Latest Chinese Missile To Target US Carriers

MISSILE NEWS

Dongfeng class missiles.

by Staff Writers
Tokyo (AFP) May 16, 2007
China plans to equip its upcoming missiles with infrared technology to give them the ability to hit US warships in Asia, a Japanese newspaper said Wednesday. The upgrade is part of preparations for a potential conflict over Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory and which has a security pact with the United States, the Sankei Shimbun said.

Citing unnamed military sources in Japan and Taiwan, the conservative newspaper said that China was developing an infrared detection system for its medium-range Dongfeng-21 missiles so they can pinpoint warships.

The upgraded Dongfeng would discourage the United States or Japan from sending in their warships equipped with the Aegis technology designed to shoot down incoming missiles, the newspaper said.

The Dongfeng-21 has a range of some 2,150 kilometers (1,350 miles). The Sankei estimated that around 100 are deployed.

Western analysts have also speculated that China is also developing a next-generation long-range Dongfeng-41 capable of hitting the US mainland.

Beijing has repeatedly threatened to invade Taiwan, where nationalists fled in 1949 after losing the civil war to Mao Zedong's communists, if the island declares formal independence.

The United States and Japan in a first-of-a-kind statement in February 2005 declared that a peaceful resolution of Taiwan Strait issues was a common strategic objective of the Pacific allies.

Source: Agence France-Presse

Email This Article

MISSILE NEWS

Lockheed Martin-Built Trident II D5 Successfully Launched In Atlantic Two-Missile US Navy Test

Cape Canaveral FL (SPX) May 17, 2007
The U.S. Navy conducted a successful test launch yesterday, May 15, of two Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missiles (FBMs) built by Lockheed Martin. The Navy launched the unarmed missiles from USS Tennessee (SSBN 734) in the Eastern Range in the Atlantic Ocean. With this two-missile Follow-on Commander Evaluation Test, the Trident II D5 missile has achieved 119 consecutive successful test launches since 1989 - a record unmatched by any other large ballistic missile or space launch vehicle.

SUPERPOWERS EU Adopts Common Defence Industry Strategy Warming In Asia And Africa Threatens US Key Arms Control Treaty On Verge Of Collapse Says Russian General Revising The CFE Treaties To Counter ABM Doctrinal Changes	NUKEWARS Hopes Rise For North Korea Nuclear Deal North Korea Says Work To Transfer Bank Funds Under Way Iran Claims To Be Making Steady Progress In Enriching Uranium Ahmadinejad Warns US Against Military Action
MISSILE NEWS Latest Chinese Missile To Target US Carriers Lockheed Martin-Built Trident II D5 Successfully Launched In Atlantic Two-Missile US Navy Test Raytheon And Aerojet Test New Propulsion System For Air-Launched Missile Defense System North Korea Unveiled New Ballistic Missile	MISSILE DEFENSE Czech Battle To Convince Hostile Public Over US Missile Shield Japan Wants Higher-Altitude BMD Research With US Missile Defense Funding Reaches Compromise Point Experts Inspect Czech Radar Site As Poland Holds ABM Talks With US
AEROSPACE Australia Fears Jet Flight Guilt Could Hit Tourism Nondestructive Testing Keeps Bagram Aircraft Flying New FAA Oceanic Air Traffic System Designed By Lockheed Martin Fully Operational NASA Seeks New Research Proposals	UAV NEWS New Generation Of UAVs Could Borrow A Few Secrets From Bats Elbit Systems Introduces Silver Marlin Unmanned Surface Vehicle Northrop Grumman Demos Low-Cost Autonomous Control System For Recon Planes Northrop Grumman Communicates Over-the-Horizon Using Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
IRAQ WARS Origins Of Shock And Awe An Iraqi Compromise Plan Bush Picks New General To Act As War Czar Of Iraq And Afghan Campaigns Secrets Of The Surge	MILTECH Northrop Grumman's Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload Embarks On Performance Phase Of Flight Test Program Proposed Cuts Endanger Future Combat System Warns Pentagon Brave New War New Concept Gets Latest Technologies To Warfighters Quickly

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement