Air-Launched Ballistic Missile Will Give China Complete Nuclear Triad - Pentagon

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Air-Launched Ballistic Missile Will Give China Complete Nuclear Triad - Pentagon - Sputnik International: 

The Pentagon is worried Beijing could be closing in on a complete nuclear triad, meaning it would join an elite cohort of nations capable of delivering a nuclear weapon by land, air and sea - something only three countries in the world can boast: the US, Russia and India.

The Office of the US Secretary of Defense noted the development in its annual report to Congress last week, saying that "China continues to improve its ground and submarine-based nuclear capability and is pursuing a viable nuclear ‘triad' with the development of a nuclear capable air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM)."

ALBMs are rare: the US explored the concept in the early 1960s as a way to keep its huge strategic bomber fleet relevant, while the Soviet Union skipped the idea and immediately began producing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which proved much more reliable. The successful development of the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) made ALBMs no longer worth trying to perfect.

However, while the US has maintained its strategic bomber fleet as part of its nuclear triad by continuing to arm them with nuclear gravity bombs, China had its bombers step back from the role in the late 1970s or early 1980s in favor of the ballistic missile deterrent provided by the Second Artillery Corps — now called the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF).

Last year, the Pentagon noted that Beijing had reversed that decision following the public announcement of China's stealth bomber program and the testing of an ALBM known only as the CH-AS-X-13. That missile was tested as recently as January 2018, fired from an H-6K bomber. However, the Pentagon's 2019 report noted that a second, nuclear-capable ALBM could be in the works.

"The PLA will likely continue deploying sophisticated C2 [command and control] systems and refining C2 processes as growing numbers of mobile ICBMs and future SSBN [military designation for ballistic missile submarines] deterrence patrols require the PLA to safeguard the integrity of nuclear release authority for a larger, more dispersed force," the Pentagon report states.

In addition to the ALBM, China also possesses at least 90 ICBMs as well as a wealth of nuclear-capable medium-range and intermediate-range ballistic missiles, fielded by the PLARF, Sputnik reported.

Beijing also has four Type 094 Jin-class submarines, with two more in the works and another class, the Type 096, anticipated in the mid-2020s. The Pentagon has warned the Type 094 boats are Beijing's "first viable sea-based nuclear deterrent," as they carry SLBMs.

CH-AS-X-13 nuclear capable air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM)

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The CH-AS-X-13 is a long-range, aero-ballistic, air-to-surface missile (ASM) developed by China to be released from the H-6K bombers. The two-stage, solid fuel Air Launched Ballistic Missile (ALBM) has a maximum range of 3,000 kilometers and is capable of reaching hypersonic speeds (Mach 5+) at high altitudes. It can be fitted with both conventional and nuclear warheads to hit both surface ships and fixed-position targets such as airfields and military bases. China started the development of the new CH-AS-X-13 missile in 2016 and is expected to enter service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) by 2025. The new weapon is based upon the ground-based DF-21 medium-range ballistic missile utilizing composite materials to achieve a lightweight design compatible with airborne platforms. The H-6K bombers equipped with the new offensive weapon might be able to conduct strikes against targets in Alaska and Hawaii as well as the sites in the United States Pacific Coast. The US intelligence agencies reported the existence of the new CH-AS-X-13 missile in April 2018 while there is not known official Chinese designation for the new weapon. Source deagel.com

H-6K bomber: Details

DF-21D Medium-range ballistic missile: Details