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2024-07-01 China-Japan-Koreas
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Pacific Rim: US aims latest missiles at Chinese fleet
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Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
by German Polysalov
[REGNUM] As part of the Valiant Shield exercises, military maneuvers conducted by the United States in the Pacific Ocean, the Americans tested the latest high-precision ballistic missiles for combating ships. Two PrSM missiles were launched from a launcher located on the territory of the Palau International Airport in the island state of the same name. The June 16 firing marked the first time the missiles have been used outside of U.S. test ranges or inside the United States. The PrSM rounds, which are replacing the ATACMS, were fired from a prototype AML unmanned rocket launcher based on the U.S. HIMARS, although the latter is also compatible with the new missiles. In short, this tandem of innovation, with PrSM and AML participating in joint live-fire exercises, preceded the culmination of military sinking exercises (SINKEX), which involves the destruction of decommissioned ships while testing weapons.
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This is exactly what was tested 40 nautical miles off the coast of Palau on the hull of the decommissioned 174-meter Austin-class landing transport dock ship Cleveland.
The main goal of the tests, as reported by the US military department, was to destroy moving sea targets, i.e., potential enemy ships, with the help of the new missile. As the US Pacific Fleet public relations department immediately reported, the attack was carried out successfully.
In general, without going into details of other maneuvers (mostly innovative solutions were tested in Palau or in its exclusive economic zone), the region of the exercises was the US forward bases in the Pacific Ocean.
This is not surprising, because they are all located on a secondary defensive line known as the second island chain, and could be used in a war with China. Especially since Beijing, as American politicians and admirals say in unison, “has the will and growing ability to change the rules-based international order.”
And that is why the fact of testing new developments from the arsenal of the American army on the territory of the only de jure sovereign state of Palau becomes even more interesting, although the geography of the maneuvers also included American possessions.
This detail is extremely important for understanding the situation in the region, since the demonstration of capabilities - which is exactly what the US Army did, launching a new missile from a prototype launcher at a sea moving target - could be carried out anywhere within the geography of these exercises.
Whether it is the island of Guam, from where a B-52 strategic bomber took off in March to launch an AGM-183 hypersonic missile, or the Mariana Islands, where active military construction is underway in the interests of the Pentagon. All of them have the status of unincorporated organized territory of the United States.
Then why was a political decision made in favor of demonstrating capabilities in Palau, and most importantly, what was it dictated by?
DEMONSTRATION OF CAPABILITIES
Not only were missile launches outside American territory new to the Pentagon. The first military exercises in the new twenty-year period were also held on Palau territory itself. They became possible thanks to the 20-year extension of America's free association treaties with Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands in March of this year.
It is these treaties that govern a unique and privileged defense relationship, granting the American military exclusive rights to territorial waters and airspace that expired at the end of September last year.
However, despite the speed with which Congress extended the agreements, Washington had problems with their financial support for almost half a year. As a result, three island states in the Pacific Ocean, including Palau, had reasons to doubt the reliability of the United States.
Not only did this threaten to lose exclusive military access to strategic allies in the Pacific islands, but it also created opportunities for China to further expand its influence in a region critical to Washington.
Simply put, Congress's failure to renew and fund the agreements for six months played into the hands of Beijing and Palauan business leaders, who could exploit the gap in American funding to reorient their economy and subsequent political interests toward China.
Moreover, in 2019, the authorities of the Solomon Islands and the Republic of Kiribati embarked on a similar path, breaking off diplomatic relations with Taiwan and establishing them with mainland China, and now they have acquired security agreements with Beijing.
In short, although the $7.1 billion over 20 years to extend the treaties was approved, the US position in the eyes of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau was undermined.
And in these conditions, when the United States continues to develop the islands to confront China (this is implied by extended treaties), it is important for Washington to demonstrate its security capabilities.
Moreover, in the near future, at least, Palau may become a legitimate target for a retaliatory strike by the People's Liberation Army of China, since in 2026 the United States intends to install an over-the-horizon radar on the territory of this state. It will significantly enhance American early warning capabilities against missile attacks in the Western Pacific.
It was vital for the United States to demonstrate its security capabilities and remind that Washington is responsible for the defense and security of Palau. And the Valiant Shield exercise provided such an opportunity.
“We take our partnership with Palau and our military commitment very seriously,” U.S. Army Col. Matthew Mulvey said during the exercise. “We want the population to realize that we are here among you ultimately to serve you.”
The fact that this was a demonstration of capabilities is supported by the military equipment exhibition held in Palau, which was held in unison with the exercises. The exhibition included aircraft whose export is prohibited by law. We are talking about the most advanced US fighter jet, the F-22 Raptor: the Predator, assigned to the 27th Fighter Squadron, arrived in Palau.
The key demonstration of capabilities was the successful destruction of a surface sea target with a new ballistic missile. The fact is that in their current state, PrSM missiles should be unsuitable for firing at such targets, since the integration of a homing head (GOS) is only planned for 2026.
This is also confirmed by the Pentagon's base budget for the 2025 fiscal year, which requests about $10 million for the purchase of ten missiles equipped with seekers in 2026.
However, this apparently did not stop the US from conducting one of the first flight tests of a new guidance system in Palau, which will be a key element of a de facto new land-based anti-ship ballistic missile.
The recent exercise involving launching PrSM ballistic missiles at ships was more than it might seem at first glance. Given the tenor of America's Free Association Treaties with Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands, one can be sure that these anti-surface missiles will be deployed within a few years.
Launchers placed on the territory of each of the island states loaded with anti-ship ballistic missiles with a range of 500+ km will largely determine the balance of power in the region.
And if we add here the unincorporated territories of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, it turns out that the United States has organized another line of defense (and offensive) against China. And a hypothetical breakthrough of US defensive lines will become very difficult and impossible without serious losses.
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Posted by badanov 2024-07-01 00:00||
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