China Leaks Video Of A New Type Of Supersonic Cruise Missile

A video released by China’s military appeared to show the launch of a new type of supersonic cruise missile. Photo: PLA Rocket Force

SCMP: Did China just accidentally show off its new supersonic cruise missile?

* Mystery weapon is seen in video released by PLA Rocket Force as part of 70th anniversary celebrations only to disappear from edited version
* Missile’s design unlike any other in military’s arsenal, experts say

China’s military on Wednesday published a video containing a clip of what appeared to be the launch of a new type of supersonic cruise missile, only to withdraw the film and replace it with a version with that scene trimmed out.

The original footage, which ran for just over a minute, was released on social media by the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force as part of the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, which falls on Tuesday.

The film contained a two-second clip in which an unidentified missile with an unusual design is seen being fired from a launcher truck. However, in the later version, the scene is replaced with footage of two separate missile launches in a desert setting.

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WNU Editor: This was no accident. This leak was done deliberately.

China Leaks Video Of A New Type Of Supersonic Cruise Missile

China Leaks Video Of Mysterious Ground-Launched Missile -- Warzone/The Drive
Videos: China May Have Accidentally Revealed Its New Supersonic Cruise Missile Online -- Sputnik
China May Have Accidentally Revealed New Supersonic Cruise Missile In Now-Deleted Footage -- Zero Hedge

The Age Of Networked Air-Launched Munitions That Swarm Together Is Rapidly Approaching

Warzone/The Drive: SPEAR Mini-Cruise Missile Getting An Electronic Warfare Variant To Swarm With Is A Huge Deal

The advent of a swarm of networked SPEAR strike and electronic warfare missiles is very bad news for enemy air defenses and the targets they protect.

It's becoming increasingly clear that the age of highly networked air-launched munitions that can swarm together and work as a team is rapidly approaching. This is not just about big cruise missiles. Even the most diminutive of smart weapons could be adapted to become part of an undulating, rapid-reacting, network of disparate munitions that work cooperatively to accomplish a set of goals and directives. MBDA's Select Precision Effects At Range Capability Three (SPEAR-3) mini-cruise missile, a weapon that itself was adapted from the Brimstone short-range air-to-ground missile, is now getting an electronic warfare variant that will work alongside its traditional brethren to shatter enemy air defenses and to protect launching aircraft, and even other missiles, from their deadly reach.

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WNU Editor: It is all about swarming and overwhelming the enemy.

U.S. Will Be Testing A Cruise Missile Banned Under The Previous INF Treaty This August

A launching unit for BGM-109G Gryphon missiles TSGT ROB MARSHALL/US Air Force

Reuters: U.S. looks to test ground-launched cruise missile in August

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States aims to test a ground-launched cruise missile with a range of about 1,000 km (620 miles) in August, a Pentagon official said on Wednesday, after Washington announced last month it plans to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

Last month, the United States said it would withdraw from the INF treaty in six months unless Moscow ends what Washington says are violations of the 1987 pact.

Russia announced it was suspending the treaty. Moscow denies flouting the accord and has accused Washington of breaking the accord itself, allegations rejected by the United States.

“We’re going to test a ground-launched cruise missile in August,” said a senior defense official, who declined to be named.

If the testing is successful, the missile could be deployed in about 18 months.

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More News On The U.S. Testing A Cruise Missile Banned Under The Previous INF Treaty This August

US plans tests this year of long-banned types of missiles -- AP
US to Test Ground-Launched Cruise Missile Systems Once Banned by INF Treaty -- Sputnik
The US is set to start building once-banned cruise missiles for the first time since the Cold War -- Business Insider
US begins work on new cruise missile after pulling out of cold war treaty -- The Guardian
US to make parts for missile system covered by treaty Trump suspended -- The Hill
US to Start Making Parts for Ground-Launched Cruise Missile Systems -- VOA/Reuters
Pentagon Prepares to Build Banned Missiles as Treaty Expires -- Popular Mechanics

