New Chinese Air-to-Air Missile Designed to Threaten US Air Force

New Chinese Air-to-Air Missile Designed to Threaten US Air Force



Just came across this. A new Chinese missile. One that has a max range of 250 miles (Is this a typo? maybe 250KM?). Specially designed to take out AWACS.

The aircraft has upgraded radar. But can it actually target something that far away and hit?

Chinese media on Thursday indicated ongoing work on a new long range air-to-air missile that seems tailor-made to give the US Air Force problems when operating in the Pacific.

As Business Insider has previously covered, tensions between the US and China have been steadily ratcheting up over the last few years, and they have spiked since Donald Trump took office after breaking with decades of tradition and taking a call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

Related: Marine F-35 Lightning fighters arrive in Japan

Photographs posted on IHS Jane’s and on Chinese media show China’s J-11B and J-16 fighters carrying an as-of-yet unnamed missile that Air force researcher Fu Qianshao told Chinese state-run media has a range of almost 250 miles — much further than current Chinese or even US capabilities.

a reply to: grey580

Wow scary thought if its true we don't have anything that can match up against it.

a reply to: grey580

It's called sensor/shooter. The J-20 acts as radar for the J-16 launch platform.

a reply to: grey580

not clear how this missile detects awacs...which may use passive sensors. HARM (agm 88) highspeed anti radiation missile is in the US inventory, but it seems air to ground...air to air HARM would also takeout attack radars on f35s as well as AWaCS. Key question is what is the chinese missile seeker?????

a reply to: darkstar57

They've been able to use other platform radar for fire control for years. They did a test years ago where F-15s didn't even turn on their radar and used the AWACS link to fire at target drones.

With this type of weapon it will be a very urgent to fund futur air superiority Platform.

It's all bluster and bravado.

The Chinese are very far behind and these are fantasies.
In a full scale engagement they'd lose their entire air force in under 100 hours.

They are certainly not the superpower people want to depict them as.
In 2050 they could be if they continue investing and growing their capabilities.

a reply to: Zaphod58

i have no idea how the US or Chinese AF manage terminal guidance for an anti AWACs missile with 250 m range. but i would do this. 3 complimentary terminal guidance systems, first would be human controlled tactical launch and guidance, eg, likely we will get an awacs with this location and course. this requires secure and reliable course directives from ground or airborne controller. then mid course correction, from perhaps satellite sensors. then terminal guidance, from the missile, as it gets close to target and finally turns on active radar...which at that point make it a HARM target, and for active spoofing. but closing at 2000 mph make it a difficult target for the final few seconds to impact...... at any point, ground or air control can override final or intermediate guidance...should the target manage to overcome final targeting radar. the missile may miss, but it will be close. but what do i know. I think there are established technologies for these 3 phase guidance systems, and i cannot imagine that Chinese or USAF cannot also see these systems

a reply to: grey580

This would be a non-issue if we didnt have our military parked in and around nearly every nation.

[sarcasm]I'm sure we would have no problem with Chinese and Russian carriers parked off of our shores.[/sarcasm]

a reply to: gladtobehere

So you don't think Russian submarines are parked off our coast?

a reply to: darkstar57

The last hundred miles or so the missile can guide itself. It would be better to have an airborne sensor to guide it, but it isn't necessary.

a reply to: gladtobehere

Right, because the US is the only country that's causing military buildups. It's not like China is pushing their neighbors around or anything.

a reply to: grey580

Aren't all weapons created designed to threaten another military...sounds foolish...Is it not implied that when a new missile is created the hope is that is spoofs all other foreign militaries?

a reply to: chrismarco

Yes, but an upgraded air to air missile that only goes 80 miles is less of a threat to other militaries than one with a 250 mile range, or a hypersonic weapon. If they can push AWACS and tankers back far enough, there's very little anyone in the region, including the US will be able to do.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Wouldnt it be cool if we already had a solution to this problem flying.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

I see what you just did there.

Proofs in the pudding..When they start pointing them and test firing them towards japan or Vietnam then we can start to worry.Can Sats pick up the launches I wonder?

originally posted by: BASSPLYR
a reply to: Zaphod58

Wouldnt it be cool if we already had a solution to this problem flying.

cough cough.

a reply to: gladtobehere

a reply to: grey580

It's still about 10-15 minutes flight time at those ranges and we'd see them coming. There's a lot that can be done in that time to mitigate the situation including staying out of range.

There are decoys that do a damn well good job at mimicking an AWACS and they fit so perfectly within the belly of an F-35....