Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

WS-2D-made long-range rocket system
Eagle-range rocket system made SY400

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2008 Zhuhai Airshow years, China has an unprecedented number of new weapons debut, shows the tremendous progress in the defense industry. However, which is technically over the United States, Europe and Russia really is only one weapon, that is long-range rockets.

Lu Ting

biennial air show in Zhuhai, China’s new weapons and to show the world the main platform to promote export. November 4, 2008 opening of the Zhuhai air show debut of the new weapons, far more than many previous. However, and although many foreign experts see the tribute, but that the appearance of aviation, missiles and armored vehicles equipped with the most advanced compared to the United States there is a generation gap, only rocket system is an exception. Powers in the world has always been in the Army for the Chinese army, has the world’s longest range, the level of the most advanced rocket systems, fire fist striking force will greatly enhance the past, stressing that “close combat and destroy the enemy,” the tradition becomes “Remote enemy”, marking the operational concept has also been a big change.

fire cover all of Taiwan have considerable accuracy

first two Zhuhai Air Show, put on the stand-off “guard” a 1 (WS -1), and “guardian,” a 2 (WS-2) rocket model, and introduce a small amount of performance data. This “smoke and mirrors” type of show, attracted speculative foreign media reports of hearsay evidence, some domestic media straight called “Taiwan independence” nightmare, according to that he has a super-power and ultra-long-range distance. The latest model of the family “guard” a 2D ultra long-range MLRS first public display in kind, completely changed in the past half-shy cover the state, also conducted a live demonstration of weapons ready, indicating that after ten years of carefully orchestrated, Chinese opponents trump card is full of confidence.

for foreign military experts, the “guards” who had long been familiar with a 2, this type of gun in 2001 and exported to Turkey, NATO’s first Chinese weapons into the country’s precedent, the Turkish military parade will also be The show debut. Most experts and experts wonder is that the rocket diameter of 400 mm warhead weighing 200 kg, the maximum range of 200 km, is the world’s longest-range, similar weapons, enough to cover the launch from the Fujian coast of Taiwan, Taichung. Its accuracy (CEP) within the thousandths, although far less than ten thousandths of tactical missile accuracy to the standard rocket in terms of already very high. It attacks the target 200 km away, the deviation at 600 meters, enough to intensive fire also destroyed the airport, barracks and naval port and other large targets.

the physical debut in Zhuhai, is a complete set of “guardian,” a 2D rocket system, the launch vehicle, transport loading vehicles, command and communication vehicle components, rather a standard combat unit. With the early “guardian” -2 compared to other models. “Guardian” One of the main 2D performance indicators have improved significantly. The first is a substantial increase in its range, from early WS-1 and WS-2 type of 180 km and 200 km soared to 380 kilometers. The rockets also increased to 425 mm diameter, and weights about one-quarter increase. In terms of this range, this gun can be covered in depth in the mainland to Taiwan, any, some experts believe that setting is not primarily to 380 km range anti-”Taiwan independence” and would like to export. Due to China’s missile exports to follow the principle is the range can not exceed 300 kilometers, while the “guards” system, after all, is the “gun” instead of missiles, may by this international agreement.

new “guardian”-2D model than in the past the greatest progress, but also in the past only by the rocket bomb and other limited categories of high, increasing the blockade of the beach and the local airport for a remote mine bombs, cloud bomb, electromagnetic pulse bombs, cluster bombs, incendiary bombs and anti-armor targets of special homing missile. With the addition of terminal guidance equipment, the bomb much higher accuracy than in the past, the target can be a powerful anti-armor cluster weapon. In particular, is amazing, this gun also debut the latest configuration of a battlefield reconnaissance bombs, that is within rocket carrying a small unmanned aerial vehicles, launched the search after arriving over the target enemy ground targets and then guided attack. With these new kinds of bombs, “” Guardian of the rocket from the past can only play the “face” to be playing the “point”, has some close to the level of tactical missiles. In addition it can destroy the target, you can launch a remote attack mine, blocking the enemy in a certain area. In performance terms. The system has been under development over the Russian “Tornado” 300 mm multiple rocket launchers improved, including the United States and Russia, including countries in the same type of products can not compete.

