarine survive launching more than a couple of them. Not that they'd be caught and prosecuted by US ASW, but that they'd cook one off or sink the sub somehow.

FYI, the next gen Dong Feng DF-41 is a DF31 with a 3rd stage added. Not in service yet.

So the DF-5 (CSS-4) is the only land based ICBM platform they have.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-02-22 22:02|| 2008-02-22 22:02|| Front Page Top

#11 Good point there. China has to worry about the USA, India doesn't.

Posted by phil_b 2008-02-22 22:10|| 2008-02-22 22:10|| Front Page Top

#12 ANd just to put things further into focus - people wondering why only 24 ICBMs for china....

Now that a B-2 has crashed in Guam, we are down to just 20 B-2 bombers operationally. 20. Yep.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-02-22 23:29|| 2008-02-22 23:29|| Front Page Top

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