Naval and Defense News

[kevinkins]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ernet.html

Not sure if I am all that surprised nor alarmed by this.

Kevin

[ExNusquam]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ernet.html

Not sure if I am all that surprised nor alarmed by this.

Kevin

That article is cancerous. "This often right before a missile is fired or a bomb is dropped on some suspected terrorist." Because the US government flies UAS constantly and only turns the sensors on when they're about to kill someone. The advantage of UAS is their persistence as intel collectors - not the fact that they can carry PGMs. I looked up the target coordinates, and it's right next to Eglin AFB in Restricted Airspace - exactly the spot you'd expect UAS to be training. As long as the feed isn't used for Intel or LE it's completely legal and normal operations.

Also "Dynamic content up to NOT SET"; apparently the IT guys forgot how to set classification levels, or pull it from the feed metadata. Idiots.

I eagerly await the article about how the US Army is invading south Texas by practicing convoy operations on public highways.

[Hongjian]

http://www.eastpendulum.com/df-26b-une- ... ee-chinois

A previously unknown variant of the DF-26 ASBM/IRBM was identified. The E/ADF-26B, or DF-26B booster stage crashed in western China after a successful full-range launch test near North Korea.

Henri.K thinks that the DF-26B might be the designation for the ASBM variant. The A-variant might then be the conventional surface-to-surface missile. A third version (C?) could be the nuclear variant. Lastly, there should be an extended range variant as well (D?).



The acronym is interesting:

The letter E here means Er ( 二 in Chinese) which stands for 二炮 (Second Artillery), former name of the Chinese rocket force. And the letter A signifies "Missile".

[Zaslon]

Impressive OODA. Only 2 secons between launchs in the Shtil-1 SAM system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJQ05pkdNFA

[Broncepulido]

USS Essex LHD-2 returns to sea on May 3, 2017, with added F-35B capability, the third big-deck ship with that capability (The others are very probably USS America LHA-6 and USS Wasp LHD-1, to be deployed this year first time operationally with 6, 10 or 16xF-35B):
http://navaltoday.com/2017/05/08/f-35b- ... ns-to-sea/

[Dysta]

DF-26B

I thought it has the size of a monstrousity, given by the range it has from DF-21 family already. It looks having between 1.2-1.5m or diameter, so it could have bit of an extra range, but we still yet to see the warhead.

It clearly see PLA doesn't give up on ASBM, even the advance ABM system and ships are around the sea already.

-----

Some medias start to over-analyze what is the E/A meant. One referred journal wrote stands for 'Electronic Attack', signaling the purpose to countering ABM radar including THAAD. But it's highly unlikely given by Chinese weapon systems doesn't use English-based Alphabets, except for few export variant's names.

http://3g.china.com/act/military/111327 ... 02517.html (Simplified Chinese)

[Hongjian]

http://www.eastpendulum.com/le-vrai-vis ... harp-sword

Henri.K reports that there are indications that the PLAAF might introduce the stealthy Sharp Sword UCAV soon.



According to rumors, it will be powered by a WS-13 engine (Chinese RD-33/93 derivative). I wonder if they removed the afterburner stage and modified the nozzle not to stick out of the stealthy airframe, though.

[Hongjian]

ORIGINAL: Dysta

DF-26B

I thought it has the size of a monstrousity, given by the range it has from DF-21 family already. It looks having between 1.2-1.5m or diameter, so it could have bit of an extra range, but we still yet to see the warhead.

It clearly see PLA doesn't give up on ASBM, even the advance ABM system and ships are around the sea already.

-----

Some medias start to over-analyze what is the E/A meant. One referred journal wrote stands for 'Electronic Attack', signaling the purpose to countering ABM radar including THAAD. But it's highly unlikely given by Chinese weapon systems doesn't use English-based Alphabets, except for few export variant's names.

http://3g.china.com/act/military/111327 ... 02517.html (Simplified Chinese)

Seems like the official side has responded.

China's PLA Rocket Force conducts missile test, defense ministry confirms

China recently conducted a missile test in the Bohai Sea, according to a statement on Tuesday posted by the Ministry of National Defense on its official website.
The People's Liberation Army Rocket Force carried out a mission in the Bohai Sea to test its new missile based on annual training program, read the statement. It also said the test had "achieved an expected result."
The ministry has not released any further information about the missile. The Bohai Sea is a body of water off the coasts of Tianjin municipality, Shandong, Hebei and Liaoning provinces.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d55444d7867 ... are_p.html



Henri.K says that this test was a submarine launched missile. He has registered two undersea ejections.
In his own words; "the submarine belongs to the navy, but not the missile"

If the E/ADF-26B was indeed launched from the Bohai Sea and not north of Korea as previously thought, it might indicate an entirely new SLBM variant of the DF-26 series.

