Chinese CSS-5 Test May Have Included Anti-BMD Countermeasures
September 1, 2002 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
The September 1 edition of Janes Missiles and Rockets reports that the early July test of their CSS-5 ballistic missile (range 2,150-2,500km) may have included the test of countermeasures, desinged to overcome ballistic missile defenses, such as those the United States will deploy around 2004-2005, after the June 13, 2002 withdrawal from the ABM Treaty.
If true, the timing of the test of countermeasures may very likely suggest a “message” to the United States that China will do all within its power to retain a strong offensive nuclear capability against America.
Janes cites US press reports that the missile test involved the deploying of six or seven decoy warheads besides its main payload warhead. The CSS-5 can carry a high explosive or a nuclear warhead of up to 300 kT yield.
This particular test of the CSS-5, or DF-21, began with a launch from the Jiangxi province and traveling some 1,300 km into the Kansu province. The DF-21 has a solid propellant, more advanced than liquid propellants and capable of much faster launch readiness.
According to Janes, China’s IRBM force is said to be located in the provinces of Datong in central China, Jianshui in southern China, Tonghua in northeast China, and Lianxiwang in western China. (Link)
» More stories on: China, Technology, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: CSS-5 Mod 2, CSS-5
Rumsfeld: Rogue State has Test-Launched Ship-Based Missile
October 21, 2001 :: Department of Defense :: News
During a press conference held in Russia during his visit there, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stated that a “rogue state” had successfully tested the shipboard launch of a ballistic missile. “A weapon of mass destruction can be delivered over intercontinental range by a ballistic missile that has less than intercontinental range,” said Rumsfeld. One technique “is to put it on a ship, peel back the cover, use a transporter-erector-launcher, and fire it from a distance shorter than ICBM range. That has been done.”
Rumsfeld did not elaborate, commenting: “I’m calculating in my mind what is classified and what is not.”
But he was quite clear that “a rogue state has done that… They have fired a ballistic missile from a ship simply by peeling back the top, erecting it, firing it off, launching it a good distance, and covering it back up and moving the ship away.”
Rumsfeld also responded to a journalist’s question about chemical or biological missile warheads that, “Yes, there is proof that rogue states have demonstrated the use of chemical weapons on ballistic missiles.”
Rumsfeld did not identify what countries were involved in these programs, but noted that within the admittedly “imperfect phrase” ‘rogue states’, “certainly you would include in that category North Korea and Iraq and Iran and Libya—and North Korea.” (More »»»)
» October 24, 2002: Wolfowitz too speaks of ship launched missile threat
» More stories on: Iran, Libya, North Korea, Proliferation, Ship-Launched Threat, Testing - Foreign
