Wednesday, January 07, 2009

ASBM

Also Known As
Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile

Origin
China

Program Status:
Under Development

Derived from:
DF-21

Description: The Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) is a variant of the DF-21, CSS-5 US Intelligence name, medium range ballistic missile (MRBM) and is intended to engage surface ships on the high seas. The ASBM would be armed with a conventional warhead and fitted with onboard terminal guidance seeker. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) use of ASBM also would require the support of sophisticated Command, Control, Communications, Computing, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities involving a wide range of air, ground, sea and space platforms for the accurate geo-location of the target.

The new anti-ship missiles is a key component of China's extended anti-access policy which would provide preemptive and coercive options in a regional crisis. With an estimated range in excess of 1,500 kilometers, the new weapon could hit US aircraft carriers trying to support Taiwan forcing them to stay off at ranges where their aircraft can not engage with Chinese forces or bomb Chinese targets. The ASBM existence was revealed by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) Military Power of the People's Republic of China 2008 published in March 2008.

Specifications
Performance: Max Range 1,500 km (810 nm)

Operators

China / Planned

Internet Resources
Military Power of the People's Republic of China 2008

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, December 20, 2008

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