Maybe this is the rumored sea-based variant of the ASBM?

[Broncepulido]

A very interesting site, not very updated, but with many very in-deep articles (In Brazilian Portuguese):
http://sistemasdearmas.com.br/
As example, towed decoy systems:
http://sistemasdearmas.com.br/ge/der1rebocados.html

[Dysta]

The debate of CH-? Ground effect drone, continues:

Most Western medias are still focusing its sea-skimming stealthiness, and countermeasures against it. Meanwhile, Russia is now paying interest to this drone too -- Sputnik mentioned that it can be used with a Shkval rocket torpedo (China bought them with Kilos before), which is the only source of foreign news saying it is a torpedo-dropping drone, not a cruise missile. The rest of article is the possible applications.

Also here is the artist's impression based on the photo:



https://sputniknews.com/military/201705 ... new-drone/

-----------------------------

The Diplomat also take three guesses of the recent test fire of Chinese missile from Bohai sea by PLARF: DF-26B, DF-21D and JL-3

http://thediplomat.com/2017/05/china-te ... peninsula/

[Hongjian]

Original source picture of the CH-X WIG drone.



That this is a torpedo dropping drone should already be confirmed, since the exhibition posters clearly state that. But Western defense press has chosen to ignore it.

On the other hand, this drone would also be suitable to carry a Klub-styled rocket boosted warhead with supersonic terminal speed.

[tomrlutong2]

So could we be seeing the (IMHO neglected) ASW component of China's area-denial emerging? Hunter-killer UAVs cued by passive diesel-electric boats? Certainly helps the "they're great until they move" problem with AEP subs.

Or if they want to really get fancy, combine these with a seabed sensor network? Sure would be handy to have a bunch of scattered islands to act as sensor network hubs and drone bases...

I haven't explored the game editor enough to know, would it be possible to build a South China Sea seafloor sensor network + torpedo firing drones vs. US subs scenario? Would love to see if the concept works.

[Broncepulido]

For CH-? you will need a container/launcher a lot bigger than for Klub or similar missiles.

[tomrlutong2]

Wouldn't it use a runway?

[Dysta]

ORIGINAL: tomrlutong2

Wouldn't it use a runway?

Well, the article said it can be take off from a rocket-boosted launcher and calm sea surface (amphibious?), but yet to be revealed.

The closest thing I can think of is also came from China -- the WJ-600 attack drone, it looks more like a proper cruise missile with bigger wings and external pylons than the mysterious ground effect drone. It must launch with rocket booster, and recover with built-in parachute.

http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft ... ft_id=1031

[redcoat]

It looks like Japan is opting for Aegis Ashore for missile defence rather than THAAD

http://www.the-japan-news.com/news/article/0003696092

[Hongjian]

Couple of PLAN news:

Second 45k ton Type 901 AOE was launched recently at GSI:



Hull 1 has docked in Zhanjiang Naval Base, South Sea Fleet. Indicating that the lead ship will serve in the SCS.
One can see the size of that ship, when compared to the Type 071 LPD.

[Hongjian]

Continuing:

A model was discovered, showing what appears to be the long rumored H-6KH (H = Sea/Navy) naval strike bomber variant of the PLAAF H-6K "God of War".
This model would confirm an earlier satellite picture indicating this variant.
As one can see, it carries a pair of KG800 OECM pods on additional hardpoints near the wing-tips and a KG600 self-defense jamming pod on a fuselage hardpoint. The satellite image could confirm the KG800s at the wingtip pylons.
Weapons includes the YJ-12 supersonic AShM and YJ-83K/H anti ship missiles on its six weapon pylons, among other things.






This variant has been long awaited, since it made no sense for the PLANAF to have mere two regiments of aging H-6Gs (converted from the old H-6D fleet) to carry the new YJ-12 AShM. The H-6K was always thought to be the perfect platform for maritime strike.

[Hongjian]

And finally, a new article by Henri K.

http://www.eastpendulum.com/debut-de-li ... ique-naval

In short; lots of very big-shots, Prof. Ma Weiming (called "father of Chinese EMALS") included, have visited the CSIC Institute 713 that is responsible for China's naval railgun research.
In this case, it appears that they were attending some gathering or ceremony that had something to do with China's railgun project and/or its ETC (Electrothermal-chemical) gun research.



In any case, such a visit by bigshots is usually a sign that the project has reached a certain milestone and the field tests arent far off anymore.

[redcoat]

The Japan Times has looked at today's North Korean missile test: Link