China drills ballistic missile vehicle designed to target US bases in ‘future warfare
 

China drills ballistic missile vehicle designed to target US bases in ‘future warfare’:
By: Joel Gehrke - Foreign Affairs Reporter - Washington Examiner News - 01-05-21
Re: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/n...s-bases-report

Chinese troops conducted a drill involving a ballistic missile vehicle designed to strike U.S. bases in the event of a conflict in the Indo-Pacific, according to an analysis of Chinese state media.

“This will greatly increase our capability in adapting to future warfare,” People’s Liberation Army officer Wang Chunhong, who oversaw the drill, told state media.

The launch vehicle reportedly carries the DF-17, a medium-range ballistic missile “equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle,” according to analysts at the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. The new state media bulletins put a spotlight on a new launch vehicle intended to “improve the weapon's capability to disguise itself from hostile reconnaissance,” a revelation that coincided with new orders from Beijing for the Chinese military to prepare for sudden conflict.

“[The PLA must] increase the integration of new equipment, new forces and new combat realms into training and combat systems,” Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping said, according to a South China Morning Post translation.

Xi also called for Chinese forces to learn from simmering “frontline military struggles” and to prepare to “act at any second” if the need arises. “All officers and soldiers of the military should strengthen their willpower to fight, improve their skills, and resolutely accomplish the missions and tasks entrusted by the Party and the people in the new era to welcome the CPC centenary with outstanding achievement,” the state-run Global Times characterized his written order as saying.

Chinese military officials predict that the new launch vehicle will accelerate their ability to fire one of the DF-17s, which appear to be equipped with camouflage covers.

“It should be intact for battle to keep it at the right temperature and to protect the missile from environmental damage,” retired PLA Col. Yue Gang told the SCMP. “It’s also camouflage to protect the missile from being detected.”

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Personal note: It won't be much longer before all hell breaks out. Let's hope for some sort of wisdom takes place before an all exchange happens!

Boats