Chapter 1188 Anti-Missile Threat
Similar to Chang Haonan's previous estimate.
The DF-3A model is really not very sensitive.
Although some countries have expressed diplomatic concerns about this test launch, anyone with a discerning eye can see that this is pure verbal gymnastics and has not really attracted any extra attention.
Only Japan jumped out to make a relatively serious protest.
Of course, this is not difficult to understand.
After all, they are really just within the range of the DF-3A.
However, Chang Haonan is not really a master after all.
Some things below the surface are still beyond his expectations.
…
About two hours after the successful launch test.
The Pentagon.
The US Air Force Chief of Staff General John Jumper and the Secretary of the Air Force Pete Teeter, who were pulled out of their sleep by their assistants, walked into the office of Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld.
Although the voices calling for the latter to resign have been heard one after another in the United States due to the quagmire of the two wars, thanks to the support of the White House and some consortiums, as well as excellent political skills, he is still one of the most powerful defense ministers.
Even to a considerable extent, he intervened in the work of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"Please sit down first."
Seeing two people walk into the office, the Minister of Defense stretched out his hand to gesture to the two chairs opposite the desk.
However, before the two of them sat down, he picked up a document from the front of him, turned it 180 degrees, and pushed it to the other side of the desk:
"A few hours ago, the Chinese side informed us of a high ballistic missile test according to relevant agreements."
The US military does not have a separate military branch like the Strategic Rocket Force or the Second Artillery Force. Its strategic forces, except for nuclear submarines, are all incorporated into the Air Force.
Therefore, only two people are present today.
Moreover, this is also the usual style of the Minister of Defense -
Try to avoid any subordinate from being exposed to the full picture of the work, so as to ensure that all tasks must be carried out with oneself as the center.
Jiang Po, who has relatively old qualifications, has long been accustomed to this. After hearing the words of the Minister of Defense, he just frowned slightly:
"Is it the kind of long-range missile we are already familiar with? Or is there a new improved model?"
As he spoke, he picked up the report in front of him.
Then he was stunned:
"Dongfeng 3?"
His first reaction was that the report was wrong.
"It's either Dongfeng 31 or Dongfeng 3..."
Rumsfeld took off his glasses and wiped them gently with a cloth:
"In theory, this model can carry a nuclear warhead, so it is also within the scope of the test launch notification."
Jiang Po looked at the content on the paper and looked up at his leader
Although he didn't speak, the meaning in his eyes was very clear--
Are you serious?
"If I remember correctly, the range of this model is less than 4,000 kilometers, and the circular error probability is more than 300 meters. It is really hard to regard it as a threat..."
Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Rumsfeld:
"However, apart from the content reported to us by the other party, we know almost nothing about the situation of this test launch, and we didn't even receive any warning."
Jiang Po took a lot of effort to resist the look of looking at a fool--
In fact, not only him, but the entire US military has been close to being fed up with this amateur minister who can only mess around. But now it's not time to show your cards.
So Jiang Po suppressed his anger and explained:
"Mr. Minister, the current strategic early warning system is only effective over North America. This missile has a short range and a high trajectory. It is only a few hundred kilometers from launch to landing point, even on the other side of the earth..."
"Of course I know..."
Rumsfeld nodded slowly, and then asked mysteriously:
"But is it possible to change this situation?"
After a short pause, he continued to add:
"Although their missiles are still difficult to threaten our mainland, it is still very worrying for several allies in East Asia... And taking a step back, we have deployed troops in East Asia and Central Asia, and we can't let them be in the shadow of missile attacks all the time."
It must be said that the defense minister is extremely good at word games.
Just by simply adjusting the description, he put himself in the position of a weak, pitiful and helpless victim.
But he never mentioned why he wanted to build a circle of military bases around China.
But now, Jiang Po understood what the other party meant:
"You know, the construction efficiency of the theater missile defense system (TMD) lags far behind the national missile defense system (NMD), so at present we can only provide terminal defense forces such as Patriot PAC3 for overseas troops and allies, and it is difficult to provide early warning and interception in the early and middle stages of missile launch..."
This sentence is of course answering the question, but it is also secretly expressing dissatisfaction.
After Rumsfeld came to power, he misappropriated a lot of research and development funds for military projects in the name of the war on terror.
Many models close to service were even directly cut off and replaced with some equipment that seemed inexplicable to insiders.
Mr. Defense Minister also knew that he had no reason in this matter, but he still frowned and looked a little unhappy.
Fortunately, at this time, Pete Teeter, who had not spoken all the time, suddenly spoke:
"Mr. Defense Minister, I have an idea..."
The Secretary of the Air Force was originally a purely civilian official, and Teeter temporarily topped up the tank after his predecessor James Roach resigned due to the aerial tanker selection scandal, so he did not actually know the specific situation very well.
However, he knew his leader very well.
The other party took such a big detour. It was obvious that he had an idea in his mind, but he didn't want to say it out of his own mouth. He wanted to find someone else to speak for him:
"Is it possible to take this opportunity to assist several of our allies in building a preliminary missile warning system within the first island chain?"
Sure enough, after hearing this suggestion, Rumsfeld's expression quickly turned from gloomy to bright:
"I think this is a very responsible proposal out of our obligation to protect our allies and our troops stationed overseas."
In the power structure of the US military, although the Chief of Staff of the Air Force has a high status, his decision-making level is actually very low.
Seeing the two men next to him singing and cooperating tacitly, Jiang Po knew that it was useless to play devil's advocate now.
We can only start thinking about how to implement it.
Moreover, he was also happy to take this opportunity to ask for more funds:
"Last year we sold two AN/FPS-115 "Pave Claw" large-scale phased array radars, which caused a lot of controversy... Therefore, it may be difficult to continue to build new large-scale fixed early warning radars in the first island chain. , and it is completely within the fire coverage of the Chinese, which is not tactically suitable..."
"In comparison, the land-based AN/TPY-2 and sea-based SBX radars that can be deployed mobilely may be better choices...especially the former can be quickly deployed by transport aircraft after completion, leaving little time for China to respond. It's relatively short... It's just that the entire THAAD system has entered the adjustment stage since last year. To ensure the progress of research and development, I'm afraid more funds will be needed..."
Seeing him talking about funding, Rumsfeld's eyes changed slightly:
"I will submit recommendations to the White House to increase investment in this area in the next fiscal year..."
"But before the THAAD system is developed, we need a response that can be put into use immediately."
After getting what he wanted, Jiang Po no longer beat around the bush:
"In this case... the SBX radar is currently undergoing sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico and can be deployed in advance after the experiment is completed."
"In addition, South Korea and Japan are planning to build a new batch of Aegis destroyers. I think they may also be allowed to undertake some anti-missile interception tasks..."