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Navy intel chief: Chinese missile is effective - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times
By Ben Iannotta - C4ISR Journal
Posted : Wednesday Jan 5, 2011 20:36:44 EST
Officials were surprised by Chinas rapid development of a ballistic missile thought capable of striking ships at sea, but the jury is still out as to whether Internet images of a purported Chinese stealth fighter are evidence of a similar breakthrough in the air, the Navys intelligence director told reporters Wednesday.
Their anti-ship missile we underestimated when they would be competent and capable in delivering a technological weapon of that type, said Vice Adm. Jack Dorsett, the deputy chief of naval operations for information dominance and the services intelligence director.
Dorsett was referring to development and testing of the Dong Feng 21D, a land-based anti-ship ballistic missile that officials now say has reached its initial operating capability. Analysts said the missile leaves U.S. aircraft carriers vulnerable to attack, and Dorsett seemed to agree, although he did not discuss carriers specifically.
The technology that the Chinese have developed and are employing in their DF 21D missile system has increased their probability of being able to employ a salvo of missiles to be able to hit a maneuvering target, he said.
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At the same time, Dorsett said it is unclear how proficient China would be at targeting ships with the missiles in an actual fight. Theyve certainly test fired it over land but to our knowledge they have not test fired this over water against maneuvering targets, he said.
Dorsett declined to discuss whether Aegis-guided rockets on destroyers and cruisers would be able to knock down the DF 21Ds, or whether U.S. carriers would have to be kept out of range of the missiles.
As for Chinas stealth fighter, called J-2, Dorsett said it remains unclear whether Defense Secretary Robert Gates was wrong when he suggested that the aircraft would not be a threat to the U.S. until 2020.
Its not clear to me when its going to become operational, Dorsett said of the J-2. I think time will tell whether weve underestimated it.
Gates has routinely suggested that the U.S. has plenty of combat aircraft in its long-term spending plan and that U.S. must be sure it builds a balanced portfolio of weapons. In a May 2010 speech, he said: Is it a dire threat that by 2020 the United States will have only 20 times more advanced stealth fighters than China?
Even with the recent advancements in hardware, Dorsett said he is more concerned about Chinas work in the non-kinetic realms of information warfare and cyberspace. He said China is trying to dominate in the electro-magnetic spectrum, to conduct counterspace capabilities, and clearly to conduct cyber activities.
What is most clear, Dorsett said, is that China is no longer shy about providing public glimpses of its weapons development.
Over the years, the Chinese military doctrine was one of hide and bide. Hide your military resources and bide your time, he said. Chinese leaders appear to have shifted into an area where theyre willing to show their resources and capabilities, whether its a naval expedition in China, whether its deploying forces forward, whether its conveying some more insights into what their capabilities are going to be in an indigenously produced [aircraft] carrier, Dorsett added.
By Ben Iannotta - C4ISR Journal
Posted : Wednesday Jan 5, 2011 20:36:44 EST
Officials were surprised by Chinas rapid development of a ballistic missile thought capable of striking ships at sea, but the jury is still out as to whether Internet images of a purported Chinese stealth fighter are evidence of a similar breakthrough in the air, the Navys intelligence director told reporters Wednesday.
Their anti-ship missile we underestimated when they would be competent and capable in delivering a technological weapon of that type, said Vice Adm. Jack Dorsett, the deputy chief of naval operations for information dominance and the services intelligence director.
Dorsett was referring to development and testing of the Dong Feng 21D, a land-based anti-ship ballistic missile that officials now say has reached its initial operating capability. Analysts said the missile leaves U.S. aircraft carriers vulnerable to attack, and Dorsett seemed to agree, although he did not discuss carriers specifically.
The technology that the Chinese have developed and are employing in their DF 21D missile system has increased their probability of being able to employ a salvo of missiles to be able to hit a maneuvering target, he said.
Related reading
At the same time, Dorsett said it is unclear how proficient China would be at targeting ships with the missiles in an actual fight. Theyve certainly test fired it over land but to our knowledge they have not test fired this over water against maneuvering targets, he said.
Dorsett declined to discuss whether Aegis-guided rockets on destroyers and cruisers would be able to knock down the DF 21Ds, or whether U.S. carriers would have to be kept out of range of the missiles.
As for Chinas stealth fighter, called J-2, Dorsett said it remains unclear whether Defense Secretary Robert Gates was wrong when he suggested that the aircraft would not be a threat to the U.S. until 2020.
Its not clear to me when its going to become operational, Dorsett said of the J-2. I think time will tell whether weve underestimated it.
Gates has routinely suggested that the U.S. has plenty of combat aircraft in its long-term spending plan and that U.S. must be sure it builds a balanced portfolio of weapons. In a May 2010 speech, he said: Is it a dire threat that by 2020 the United States will have only 20 times more advanced stealth fighters than China?
Even with the recent advancements in hardware, Dorsett said he is more concerned about Chinas work in the non-kinetic realms of information warfare and cyberspace. He said China is trying to dominate in the electro-magnetic spectrum, to conduct counterspace capabilities, and clearly to conduct cyber activities.
What is most clear, Dorsett said, is that China is no longer shy about providing public glimpses of its weapons development.
Over the years, the Chinese military doctrine was one of hide and bide. Hide your military resources and bide your time, he said. Chinese leaders appear to have shifted into an area where theyre willing to show their resources and capabilities, whether its a naval expedition in China, whether its deploying forces forward, whether its conveying some more insights into what their capabilities are going to be in an indigenously produced [aircraft] carrier, Dorsett added.
