The foremost
threat faced by the US Navy in the Indo-Pacific region, as emphasized
by a senior US Navy commander, lies in China's People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLA-RF).
Admiral Samuel Paparo, a four-star admiral and the current commander of the United States
Pacific Fleet, highlighted during an interview with CBS that China is utilizing its extensive
9,000-mile ( 14,485 km) coastline to redefine the principles of naval warfare.
Admiral Paparo pointed out that China has made significant investments in
advanced long-range precision-guided weapons, specifically mentioning the DF-21 and DF-26.
These cutting-edge weapons possess a formidable capability to effectively target enemy warships.
The PLA-RF has even referred to these advanced weaponry as "carrier killers,"
highlighting their potential to engage and target US naval aircraft carriers.
Furthermore, Admiral Paparo mentioned reports of Chinese military exercises conducted in desert
areas, where mockups resembling American ships, particularly Nimitz-class carriers,
were utilized as targets for training purposes. These exercises further
demonstrate China's focus on developing tactics to counter US naval capabilities.
In this video, Defense Updates analyzes why American general is concerned about
the Chinese PLA Rocket Force? Let's get into the details.
During the interview Admiral Samuel Paparo,
openly expressed concerns about the PLA Rocket Force, stating, "I worry. You know,
I'd be a fool not to worry about it. Of course, I worry about the PLA Rocket Force."
He emphasized that countering this threat is a daily priority, and the US Navy is
actively working on tactics, techniques, and procedures to effectively mitigate it.
The admiral also highlighted the ongoing development of defensive systems aimed at
safeguarding against potential attacks from the PLA Rocket Force. This demonstrates the
seriousness with which the US Navy approaches the challenge posed by China's missile capabilities.
The interview occurred in February aboard the aircraft carrier,
the USS Nimitz, deployed near Guam.
During the interview, when asked about the distance between a US
Navy aircraft carrier and mainland China, Admiral Paparo replied, "Fifteen hundred nautical miles."
The host expressed concern about the possibility of the carrier being
hit. Admiral Paparo acknowledged that if the Chinese military possessed accurate targeting
capabilities, they could potentially strike the aircraft carrier. However,
he reassured that the US Navy employs proactive measures to ensure the carrier's safety.
Admiral Paparo mentioned that military planners are actively devising strategies to counter
China's rocket force and exploring effective methods of retaliation.
Due to range limitations, aircraft deployed from ships near Guam would
require aerial refueling to approach Taiwan.
To launch missiles against any invading force targeting Taiwan, vessels like the US Destroyer
Wayne E. Meyer, which is part of the Nimitz strike group, would need to maneuver closer to China.
However, Admiral Paparo also emphasized that the United States is adaptable
and can employ agile strategies while advancing the development
of longer-range weapons to respond effectively to emerging challenges.
In a noteworthy restructuring effort within the People's Liberation Army (PLA), China undertook
the renaming of the PLA Second Artillery Force to the PLA Rocket Force on December 31, 2015.
This reorganization not only involved a change in name but also elevated
the force from its previous status as an independent branch to a full-service level.
The transformation within the PLA's military structure through this reorganization underscored
the growing significance and focus placed on the rocket force in China's strategic capabilities.
China's leader, Xi Jinping, who held key positions as Chinese Communist
Party General Secretary, Central Military Commission (CMC) Chair, and President,
has emphasized the PLA Rocket Force as China's primary force for strategic deterrence.
While the ruling Communist Party has consistently provided substantial support to the Rocket Force,
its prominence has further increased under the leadership of Xi Jinping.
The force now possesses an array of missiles in its inventory.
China has two missiles that are specifically
designed to neutralize supercarriers or large warships - DF 21D & DF-26B.
The Dong-Feng 21 is a two-stage, solid-fueled,
single-warhead medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) that has a speed of around 10 Mach,
a maximum range of around 1,450 km or 900 mi and carries a 600 kg or about 1350 lbs warhead.
DF-26B, developed from DF-26, is the Anti Ship variant and can hit naval targets.
It has a range of 4,000 km or 2,500 mi and is thought to be designed to
conduct precision nuclear or conventional strikes with an accuracy of 100 m CEP.
Apart from these, it has DF-ZF. DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle
is launched to extremely high altitudes using DF-17, where it skips across the Earth’s upper
atmosphere and then glides back, attaining a hypersonic speed that is more than Mach 5.
It is interesting to note that China has itself published a report,
according to which a barrage of 24 anti-ship missiles can sink a US carrier strike group.
To know more about that, check the video on the above card.
The communist country has not engaged in warfare since its
invasion of Vietnam in 1979. But the situation could change soon.
Several US military leaders and experts have
warned that the country could invade Taiwan in this decade.
Western defense analysts say that China’s deployment of these long-range
missiles serves as a deliberate and strategic message and demonstrates
Beijing’s resolve and capacity to resist any potential interference.
However, these weapons’ true reliability, accuracy, and payload capabilities have
yet to be tested in actual combat. It is also not known if China has
grasped the necessary expertise for a “carrier killer” ballistic missile to
detect, track, and strike a moving target at a considerable distance from the Chinese coast.
Also, it is unclear if the PLA Rocket Force can operate effectively in the
face of potential electronic, cyber, and physical attacks on launch facilities,
guidance systems, and command-and-control centers.
But there is no doubt that , since China's missile fleet
has experienced significant growth, it has become a formidable power.
While the United States possesses an arsenal of missiles that are
capable of intercepting incoming ballistic missiles such as SM-6,
it is evident that the PLA rocket force is a big challenge and can't be taken lightly.