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| The C-802, export version of the YJ-83 missile displayed in front of a JF-17 fighter (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki Commons) |
Anti-ship cruise missiles like the YJ-83 will pose the largest threat to the United States and its security partners in the Western Pacific, Associate professor Lyle Goldstein from the US Naval War College writes in an article for the Washington-based National Interest magazine on Jan. 22.
Goldstein said the outcome of the Falklands War between Britain and Argentina in 1982 would have been different if Argentina possessed between 50 to 100 Exocet anti-ship cruise missiles. However, it lost the war because it only had five Exocets to take on the British task force sent to reclaim the islands in the South Atlantic following the Argentine invasion. China has devoted huge resources in the development of anti-ship cruise missiles over the last 30 years to prepare for a potential conflict off its coast.
Equipped with sophisticated radars and electronic countermeasures, the large fleet of land-based aircraft of the People's Liberation Army Navy pose a great threat to regional stability, Goldstein said, adding that the PLA Navy has the capability to launch an "air-sea battle" with Chinese characteristics. The arrival of 24 Russian-built Su-30MK2 fighters in 2004 for the first time has given Beijing a credible "air-sea battle" strategy.
Read the full story at Want China Times