NEW DELHI: A study by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) suggests that China’s Fire Dragon 480 missiles, developed by Norinco Group, could pose a significant threat to US warships. This long-range rocket, known for its precision-guided sensors and high impact velocity, is recognized as a formidable tactical ballistic missile, a South China Morning Post report said.
Li Jiangjiang, a scientist with the PLA’s 92228 unit, emphasized the missile’s capabilities in a paper, saying, “Its warhead surpasses the 400kg mark, significantly outweighing that of a conventional anti-ship missile. Moreover, its impact velocity exceeds 500 meters (1,640 feet) per second, ensuring that a 10,000-tonne cruiser would be destroyed upon being struck by just two of these missiles.”
Despite its advertised range of 290km, the study suggests that the Fire Dragon 480 could potentially reach targets over 500km away. The missile can be launched from a high-speed mobile wheeled platform, making it both cost-effective and adaptable to harsh environments.
The PLA’s simulation involved launching 12 Fire Dragon 480 rockets at two Ticonderoga-class cruisers. The simulation indicated that one of the cruisers was sunk despite the defensive efforts of the US warships, which included launching air defense missiles and activating the Phalanx close-in weapon system.
Additionally, the study explored the use of “swarm warheads,” where drones are deployed to distract defense systems and provide precise target coordinates for subsequent rocket attacks. This tactic showed a near-zero survival rate for the Ticonderoga-class cruisers in the simulation, the SCMP report said.
Li highlighted the importance of upgrading China’s long-range rocket launcher system and enhancing anti-interference abilities and data links between the rockets and drones to maximize the effectiveness of these tactics.
The US, meanwhile, is gradually decommissioning its Ticonderoga-class cruisers in favor of more modern ships, with the last one scheduled for retirement in 2027.
Li Jiangjiang, a scientist with the PLA’s 92228 unit, emphasized the missile’s capabilities in a paper, saying, “Its warhead surpasses the 400kg mark, significantly outweighing that of a conventional anti-ship missile. Moreover, its impact velocity exceeds 500 meters (1,640 feet) per second, ensuring that a 10,000-tonne cruiser would be destroyed upon being struck by just two of these missiles.”
Despite its advertised range of 290km, the study suggests that the Fire Dragon 480 could potentially reach targets over 500km away. The missile can be launched from a high-speed mobile wheeled platform, making it both cost-effective and adaptable to harsh environments.
The PLA’s simulation involved launching 12 Fire Dragon 480 rockets at two Ticonderoga-class cruisers. The simulation indicated that one of the cruisers was sunk despite the defensive efforts of the US warships, which included launching air defense missiles and activating the Phalanx close-in weapon system.
Additionally, the study explored the use of “swarm warheads,” where drones are deployed to distract defense systems and provide precise target coordinates for subsequent rocket attacks. This tactic showed a near-zero survival rate for the Ticonderoga-class cruisers in the simulation, the SCMP report said.
Li highlighted the importance of upgrading China’s long-range rocket launcher system and enhancing anti-interference abilities and data links between the rockets and drones to maximize the effectiveness of these tactics.
The US, meanwhile, is gradually decommissioning its Ticonderoga-class cruisers in favor of more modern ships, with the last one scheduled for retirement in 2027.
