1st Oct 09: The dragon will display its teeth - Broadsword by Ajai Shukla - Strategy. Economics. Defence.

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Wednesday 2 September 2009

1st Oct 09: The dragon will display its teeth



Photo: A missile believed to be the Dong Feng 41



By Ajai Shukla

While the Pakistani doctoring of first class Harpoon anti-ship missiles into third-rate anti-shore missiles grabs world attention, China has given notice that it will soon display the latest additions to its technologically world-class arsenal of missiles.

On Tuesday, exactly one month before its National Day Parade on 1st October, an unnamed official from China’s missile establishment briefed a group of journalists to announce that the highly anticipated military parade will provide a first-ever view of five new missiles, including a nuclear capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The official confirmed that all these missiles have already entered service with the military.

Dong Feng – 41?

Most keenly anticipated, is China’s new third-generation ICBM, the Dong Feng – 41 (Dong Feng means East Wind), which has been in development for a decade but has never been publicly seen before. The DF-41 can be launched from a mobile firing platform. It is believed to be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to within 700 metres of a target 12,000 kilometres away. Its payload consists of a single 350-400 kiloton bomb (20 times more powerful than the nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki), or 3-6 MIRVs (multiple independently targeted re-entry vehicles) with the explosive power of 100 kilotons each.

This would be the first public viewing of the DF-41. The last National Day Parade on 1st October 1999 (this is held once every decade) provided the first outing for the DF-31, China’s current-generation ICBMs).

The DF-41 uses the first two stages of the DF-31, but an enlarged third stage extends the DF-41’s range to 12,000 kilometres. The DF-31 was designed for firing from submarines, as well as from land, and the consequent size constraint restricted the missile’s range to 8000 kilometres.

In addition to the extended range, the design technologies used in the DF-41’s warhead payload are expected to be more contemporary, enhancing stealth and MIRV capability.

Julang – 2 (NATO reporting name: CSS-NX-4)

In addition to the DF-41, China is expected to unveil its Julang-2 SLBM (submarine launched ballistic missile; Julang means Great Wave), which will provide a reality check to India’s naval planners. Dwarfing the 750-kilometer range K-15 missiles on India’s recently-launched nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, China’s JL-2 SLBMs can lob far more powerful nuclear warheads at targets 8000 kilometers away.

The JL-2 is believed to be a development of the DF-31. It will probably be deployed on China’s new 094 Class nuclear missile submarine, or the Jin Class SSBN, each submarine carrying 12 JL-2 missiles.

China holds its National Day Parade once in a decade; this one will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. Watchers of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will use this opportunity to assess China’s latest military hardware, much as Soviet-watchers did during the May Day Parade in Moscow’s Red Square.

Opaque totalitarian states like the Soviet Union and China have traditionally used such parades as tools of nuclear deterrence, parading their newest missiles to confirm to potential adversaries that they can be deployed in any nuclear face-off.

But Li Jie, a PLA Navy expert in China, yesterday shrugged off suggestions of missile rattling, claiming that the parade merely reflected the current state of China's military weaponry. Straight-faced, he also declared that the parade demonstrated China's military openness and transparency and its adherence to international military standards.

The DF-41, like the earlier generations of ICBMs, will be deployed under the PLA’s 2nd Artillery Corps --- which is responsible for China’s land-based ballistic missiles. This formation has six ballistic missile brigades, deployed across, including in Tibet. Another artillery brigade, known only as Unit 84504, is believed to be deployed in Xinjiang, which borders the Indian region of Ladakh.

China’s nuclear and missile programmes have been conducted in the purposeful manner that characterises the People’s Republic. China’s first nuclear bomb was exploded in October 1964 at the Lop Nor test range; its first ballistic missile was successfully launched two years later in October 1966; and its first thermonuclear test (or hydrogen bomb test) was conducted in June 1967. When the Non-Proliferation Treaty opened for signature on 1st July 1968, China was officially a Nuclear Weapons State.