the Zhuhai Air Show have a public debut of the new rocket – “Eagle” -400 (SY-400) guided rocket weapon system. Staff did not detail its performance, but said the system is the world leading level. From the appearance of view, the system uses the vertical launch approach, with this, we can confirm that it is not inferior to the range and power of the “Guardian” system, but will not exceed the amount of its launch vehicle similar body type. Some people think that this “Condor,” a 400 system may be the “guardian” derived from, and take more specific tasks. China’s first card from the military industrial complex have developed long-range rockets that can be seen, these inexpensive and diminished the power of the weapons and equipment the Army has become a research focus.

new rocket will change the face of the Army

national main battle weapons development plans, future operations should be based on the assumption that fixed, “designed to fit the fight what kind of weapons. ” The Zhuhai Air Show with the previous arms show the same country, the exhibition side only the physical display of weapons, models and describes performance, not to talk about their use of vision. Some foreign military importance of media in China, while new weapons. And analysis of the PLA have also infer the form of future warfare will be the appropriate changes.

80 years ago, China’s battle to be the main inland to lure the enemy to fight a battle of annihilation, but also mainly with weapons to fight close combat service, the Army played the longest range of firearms is only 30 km 130 mm cannon, various types of rocket range is less than this number. After the reforms, China’s leaders re-acquainted with the strategic situation, 90 years of war and the Gulf War and Kosovo demonstrate the information under the condition of the new style of military struggle, the military also recognizes that the future war as unlikely to have enemies from ground invasion, the future for the way the major ground war over the horizon should be taken to combat to defeat an accurate attack, paralyzing the enemy rather than deliberately pursuing “The Terminator”, long-range strike weapons, weapons should be the backbone of the Army, which in addition to the development of missiles to rocket as the outside also. Added.

United States, “Defense News” reports that latest issue of People’s Liberation Army against a newly developed surface-controlled long-range rocket system will be used in direct combat units. The U.S. side predicted that this new long-range rocket system, the rocket uses active radar guidance system inertial navigation, more accurate shooting, maximum range and precision to reach hundreds of kilometers, will be used to combat large-scale gathering of the enemy forces. Some experts also estimated that the PLA in the future terms of such rockets containing “Taiwan independence”, the other with expensive missiles to intercept simply unthinkable. Current state of the ballistic penetration ability, powerful, but after all, expensive and limited, only suitable for point against high-value targets, can not achieve the target of a large area of ??coverage. Once the outbreak of the war, the PLA urgent need for a fire on the enemy side cover some important goals, such as airports, missile sites, radar bases and beachheads in the implementation of large-density, high strength, continuous attacks, such weapons must have a long-range and certain precision, but also cheap to mass production. In all weapons, most of these requirements is no doubt that long-range, ultra long-range multi-barrel rocket launcher system.

Chinese army as a large number of long-range rocket systems and equipment, the scope of its operations will be greatly improved, long-range tactical combat ground forces by tens of kilometers distance to 200 km. Second Artillery missile, they can be responsible for hundreds of kilometers to thousands of kilometers of tactical missions. Past, mainly in the interior defense of military service, this can be achieved both offensive and defensive capabilities. But also from China’s financial and investment in national defense point of view, the Army would like to implement a comprehensive missile of high cost is not realistic, select the Launch Rocket System is a cost-effective than a good choice.

Chinese military enterprises to play a unique advantage

In recent years, China’s Zhuhai Air Show in Abu Dhabi and other defense and the Middle East are displayed on the exhibition ” Guardian “series rockets, and strive for the buyer, but also see this inexpensive and practical military weapon in the international market have a certain market. For many financial resources are not sufficient but would like to have the ability to hit long-range policy for countries to purchase high cost of tactical ballistic missiles and are subject to many restrictions, but lower prices rocket easy to use and maintain. The past, “Guardian” -2 buyers in the international arms trade in the not too, the main reason, although its accuracy is higher than other rockets, but after all, a hundred kilometers away, there will be hundreds of meters in error. Countries in the world for military struggle, especially local conflicts are particularly worried about harming innocent civilians, precision long-range rockets, the problem is not resolved it is difficult to be widely adopted and applied. The appearance in Zhuhai, “Guardian,” a 2D elastic especially highlighted the accuracy of species used, would have a number of countries, especially developing countries, appeal to the army, is expected to win a significant number of orders. In addition, “The Eagle,” a 400 (SY-400) guided rocket weapon system and other equipment may also enter the international arms trade market, the Chinese military enterprises of the unique advantages in this field will be full.

HD big picture: Eagle-made WS-2D and 400 long-range rockets

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