Re: The End of the Carrier Age?
There has not been so much as one verifiable operational test of a DF-21. Not one. When they launch them far out to sea at stationary and then moving targets the US Navy and the world will know...we will detect it and "see" it happen. Until then I will think there is nothing more to this than feint, bait, switch, and using "reports" of a weapon to create the illusion that the weapon is real in an effort to change the thinking of naval planners and particularly politicians on this side.
I have no doubt that they are researching something...but they are not far enough along to have live fire tests.
Even if they ever do, the US has already operationally tested defenses against incoming ballistic missiles. BMD is becoming a reality on AEGIS vessels, so the "new" weapon is playing against a growing and proven strength of AEGIS in any case.
There has not been so much as one verifiable operational test of a DF-21. Not one. When they launch them far out to sea at stationary and then moving targets the US Navy and the world will know...we will detect it and "see" it happen. Until then I will think there is nothing more to this than feint, bait, switch, and using "reports" of a weapon to create the illusion that the weapon is real in an effort to change the thinking of naval planners and particularly politicians on this side.
I have no doubt that they are researching something...but they are not far enough along to have live fire tests.
Even if they ever do, the US has already operationally tested defenses against incoming ballistic missiles. BMD is becoming a reality on AEGIS vessels, so the "new" weapon is playing against a growing and proven strength of AEGIS in any case.