Think Tank: "No Defense" for cruise missiles in the United States

Russian Navy ship launched a cruise missile. Image source Russian Ministry of Defense

Comprehensive compilation Zhang Haotian

In Russia and Ukraine's conflict, the Russian Air Force and the Navy used cruising missiles to carry out a long -range precise blow to the targets of Ukraine, which attracted the attention of US military observers. Many people believe that there are defects in the existing missile defense system in the United States; in the face of other military powers, the patrol missiles in the United States are almost "no defense."

The U.S. military is accused of doing nothing

"The United States has almost no defense capabilities against cruise missiles. This is a serious problem." In July this year, the US think tank "Strategy and International Research Center" (CSIS) stated in an evaluation report that the US government and the military focus on development The ability to prevent ballistic missiles ignores "how to protect the United States from being exempted from low -altitude long -range weapons." "Among all kinds of threats, the ubiquitous attack cruise missiles are at the core." The report stated that "emerging hypersonic missiles have attracted great attention, but conventional cruise missiles are still one of the largest recent threats in the United States. ","

The US "Defense No. 1" website article said that people are increasingly worried about the attack on cruise missiles in the United States. The ballistic missiles usually fly along the high and predictable trajectory, and the cruise missiles fly very low and can be launched from a submarine lurking underwater. Therefore, defensive ballistic missiles and intercepting cruise missiles are very different at the technical level.

"A little revelation of Russia and Ukraine's conflict is: even in the face of high -end opponents, old -fashioned weapons and sensors still have a place for martial arts." CSIS pointed out, "Rather than abandoning or sealing the old system, it is better to integrate them into the land defense structure." This think tank It is recommended that the United States integrate existing radar, reconnaissance aircraft, drones and anti -missile equipment.

The CSIS report is not the first warning of the threat of cruise missiles, but the United States' response measures are accused of lack of goodness. In 2008, the U.S. military tried to monitor air targets with airship. An accident in 2015 caused the project to end in advance. In 2019, the "Brucks Society" in the United States said that the US Congress has authorized, but the Pentagon has not purchased a cruise missile defense system, relying on existing equipment such as radar, air defense missiles and fighters.

"Defense No. 1" said that at present, the only air defense position in the United States that can shoot down the cruise missiles is deployed near Washington Special Economic Zone and is responsible for protecting a few government facilities. In addition, the Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland has a fighter on duty to lift off the cruise missiles that are coming. There are many radar all over the United States. They are managed by different departments, including Pentagon, the Ministry of Land Safety, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Ocean and Atmospheric Administration. CSIS pointed out that if these departments can share data, it will help weave a defense network. "If the Ministry of National Defense can designate a military or institution to be fully responsible for cruising missile defense as soon as possible, the relevant procurement is expected to officially start from the 2024 fiscal year."

Related technologies will be tested in Asia Pacific

The think tank's criticism of the "portal opening" in the United States has caused the US military people to respond. According to the US "Air Force" magazine, at the end of July, the Northern Command of the U.S. Army and North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) commander of the United States and General of the United States. Essence He revealed that the plan to focus on the combat environment after 2025 will be prioritized around the target that is most likely to be attacked.

Vanch pointed out that the military marked 8 to 10 key areas on the map, many of which were located on the east coast of the United States. The military tends to establish a "wide -area" defense system, including the means of responding to electronic interference, hacking, and other electronic war attacks. At a specific place, NORAD will refer to the pre -deploying fighter or missiles of the Washington Special Administrative Region to intercept the coming target.

The local air defense warning system established in the United States in the last century was mainly to deal with Soviet bomber. Now, with the ability of cruise missiles, the effectiveness of the original early warning system has been greatly reduced. According to Norad, it requires better sensors, satellites, radars and data tools to discover and track cruise missiles from other countries. "These missiles can be launched on the submarine, from the container ships parked on the port, launching from the land, launching from the aircraft, and launching from all directions ... Therefore, we need 360 -degree trend perception." Van Hek said.

The U.S. Scientist Federation was inquired about the military's informed military plan for the native defense plan for cruise missiles, including two documents codenamed "Concept Plan 3310" and "Action Plan 3400", and the details were confidential. General Paul Murray, deputy minister of Norad's combat department, said in an interview with the Air Force magazine that artificial intelligence technology can help improve the land air defense system; this kind of action is not just a matter of the United States. "Our partners such as Australia can fill in it. We can fill their gaps in their capacity blank. "He emphasized that the United States is not a refuge, and NORAD wants to make opponents aware that attacking the United States is not a shortcut to win.

- END -