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DF-41! Can China's strategic missile king break through the US anti-missile barrier?

author:Orion Clarke

#头条创作挑战赛#

At the 2022 National Day military parade, China showed the world a shocking weapon, the DF-41 ICBM. This is a super missile that can carry multiple nuclear warheads, has a range of more than 14,000 kilometers, strikes with an accuracy of up to 100 meters, and a flight speed of up to Mach 25, and is known as the "king of strategic missiles". Its emergence has undoubtedly added a new heavyweight chip to China's nuclear deterrent capability and brought great challenges to the US anti-missile defense system.

As the most powerful military country in the world, the United States has been developing and deploying various anti-missile weapons in an attempt to build a global defense network capable of intercepting enemy missiles from any direction and altitude. Among them, the ground-based midcourse defense system (GMD) is a core component of the US anti-missile system, mainly responsible for intercepting intercontinental ballistic missiles from potentially hostile countries such as North Korea and Iran. The GMD system, which consists of ground-launched interceptors and radars, satellites, command and control centers, is currently deployed in California and Alaska, with plans to increase to 64 in 2023.

DF-41! Can China's strategic missile king break through the US anti-missile barrier?

So, who will have the upper hand in the confrontation between the DF-41 and the GMD system? Will the DF-41 be able to break through the anti-missile barrier of the GMD system?

Technical level: DF-41 has strong penetration capabilities

From a technical point of view, the DF-41 has a number of advantages, making it have a strong penetration capability. First of all, the DF-41 adopts a three-stage solid rocket motor, which has a short launch preparation time and fast launch speed, which can complete takeoff within the enemy's reaction time. Secondly, the DF-41 adopts a split-missile nuclear warhead, which can carry 10 nuclear warheads with an explosive yield of 200,000 tons or 6 nuclear warheads with an explosive yield of 650,000 tons, carry out separation and maneuver orbit change outside the atmosphere, form multiple targets, and be equipped with decoys, jammers and other means to increase the difficulty of enemy interception. Third, the DF-41 uses a hypersonic glide warhead to perform irregular maneuvers in close space, exerting great pressure on enemy interceptors under the blessing of high speed. Finally, the DF-41 uses vehicle-mounted mobile launches, randomly launches across the vast territory of the mainland, and cooperates with camouflage, stealth and other means to reduce the possibility of detection and destruction.

DF-41! Can China's strategic missile king break through the US anti-missile barrier?

In contrast, the GMD system has several shortcomings and shortcomings. First of all, the GMD system has a limited number of interceptors, currently only 44, and it is likely that there will be insufficient interceptors in the face of multiple warhead attacks by the DF-41. Secondly, the interceptor performance of the GMD system is unstable, and after many tests, its success rate is only about 50%, which may be lower in actual combat. Third, the interception window of the GMD system is very narrow, and it can only be intercepted during the mid-flight stage of the missile, while the high speed and maneuverability of the DF-41 will shorten this window and increase the difficulty of interception. Finally, sensors such as radar and satellites of the GMD system also have blind zones and interference problems, which may not be able to detect and track the ballistic trajectory and warhead separation of the DF-41 in time, resulting in interception failure.

In summary, at the technical level, the DF-41 has a strong penetration capability, while the GMD system has a number of defects and shortcomings, so the DF-41 is likely to break through the anti-missile barrier of the GMD system.

Tactical level: DF-41 has a flexible strike method

From a tactical point of view, the DF-41 has a flexible strike method, and the most suitable attack mode can be selected according to different targets and situations. First, the DF-41 can strike on a global scale, whether it is a U.S. mainland or overseas base, within its range. Secondly, the DF-41 can carry out precision strikes or range strikes, select single warheads or multiple warheads for attack according to the importance and protection degree of the target, and adjust the explosive yield and explosion height to achieve maximum damage effect. Third, DF-41 can carry out preemptive or counterattack retaliation, choose to launch before or after an enemy launches a nuclear attack according to strategic intent and war situation, and cooperate with other nuclear forces to form an effective deterrent or counter-deterrent.

DF-41! Can China's strategic missile king break through the US anti-missile barrier?

In contrast, the defense of GMD systems is relatively single and passive. First of all, the GMD system can only defend against missile attacks from specific directions and heights, and is powerless against nuclear threats from other directions or in other ways. Secondly, the GMD system can only carry out single-stage interception, interception only during the mid-flight stage of the missile, and cannot intercept the starting or terminal segment of the missile. Third, GMD systems can only carry out passive defense or counterattack attacks, and cannot actively launch attacks or deter the enemy.

To sum up, at the tactical level, the DF-41 has a flexible strike method, while the GMD system's defense method is relatively single and passive, so the DF-41 is likely to break through the GMD system's anti-missile barrier.

Strategic level: DF-41 has a huge deterrent effect

From a strategic point of view, DF-41 has a huge deterrent effect, which can make the United States lose its advantage and confidence in the nuclear balance. First, the DF-41 is China's first intercontinental ballistic missile that can cover the entire territory of the United States, and until then China could only rely on nuclear submarines for long-range nuclear strikes. This means that China has achieved a full range of nuclear deterrence against the U.S. mainland and has sufficient nuclear counterattack capabilities to make the United States dare not easily launch a nuclear war. Second, the DF-41 is China's first intercontinental ballistic missile with a split nuclear warhead, which can strike multiple targets at the same time, greatly increasing the US defense pressure and the risk of loss. This means that China has achieved a precision nuclear strike against the United States and has sufficient nuclear destruction capabilities to make the United States dare not easily launch a conventional war. Third, the DF-41 is China's first intercontinental ballistic missile with a hypersonic glide warhead, which can break through the US anti-missile defense system at high speed and maneuver, greatly increasing the difficulty of US interception and the possibility of failure. This means that China has achieved a breakthrough nuclear strike against the United States and has sufficient nuclear breakthrough capabilities to make the United States dare not easily launch an anti-missile war.

At the strategic level, the DF-41 has a huge deterrent effect, while the GMD system's defense effect is relatively weak, so the DF-41 is likely to break through the GMD system's anti-missile barrier.

DF-41! Can China's strategic missile king break through the US anti-missile barrier?

By comparing and analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of DF-41 and GMD systems in terms of technology, tactics and strategy. We can see:

The DF-41 is a super missile with strong penetration capability, flexible strike mode and huge deterrent effect, which is an important part and strategic support for China's nuclear forces.

The GMD system is an anti-missile weapon with limited number, unstable performance, narrow defense window, blind zone and interference problems in sensors, and is the core component and strategic guarantee of the US anti-missile system.

In a possible nuclear confrontation, the DF-41 is likely to break through the anti-missile barrier of the GMD system and deal a fatal blow to the United States, and the GMD system is difficult to effectively intercept the attack of the DF-41 and reserve an effective counterattack for China.

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