CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VII (1, 2) Contemporary-Eurasia-3new | Page 7

ARTSRUN HOVHANNISYAN
ber of experts, the range of Chinese anti-ship ballistic missiles had to be
increased up to 3000km by 2015. 12 In 2018 China demonstrated its an-
ti-ship new missile models (Operative-tactical ballistic missiles “CM-
401” and “WS-600L”, ultrasonic, universal missile “HD-1” etc).
Iran also is working to create similar missiles called “Khalij Fars”
which is the modifi cation of “Fateh-110” missile with the estimated range
of 300km and has mounted infrared/optical head for automatic aiming in
the fi nal part of the trajectory. 13 Russian missiles long before were able
to hit targets up to 1000 km, while the new-cruise missiles have twice
as higher technical data, which were shown during the Syrian war either.
According to some experts on PLA, China strives to increase the range of
its conventional assets all the way to 8000km by 2020. 14
Having in mind that China is creating artifi cial islands in the South
China Sea, in unsafe areas for Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as
has claims on Senkaku islands; experts have concluded that China can
use these islands as large springboards for air forces, Navy and other ser-
vices of Armed Forces. The situation became especially strained by the
fact that according to some information, the Chinese “YJ-26” – was able
to detect the American fi fth-generation “F-22” fi ghters. 15 In this regard,
some of the American theorists also have other concerns. They believe
within the areas close to the theater of military operations (500-1000
miles), the most part of the aircraft of the US Air Forces have limited
combat capabilities due to lack of airfi elds. A solution to this problem
could be the use of aerial refueling planes, but they are of the opinion that
this approach is also susceptible to failure. American ground-based fi ght-
ers’ combat range reaches up to 300-600 miles, depending on the type of
the aircraft, weapons and fl ight characteristics. From 2019 onwards short-
range fi ghters and long-range bombers ratio will make ten to one (10:1),
and the medium altitude long-endurance and long-range UAVs (e.g.
MQ-9 Reaper), approximately three to one. In 2019 American Air Forces
will be equipped with 971 fi ghters and 96 heavy bombers. 16
12
13
14
15
16
Amy Chang and John Dotson, “Indigenous Weapons Development in China’s Military
Modernization,” Staff Research Report, Washington, DC: U.S.-China Economic and Securi-
ty Review Commission, April 5, 2012, 23.
Jeremy Binnie, “Iran Rolls Out Ballistic Missiles,” Jane’s 360 Defence, March 6, 2014, https://
www.janes.com/article/35187/iran-rolls-out-ballistic-missiles (accessed November 2, 2018).
Mark Stokes, “China’s Evolving Conventional Strategic Strike Capability: The anti-ship
ballistic missile challenge to U.S. maritime operations in the Western Pacifi c and beyond,”
Project 2049 Institute (Arlington, September 14, 2009), 2, http://project2049.net/documents/
chinese_anti_ship_ballistic_missile_asbm.pdf (accessed May 10, 2018).
“Kitayskiy radar YJ-26 sposoben obnarujit F-22,” (in Russian), [Chinese YJ-26 radar can de-
tect F-22], Voenni paritet, [Military parity], November 17, 2014, http://www.militaryparitet.
com/ttp/data/ic_ttp/7072/ (accessed November 5, 2018).
U.S. Department of Defense, Annual Aviation Inventory and Funding Plan: Fiscal Years (FT)
2014–2043, Washington, DC: DoD, May 2013, http://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/up-
loads/sites/3/2013/06/DoD-Aircraft-Report-to-Congress-.pdf (accessed November 7, 2018).
7