On February 18, Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Russian defense contractor Rostec, revealed that a ship delivering S-400 missiles to China was damaged in a storm in the English Channel. The shipment was one of three total ships delivering the 40N6 interceptors to China, the other two successfully completing the delivery. Chemezov confirmed that all of...
On January 23, China Central Television (CCTV) released footage of the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) launching two DF-26 IRBMs in a live-fire exercise. Chinese missile experts suggested the DF-26 can “adjust its position mid-flight to accurately attack a moving aircraft carrier,” possibly using ground and naval radar, as well as the missile’s own...
On January 1, the Taiwanese Navy released a promotional video entitled “Toward 2019,” showing the first public footage of its Hsiung Feng III antiship missile launching from a Tuo Chiang-class stealth corvette. The video was released a day ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech outlining Beijing’s goal of reunifying Taiwan with China, and confirms Taiwan’s latest...
Reports in late December suggest China conducted its first ballistic intercept test of the Russian-made S-400 Triumf (SA-21 “Growler”) in November at an undisclosed location. The S-400 reportedly intercepted a supersonic ballistic missile target 250 km away. The People’s Liberation Army’s Rocket Force (PLARF) also tested jamming equipment in conjunction with the intercept test. Details...
On November 24, China’s Navy conducted its first flight test of the JL-3 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). The test took place in the Bohai Sea and, according to one report, “likely verified the system’s proper cold ejection from the submarine-based launch tube.” The test has not yet been acknowledged by Chinese authorities. The JL-3, also...
On November 13, IHS Jane’s reported that the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has completed development of its AR-1B precision missile. During Airshow China 2018, a CASC spokesperson told Jane’s the missile will be used for armed reconnaissance and UAV missions. The new missile has a maximum speed of Mach 1 (343 m/s)...
An image released online in early November appears to show a ground-launched version of China’s YJ-12 antiship cruise missile. The missile is paired with a five-axle TEL, similar to that paired with China’s CJ-10 cruise missile. The YJ-12 is a supersonic cruise missile with an estimated range of 400-500 km while carrying a 200 kg payload....
On November 6, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited (CASIC) unveiled its new short-range hypersonic antiship ballistic missile, called CM-401, at the Zhuhai Air Show. The weapon system was displayed at the Air Show in both ground- and ship-launched platforms. According to the description of the displayed missile system, the CM-401 has a maximum...
On October 15, China’s Guangdong Hongda Mining Company test fired its new HD-1 supersonic cruise missile nicknamed “aircraft carrier killer” in a discreet location in Northern China. According to a statement released by the company, the test verified the missile’s launch, power, and flight control systems, achieving the estimated values for its supersonic cruising flight...
Satellite imagery taken on September 7 of Guiping-Mengshu People’s Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF) air base reportedly shows that China has acquired at least four Xian H-6J bombers. Currently, the PLA South Sea Fleet operates the H-6G bomber. The new H-6J variant extends the range of the bomber, now able to cover the majority...
