China’s simulated defense against a US stealth missile assault reveals a high-stakes battle for technological supremacy pitting stealth versus counter-stealth capabilities in the contested South China Sea.
This month, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that Chinese scientists have simulated a surprise US attack on a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) carrier group in the South China Sea, revealing key details about the US military’s latest stealth anti-ship missile, the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM).
It adds that the US military classified the LRASM’s technical parameters and operational methods, making the Chinese team’s claims difficult to verify independently.
The Chinese simulation’s choice of using stealthy cruise missiles over hypersonic weapons may reflect the advantages the former has over the latter and the fact that the US has not yet fielded any hypersonic weapons. Thus, using stealthy cruise missiles against Chinese targets is more likely in a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait in the short to medium term.
Asia Times mentioned in September 2024 that stealth cruise missiles like the LRASM offer several advantages over hypersonic missiles.
