Weapons that helped the US "break" Chinese anti-ship killers.
With the emergence of super anti-ship missiles with a range of nearly 1300km (more than 400km longer than the operational range of an aircraft carrier fleet), it was thought that the Chinese military could break the "claws" of the US Navy in the open sea. However, that's only in theory, because in reality, the Americans still have their "war machine": the F-35B.
F-35B undergoes vertical take-off and landing test.
According to its anti-access/area denial strategy, the Chinese military assumes that the U.S. will have to deploy fighter jets from bases or aircraft carriers. However, the F-35B – a variant of the F-35 specifically for the U.S. Marine Corps – operates more flexibly than Beijing anticipates.
“The F-35B can land anywhere,” asserted David Berke, a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel. “If the traditional operational area (air base or aircraft carrier) is unavailable or has been destroyed by Chinese missiles, the F-35B can still operate.”
 |
| The F-35B variant is specifically designed for the U.S. Marine Corps. |
With its vertical take-off and landing capability, the F-35B will help the Marine Corps no longer have to worry about establishing large military bases that are vulnerable to attack by opposing military forces.
Aircraft carriers: China targets them, the US "keeps it a secret".
Reportedly, the US military has begun training in this new combat method in the Pacific. In mid-January, during a test, pilots successfully landed their F-35B aircraft on a sloping area. This suggests that in the future, the F-35B may be able to land anywhere.
Throughout 2017, F-35B pilots also participated in training on tactics such as "rapid armament" and "rapid refueling." These training methods promise to shorten the aircraft's "refurbishment" time before sortie to just a few minutes. After that, with only a short temporary downtime, the F-35Bs will immediately take off to perform their next mission.
 |
| China possesses numerous anti-ship missiles with a range exceeding even the operational range of the US aircraft carrier fleet. |
Therefore, as China focuses on tactics to push US aircraft carriers out of its anti-access/area denial zone, the US could easily send smaller aircraft carriers to replace them. Furthermore, Washington could utilize heavy transport helicopters like the V-22 Osprey or CH-53 to establish mobile "mini" air bases within the enemy's controlled space.
From these "bases," the F-35B stealth fighter can completely neutralize threats to the main aircraft carrier, breaking the anti-access/area denial (AIS) posture of the Chinese military.
"They can't win a boxing match just because they have longer arms. It all depends on tactical thinking," Berke declared.