Julang-2 SLBM (Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile)

Platform : Jin class nuclear submarines (being developed)

NATO codename : CSS-NX-4

Range : 8000 km

Propellent : Solid

Warhead : Three 90 Kiloton, or one 250 Kiloton warhead

Accuracy : 500 metres


Dong Feng-41 ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile)

Platform : Land-based silos or mobile launchers

NATO codename : ?

Range : 12,000 km

Propellent : Solid

Warhead : 3-6 100 Kiloton, or one 350-400 Kiloton warhead

Accuracy : 700-800 metres


29 comments:

  1. "China will showcase five new types of domestically designed missiles at the Oct. 1 National Day parade, a leading missile expert from the Second Artillery Force, revealed Tuesday."
    http://nosint.blogspot.com/2009/09/5-types-of-missiles-to-debut-on.html

    Waiting anxiously for 1 oct to see what we are up against.

    ReplyDelete
  2. If even Janes expert tells that there is no doctering by Pakistan and we have seen Pakistan able to produce much better items then the Harpoon then it is a bit unwise to start a great article with the usual propaganda against your other neighbour...

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  3. So what's new here? We all already know that the Pakis and chinkis have a better missile programme than us while the DRDO idiots are busy making sivakasi rockets.

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  4. Anonymous 14:01, I'm optimistic you know the difference between ballistic missiles and guided missiles??? And that ballistic missiles can't be compared with guided missiles... since they're in two separate categories.

    Pakistan produces better missiles than the Harpoon? That's news to me!

    And Jane's "expert", who has never been near the Pakistani missiles knows more than the US Navy people who are verifying the status of those missiles under the EUM with Pakistan?

    Wow! I'd like to meet this guy...

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  5. Isn't it interesting how the Chinese boast about their missiles only after these are fully operational while we make a huge event of the first test launch of a missile, even if it is only a technology demonstrator. I think we should follow the Chinese model and unveil our missiles to the media only after they are fully operational. Or atleast claim that they are fully operational when we unveil them.

    Question 1- When/How does China test its ICBMs without letting the other countries get an inkling. I saw a TV report in the US where they made a big hue and cry (the reporter) about India testing a missile even after reporting that India had informed the US well in advance of the impending test.

    Question 2: If we scale up the Agni (i.e. make it carry more fuel), can the IRBM become an ICBM? Or are we trying to develop some path-breaking new technology to increase the range while keeping the size similar?

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  6. Pakis are also posting here. So request Ajai to remove those stupid harami comments of Pakis.

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  7. The K-X need to have good range and heavier payload.

    ReplyDelete
  8. mayuresh, we would love to but the media will cry itself hoarse on "DODO" "waste of money" "they don't do any work" "DRDO is a failure" and finally "disband DRDO".

    to stop the hyenas the govt asks the DRDO to come out with some of its successes. do you think anyone wanted the ABM projects to become public ?

    but the shrill media campaign against DRDO forced the GOI to disclose it to take the wind off their sails.

    Whose national interest do such media-persons serve ? certainly not India's.

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  9. ajai, what happened to the kaveri report you spoke about ?

    is it still coming ?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ajai Saab,

    If i were the enemy, would this not be the perfect time to strike India, I mean the IAF is depleting , the Navy is depleting, the Missile are of limited range and quantity.
    I am sure the Indians wont do anything about it, they just are waiting to get screwed. I believe it is the intent also not to increase it defense preparedness.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The reason behind India lagging behind the Chinese in missile technology is because the Indian political leadership had no interest in pursuing nuclear deterrence.It was only from Pokhran-II onwards that we seriously attempted to create the so called "credible minimum deterrence" or whatever.Prior to that the Indian leadership was only interested in "technology demonstrators" (Pokhran-1,Agni test-1989).The spineless leadership in this country were more interested in worthless projects like the Non-aligned movement

    ReplyDelete
  12. About Indian missiles do you think the BVRAAM Astra being developed could be modified into a long range SAM

    ReplyDelete
  13. Huh!
    Let them display their teeth or tongue. GoI will display it's tail and pot belly to the Chinese. We have done that in 1962 and we will do it again very soon.

