with DH-10 LACM, naturally.
In the age of internet, information can be borrowed without citing source.
I am shocked to see the following posted by Janes Defense Weekly this
morning…….They are calling Type052D a Frigate. JDW, you can do better.
Date Posted: 27-Jul-2012
Jane's Defence Weekly
China 'developing' navalised version of DH-10 cruise missile
J Michael Cole JDW Correspondent
Taipei
The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) appears to be developing a
ship-borne variant of the land-based Dong Hai-10 (DH-10) land-attack
cruise missile (LACM).
Images of the launcher mounted on PLAN test vessel hull 891 could be the
first strong evidence that the Chinese navy is evaluating or certifying
a naval variant of the DH-10 LACM. It would provide the service with
its first strategic land-attack capability.
The positioning of the launcher suggests a similar configuration to the
YJ-62 and YJ-83 anti-ship missile (ASM) launchers in service on PLAN
surface combatants. This could minimise the need for structural
modifications and allow for interchangeable launchers of a mix of LACMs
and ASMs, although this would sacrifice the number of ASMs that could be
carried on a vessel.
A likely interim platform for the DH-10 is the Type 052C frigate,
which can carry eight rounds. Expeditionary configurations could come
with four YJ-62s and four DH-10s, providing limited land-attack and
sea-defence capability.
The Type 052D, which is reported to be under development, is expected to
carry 16 rounds. It is not yet known whether the PLAN is exploring the
possibility of a vertical launch system for the DH-10, which would
increase ship safety while giving the missile a 360-degree range
regardless of the vessel's orientation.
In 2008 the Second Artillery Corps began deploying the ground-launched
DH-10, which has an estimated range of 1,500-2,200 km, with the CJ-10
air-launched variant entering service on PLA Air Force H-6 bombers in
2010.
The introduction of a sea-based LACM capability would extend China's
ability to conduct precision strikes against land targets well beyond
its shores, including bases and hard targets in Taiwan, Okinawa, and the
East China and South China seas.
Deployment of Land Attack Cruise Missiles (LACM) on Chinese warships will bring new dimensions to diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific.
Images have surfaced of a naval variant of the DH-10 LACM on a China
Navy test vessel. The missile canisters spotted appear to be virtually
identical to the land-based variant. This sort of arrangement is
reminiscent to the deployment of the BGM-109 Tomahawk on United States
Navy surface combatants by way of the MK-143 Armored Box Launcher. The
MK-143 enabled vessels such as the Iowa Class Battleships and Spruance
Class Destroyers to launch the BGM-109.
The images suggest that the DH-10 would be installed in the same way as
the YJ-62 or YJ-83 anti-ship missiles. This is advantageous for the
current generation of China Navy surface combatants, giving designs such
as the 052C land attack capability with minimal structural
modification. However, the downside is that the arrangement would
sacrifice anti-ship capabilities by substituting the YJ-62 or YJ-83
systems with DH-10 launchers. It also means that only a maximum of eight
missiles can be carried and that is assuming the launch canisters can
be stacked on top of one another.
In spite of its disadvantages and simplicity compared to the deployment
of vertically launched LACMs by other navies, the adoption of a naval
variant of the DH-10 is a considerable capability leap for Beijing.
This development would enable China to complete its “cruise missile
triad”, complementing the already in-service land-based system and the
air-launched variant, the CJ-10. Missiles launched from land-based
platforms are restricted to striking targets around China’s periphery,
not so dissimilar to the range limitations faced by the Second Artillery
Force’s inventory of conventional ballistic missiles. Missiles
launched from the air force’s H-6 bombers provide more operational
flexibility and reach for China’s cruise missiles, similar to the way
in which the United States Air Force deploys cruise missiles from its
bomber fleet. However, without aerial refueling capability and heavy
fighter protection, the H-6 is an aircraft restricted to limited
regional operations. The bomber’s obsolete design, slow speed and its
vulnerability to interception are weighing heavily against its potential
strategic roles.
The China Navy, on the other hand, is the only branch of the Chinese
military capable of projecting limited power far beyond China’s shores.
While it is debatable whether the China Navy would seek the same sort
of global reach as the United States Navy, the possession of
ship-launched LACMs would essentially enable Chinese warships to
conduct long range precision attacks against land targets around the
Indian and Pacific Oceans. The implications are strategic locations
that were traditionally distance away from China mainland could now be
potentially brought within the firing range of DH-10 armed vessels.
The fact that DH-10 is mounted on a test vessel that has yet sail
suggests that it is still very early its development cycle. If the
rumored Type 052D destroyer, the successor of the 052C that is
reportedly under construction is mounted with DH-10, then a universal
vertical launch system for Chinese armed forces is a reality.
It would also be interesting to monitor the future development of an
undersea DH-10 systems as arming Beijing’s fleet of conventional and
nuclear attack submarines with submarine-launched DH-10 missiles will
have far reaching implications.
--cloneattacks
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