Pentagon Has Started Research To Develop A Banned Intermediate Missile

An unarmed AGM-86B air-launched cruise missile maneuvers over the Utah Test and Training Range en route to its target September 22, 2014, during a simulated combat mission. [Photo credit: Staff Sgt. Roidan Carlson/U.S. Air Force]

The Hill: Pentagon begins research on missile banned by arms treaty with Russia: report

The Pentagon has started research to develop a missile banned by an arms treaty with Russia in an effort to get Moscow back into compliance with the treaty, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

Citing unnamed U.S. officials, the newspaper reported that the U.S. military has been conducting preliminary research in recent months for a ground-based cruise missile, a type banned by the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

“The idea here is we need to send a message to the Russians that they will pay a military price for violation of this treaty,” one U.S. official told the newspaper. “We are posturing ourselves to live in a post-INF world … if that is the world the Russians want.”

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WNU Editor: The U.S. is accusing Russia of violating the INF treaty .... hence the reasoning for why the Pentagon is beginning research for a ground-based cruise missile .... Russian general reveals INF violation (Washington Times).

More News On The Pentagon Beginning Research On Developing A Banned Intermediate Missile

Pentagon Moves to Develop Banned Intermediate Missile -- Wall Street Journal
US 'developing ground-based cruise missile, banned by Cold War treaty, over Russia threat' -- The Telegraph
What you need to know about the banned missile the US is developing -- We Are The Mighty
Russia has deployed a banned nuclear missile. Now the US threatens to build one. -- Washington Post

U.S. Intelligence Raises A Warning On Russia's Newest Cruise Missiles

© Ministry of defence of the Russian Federation

IBTimes: Amid Russia Military Buildup, US Intelligence Report Warns Of New Russian Cruise Missiles

Russia is overhauling its navy by expanding deployment of non-nuclear cruise missiles that can hit targets at land and sea by employing supersonic speed and evasive maneuvers, a U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence analysis concluded. The military buildup could "present continuing challenges to U.S. and allied naval forces," the intelligence report noted.

The KALIBR-class missiles that will be installed on vessels such as corvettes, or small warships, are “profoundly changing its ability to deter, threaten or destroy adversary targets,” the U.S. agency, known as ONI, said in a report posted on its website. “With the use of the land attack missile, all platforms have a significant ability to hold distant fixed ground targets at risk using conventional warheads.”

More News On U.S. Intelligence Concerns On The Deployment Of New Russian Cruise Missiles

Russia Deploys Advanced Cruise Missiles in Major Navy Reboot -- Bloomberg
US Navy Admits Russia's Defense Capacity Growing due to Kalibr Missiles -- Sputnik
The U.S. Navy Just Uncovered Something Massive Putin Is Doing That Could Be ‘Devastating’ -- Western Journalism
2015: A Year of Growth for the Russian Navy -- Maritime Executive
U.S. Navy Warns Soviet-Sized Russian Navy Will Return In 5 Years -- Investors.com
Intelligence Report Warns of Russian Naval Buildup -- Washington Free Beacon

Military Analysts Are Surprised By Russia's Long Range Cruise Missiles

A photo taken from video published by the Russian Defense Ministry purports to show missile launches from the Caspian Sea to strike targets in Syria. Credit Russian Defense Ministry

David Axe, Daily Beast: Russia’s New Mega-Missile Stuns the Globe

Putin’s latest weapons were mostly unknown to the outside world—until they began slamming into Syria.

On Oct. 7, Russian warships in the Caspian Sea fired 26 high-tech cruise missiles at rebel targets in Syria—a staggering 1,000 miles away.

The missiles in question, which the Pentagon calls SS-N-30s, were mostly unknown to the outside world before the Oct. 7 raid. Even close watchers of the Russian military were surprised to see them. The missile attack was also highly visible. In many ways, it was an announcement to the world, and America in particular, that the once-dilapidated Russian navy is back in action—and that Putin’s missileers are now among the planet’s most advanced.