    ReplyDelete
  14. what one can see if those missiles are kept in missile canisters

    chinese never show missiles but canisters,they won't do something like india did with agni3 last year jan26

    ReplyDelete
  15. About Indian missiles do you think the BVRAAM Astra being developed could be modified into a long range SAM
    .........

    no, but it can be made into a good quick reaction SAM like the spyder.

    ReplyDelete
  16. chinese never show missiles but canisters,they won't do something like india did with agni3 last year jan26

    India does many things china won't like behaving like a democracy with a free press.

    end point : stop making inane comparisons.

    ReplyDelete
  17. >>Anonymous 14:01, I'm optimistic you know the difference between ballistic missiles and guided missiles??? And that ballistic missiles can't be compared with guided missiles... since they're in two separate categories.

    Atleast you start communicating and that is something some people (18:12) cannot do. Degrading remarks is based on arrogance and not anything else. About BM and CM... Babur and Ra'ad are CM's. With ranges and payload increased and able to have land, sea and air launched versions shows that the oudated Harpoon (first delivery during Reagan administration) is not even intresting to be copied. And why are some crying if the next edition (so with the changed land attack option) is being delivered directly? Some people tend to act like expert and some people have not even the ability to show that.

    >>>Pakistan produces better missiles than the Harpoon? That's news to me!

    And you seems to be the best informed here... I am indeed suprised.


    >>>And Jane's "expert", who has never been near the Pakistani missiles knows more than the US Navy people who are verifying the status of those missiles under the EUM with Pakistan?

    Well, there were reports about WMD in Irac and we now know that these were handy for political purpose... This propaganda release is well timed to counter Pakistan. There is hardly anything valuable in it and if you seem to think that Jane's expert is less then you or US navy people then so be it. Doesn't make you credible nor people that do not want to be named... You have an opinion that is not based on facts. I can say that you should compare it what Jaswant Singh tells your entire nation... Facts are more important then propaganda.

    >>>Wow! I'd like to meet this guy...
    Who doens't... If you an pay the check you can do that probably. Listen friend. Just show the facts and specifactions of the, during Reagan administration delivered. Harpoons and explain me why shoudl a nation alter a short ranged Harpoon and arm a boycottable, slow flying, non stealth and totally not well equipped Orions while they could do a much better job with JF17 armed with Ra'ad... Or even with subs armed with Babur... They can produce larger numbers, change it when they want it and it has larger range. I doubt they will risk a prop plane flying near the Indian coast and the bashing by the Indian/US media that are crying as usual cause it might erode Indian superiority. If you buy 125 MRCA, make the LCA as good as 4.5 gen or whatever then a few altered Harpoons would be laughable...

    I hope that some posters stop degrading people with different opinions. If they have no clue what they write or even the basic facts then they surely are waste of bandwith. I do my best to stay polite but somehow some people are deaf, dumb and blind...

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous 02:49,
    1. what's the issue with calling a Paki and Paki. Lets just be objective about this.

    2. Non of the cruise missles you mentioned have been tested on anything more than tagets and there are no idependent reports of their sucess. Has anyone ever seen the babur or raad hit anything. Harpoon is a proven weapon that has been tested again and again and used my tens of countries so making it land attack in a different issue altogather.

    3. Do you have a facts to prove that US Navy is lieing, i mean expect your prejudices.

    ReplyDelete
  19. (I am a novice)

    I have a question regarding Pakistani babar missile?

    If the cruise missile needs a jet engine and that too miniaturised, how on the earth Pakistan produce that.

    Even Chinese can't seem to produce reliable fighter jet engine.

    Is cruise missile engine easier to make? Are they not comparable?

