Weapons to help the US "break" China's anti-ship killer
With the appearance of super anti-ship missiles with a range of up to 1,300 km (400 km more than the operating range of an aircraft carrier fleet), it seems that the Chinese military can break the "claws" of the US Navy at sea. However, that is in theory because in reality, the Americans also have their "god of war": the F-35B.
F-35B vertical take-off and landing test
Under its anti-access/area denial strategy, the Chinese military assumes that the US will have to deploy fighter jets from bases or aircraft carriers. However, the F-35B – the F-35 variant specifically for the US Marine Corps – is more flexible in its operations than Beijing thinks.
“The F-35B can land anywhere,” said retired US Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel David Berke. “If the traditional operational area (airbase or aircraft carrier – PV) is unavailable or has been destroyed by Chinese missiles, the F-35B can still operate.”
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| The F-35B variant is reserved for the US Marine Corps. |
With its vertical take-off and landing capabilities, the F-35B will help the Marine Corps no longer have to worry about establishing large military bases that are vulnerable to attack by symmetrical military forces.
Aircraft carriers: China targets, US “hides”
It is known that the US military has begun training this new way of fighting in the Pacific. In mid-January, in a test, the pilot landed his F-35B on a slope. This shows that in the future, the F-35B can land anywhere.
Throughout 2017, F-35B pilots have also been training in tactics such as “quick arming” and “quick refueling.” These types of training promise to shorten the time it takes to “renovate” an aircraft before a sortie to just a few minutes. Then, with just a small temporary gap, the F-35Bs can immediately take off to perform the next mission.
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| China possesses many anti-ship missiles with a range longer than the US aircraft carrier fleet. |
Therefore, when China focuses on tactics to push US aircraft carriers out of the anti-access/area denial zone, the US can completely send small aircraft carriers to replace them. Not only that, Washington can completely use heavy transport helicopters such as the V-22 Osprey or CH-53 to establish mobile “mini” air bases inside the space controlled by the enemy.
From these “bases”, the F-35B stealth aircraft can completely eliminate threats to the main aircraft carrier, breaking the anti-access-area-denial posture of the Chinese military.
“They can’t win a boxing match just because they have longer arms. It all depends on their tactical mind,” Mr. Berke declared.
