US‍ Stockpiles Anti-Ship Weapons to Counter China’s Growing Naval Power

The United States is amassing a large quantity of anti-ship weapons, including the QUICKSINK missile, to⁤ counter the growing naval power of the Chinese ‍Communist Party⁢ (CCP) in the Indo-Pacific region.

According to Euan Graham, a senior analyst at the Australian Institute for Strategic Policy,​ the US⁢ is responding to China’s increasing arsenal of warships and conventional ballistic missiles, including those ​designed to attack ships.

QUICKSINK:⁤ A Game-Changer in Anti-Ship Warfare

The QUICKSINK missile, developed by the US Air Force, is a low-cost, GPS-guided bomb that can ​track moving targets. The missile has been successfully tested using a ‌B-2 stealth bomber in the Gulf of Mexico.

Matthew Caspers, director⁣ of the munitions ​directorate of the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), stated that QUICKSINK provides a solution to the urgent need to eliminate threats ⁤to maritime freedom around the world.

The US Air Force developed QUICKSINK to improve its⁢ anti-shipping capabilities, which would be critical in a potential conflict with China or other major adversaries.

Industry Insider: “Affordable Massive” Weapons Will Overwhelm China’s Ship Defense Systems

An industry executive stated that the US Indo-Pacific Command has been seeking thousands of QUICKSINK weapons for​ years. The executive believes ​that China’s ship defense‌ systems would be‍ overwhelmed by a large-scale attack using‍ “affordable massive” weapons.

The US military plans to use a combination of long-range anti-ship missiles, ⁣such as the LRASM and SM-6, to destroy Chinese warships and their radar systems, followed by lower-cost weapons like QUICKSINK ⁢to attack the remaining ships.

US Builds Up Anti-Ship⁢ Capabilities in Asia

The US has been building up its anti-ship capabilities in Asia,⁣ including the deployment of a ‍new land-based missile system, “Typhon,” in ​the Philippines. The system can launch SM-6 and Tomahawk missiles at maritime targets.

The US ‍has also been developing‌ other anti-ship weapons, including the Joint‍ Direct Attack⁤ Missile (JDAM) and the Tomahawk missile. These weapons ⁢have⁢ mature designs and are relatively easy to manufacture.

China’s Strategy and ⁤the US Response

According to Graham, the CCP’s strategy is to limit the actions ⁣of the US ‌Navy in the⁢ Western Pacific and the first island chain. However, the US is responding by‍ cooperating with like-minded countries, making ​it difficult for the Chinese Navy to operate in‍ the region.

The US deployment of anti-ship weapons in the Philippines will ⁢allow these weapons to reach much of the South China Sea, where China has been claiming sovereignty over the area using the “nine-dash line.” However, the International Court of Justice has ruled ⁤that China’s claim has no legal basis.