On October 1, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) celebrated the 70th anniversary of its founding. Among the pageantry was a military parade in which the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) performed a highly orchestrated show of strength, exhibiting many of its strategic weapon systems. While China has regularly held such displays in the past, this...
On October 3, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his country was aiding China “to create a missile-warning system, a missile-attack warning system.” While China possesses several long-range radars, it has not yet deployed a larger homeland ballistic missile warning system like Russia and the United States. Details of the cooperation arrangement remain unknown. Related...
On September 30, the People’s Republic of China revealed several missiles for its 70th anniversary celebration. According to Chinese state media, new weapons included the DF-41, a road-mobile ICBM, and the DF-17, a short-range ballistic missile with a hypersonic glide vehicle. During the parade, China also displayed the JL-2, a submarine-launched ballistic missile which previously...
On July 8, the U.S. State Department approved a $223 million sale of Stinger surface-to-air missiles to Taiwan. The Stinger is a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) capable of engaging low-altitude airborne threats at short range. In response, the People’s Republic of China expressed “resolute opposition” to the sale at a press conference. Related Links: Taipei...
On July 1, two U.S. officials told NBC that China is testing antiship ballistic missiles in the South China Sea. From June 30 to July 1, China issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) regarding a “temporary danger area” over waters off Hainan and the Spratly Islands and fired one or more missiles into the sea....
U.S. intelligence says Saudi Arabia accelerated its ballistic missile program with Chinese technical assistance, CNN reported on June 5. Confirming earlier analyses on Saudi Arabia’s ballistic missile program, Trump Administration officials did not disclose the development until lawmakers discovered it through independent channels. In a statement, China’s foreign ministry stressed that “such cooperation does not...
On June 2, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) test fired the JL-3 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in Bohai Bay. The June launch is the second known test of the weapon since its first firing in November 2018. The missile is expected to enter service alongside China’s new class of ballistic missile submarines, the Type...
UN experts are currently investigating the use of Chinese-made missiles and drones after they identified a Chinese-made Blue Arrow air-to-surface missile and the probable use of a Wing Loong unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the April 19-20 missile strikes near Tripoli, Libya. The panel of experts are also investigating the possible role of the UAE...
After several public references to the weapons in 2017, the Department of Defense confirmed in its annual report to Congress that China is developing two new air-launched ballistic missiles. Having previously announced in 2018 that China had reassigned its air force with a nuclear mission, the Pentagon ended speculation over what weapons would comprise the...
On April 30, Russia’s TASS news agency reported that the country has sent new S-400 Triumf missiles to China to replace those damaged in transit in December 2017. According to an unnamed source familiar with the delivery, “At the start of April, several dozens of new S-400 missiles [40N6E] were sent by maritime transport from...