    And if Pakistan can make such a engine, how much time and money they must have invested in the technology?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great ...just great...

    Indian response: DRDO will add an extra kerosene can to the Agni, call it Agni-6SDKL and claim improved-extra-terrestrial-performance that can take out Beijing with our highly-tested-new-killer-bums...any takers?

    ReplyDelete
  21. @Anon @ 04:50

    If the cruise missile needs a jet engine and that too miniaturised, how on the earth Pakistan produce that.==== They probably imported the engine from China

    Even Chinese can't seem to produce reliable fighter jet engine. ===== A fighter jet engine is a completely different ball game. It needs a much higher life (say around 3000 hrs) while a cruise missile engine can do with a life of 10 - 20 hrs! So a cruise engine is easier to build as it can be allowed to fail after 20 hrs rather than the 3000 hrs that a fighter engine needs to stay

    And if Pakistan can make such a engine, how much time and money they must have invested in the technology? ===== They spent money on sucking upto the chinese to give them the technology, which they can now produce at their industrial complex.

    ReplyDelete
  22. You guys are having attitude about Paki's and Chinki's and everything they achieve is based on copy and stealing... You call it objective? The truth is that your mother is not able to build a decent weapon. Even the nukes were failed ideas and you keep telling to the world that it was a success. You guys are used to the fake reality of your Bollywood. Just like adoring Nero that wanted a partition (and 1 million deaths) while hating Jinnah and blaiming him for everything while he was secular and willing to join a federal India... Being allowed on the internet means unfortunately we have many idiots that have no clue what they say not do they behave.

    If you cannot handle the fact the Pakistani and Chinese are evolving faster then your so called indeginous (paint) projects that 100% fail then what is the reason you ask for comment? It is as hypocryte as possible... On the onther hand... We haven't seen anything normal coming from the helpdesk nation hat wants to be a superpower but fails to build anything.

    I guess the time has come to leave this nationalistic propaganda site. Bye!

    Enjoy yout blog cause somehow it is nothing more then personal view... And people with knowledge will pass it pretty fast.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I don't know why Pakis even bother to come to Indian blogs.At rediff.com, at youtube indian videos and now even this indian defense blog is infested with pakis.I guess even though Partition happened pakis can never learn to live without India.

    ReplyDelete
  24. @anon 02:11

    Be happy that they are only a handful. Pity, we can't pay back in the same coin, internet and english being prohibited from puki madrassas.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous 15:31India is a free country where people can express their ideas and concerns. They are free to go to the press and their material will be published without a threat to themselves. Therefore our failures and successes are openly discussed and remedies evaluated ( not always in the most productive manner). This is nothing like China where the press is gov controlled or Pak where the ISI controls everything including the gov. Do you seriously believe that a pak news paper will print that they got the plutonium nuke from china against every international treaty.
    I am always amazed that people from china and Pak are the once calling everyone else opinion propaganda, after all china censures all communications including internet access and pak has done more than once. So who is living in a fairly tale world and who is not.
    If Pak cruise missiles where so accurate and such a success why would they modify a Regan era missile, they same reason their front line fighter is a Regan era HW(F-16).
    If you really are the expert that you claim why would you try educating the enemy? Your own desperation gives you away … cheers

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  26. iam really anxiously wating for those newer miisiles not only missiles if possible they will stunn with whole new bunch of weaponary and give that prooved technology to pakis

    on other hand we have hijdo ka fouj in both armed forces and scentists scientists fail in each and every programm and armed forces dont take serious when enemies provoking [just recently chinkis heli and now their army crossing lacs]
    waq thooo who gonna take care of general public -politicians never so we left with one option pray god

    ReplyDelete
  27. ^^^ anon above, go to your room and study for clearly you have at least a decade of education in front of you.

    come here after that if you still feel like it.

    ReplyDelete
  28. this blog became like a critics blog

    ReplyDelete

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