Update: Russia’s Kalibr Cruise Missiles, a New Weapon in Syria Conflict (NYT)

WNU Editor: I suspect that as the Russian military campaign continues in Syria .... we are going to be surprised even more.

U.S. Northern Command: Russian Cruise Missile Threat Is Growing

Russia's KH-101 long-range cruise missile / National Air and Space Intelligence Center

Washington Free Beacon: Northcom: Russian Cruise Missile Threat to U.S. Grows

U.S. defenses ‘over-matched’ for missile threats.

Russia is developing a long-range cruise missile that poses a new threat to the United States, the commander of the U.S. Northern Command warned this week.

“Russia is progressing toward its goal of deploying long-range, conventionally-armed cruise missiles with ever increasing stand-off launch distances on its heavy bombers, submarines, and surface combatants, augmenting the Kremlin’s toolkit of flexible deterrent options short of the nuclear threshold,” Adm. William Gortney, Northcom chief who heads the U.S.-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said Thursday.

WNU Editor: I am not surprised that the commander of the U.S. Northern Command is issuing this warning .... long range cruise missiles will make U.S. missile defense ineffective .... but what the U.S. is genuinely fearful of is the Russian development of hypersonic missiles. On the other side .... it should be noted that the Russians are also afraid of U.S. missile development .... Russia is deathly afraid of America's newest missiles (Robert Beckhusen, The Week/War Is Boring).

A Cruise Missle Arms Race?

AGM-129 ACM (Advanced Cruise Missile). Wikipedia

New U.S. Cruise Missile Risks Dangerous Arms Race -- Michael Peck, War Is Boring

Pulverize your enemy—and hope they don’t do the same to you

The Pentagon wants a cheap cruise missile that can strike anywhere in the world without risking American soldiers or aircraft.

It’s a great idea. As long as it doesn’t inadvertently start a destabilizing arms race.

The Pentagon’s proposal calls for a stand-off weapon that can launch from outside the range of enemy defenses.

It should be a “low-cost conventional weapon concept or concepts that costs less than $2 million per round, can support other reconnaissance and attack missions, and strike important weapons, sensors, facilities and infrastructure targets at ranges up to … 3,000 nautical miles.”

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My Comment: The cost factor of these weapon systems will become even more important as budget cutbacks continue. These missile systems are relatively cheap, effective, and they can be deployed anywhere. It is also true that the "other side" can do the same .... and they are also under the same cost constraints like everyone else. Yup .... it looks like an arms race over cruise missiles is just around the corner.

A Look At How Tomahawk Cruise Missiles May Be Used In Syria

The Tomahawk cruise missile flies fast and relatively low to the ground. Raytheon

How Tomahawk Cruise Missiles May Send Messages To (And From) Syria -- NBC

The Tomahawk cruise missiles being readied for possible use against Syrian government targets are part of a line going back to the Cold War — but these are definitely not your father's cruise missiles.

The most advanced Tomahawks are like driverless cars, except that they fly through the air at 550 mph and kill people. They have GPS, onboard digital maps, video cameras and two-way satellite links, and a navigation system that allows the missiles to loiter over an area and wait for their targets to pop up. That's in addition to the 1,000-pound bomb each Tomahawk typically carries.

The U.S. Navy can use those capabilities to send a message to Syria's leaders about their chemical weapons program, just as it sent messages in the past to leaders of Iraq, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Sudan, Yemen and Libya. Almost as important, the Tomahawks can send messages back — in the form of real-time battle damage assessments.

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My Comment: I suspect that the Syrians have already positioned and hid their more valuable military assets .... so it will be buildings and airfields that these missiles will probably target.

Update: 20 Reasons Why Tomahawk Missiles Should Put Assad In A State Of Panic -- Business Insider