Merging Air and Space with Traditional Roles and Missions: Aerospace Strike Systems

Based on a broad survey of authoritative technical literature, the PLA’s long-term vision for joint aerospace power appears to include an ability to de­liver conventional firepower with precision to any point on Earth. In line with the PRC’s traditional approach to research and development, strategic strike programs could entail four phases:71

■ The first phase would involve fielding of an initial maritime variant of the DF-21C medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM)—an antiship ballistic missile (ASBM)—by the end of the 11th Five Year Plan (2006­2010).

■ A second phase would seek to extend precision strike out to a range of 3,000 kilometers by the conclusion of the 12th Five Year Plan (2011- 2015).72

■ A third phase would result in fielding a boosted hypersonic glide mis­sile capable of intercontinental strike by 2020.

■ A final capability, deployed before 2025, would be a hypersonic scramjet-propelled cruise vehicle for global operations.

In the near term, the chances of success for fielding conventional ballistic and cruise missiles able to strike fixed and moving targets in the western Pacific Ocean and South China Sea out to a range of 2,000 kilometers are high. Con­sistent with the reports of ongoing testing, at least one authoritative source in­dicates that preparations for ASBM manufacturing were completed in 2009.73

The most recent additions to the PLAs extended-range convention­al strike capability include ground – and air-launched land attack cruise mis­siles. Since successful completion of operational testing in October 2003, the PLA inventory of ground-launched cruise missiles has expanded significantly. The addition of air-launched land attack cruise missiles will further expand the PLAs extended-range strike capability.74 The air-launched variant of the DH-10 land attack cruise missile, referred to in Taiwan sources as the YJ-100 (ШФ100), ostensibly has a 1,500-kilometer (930-mile) range.75 When launched from a B-6 bomber in the Bohai Gulf or coastal areas over China, the missiles could reach targets throughout Japan and the South China Sea. However, if the bomber carries out missions overwater in the western Pacific, it could theoreti­cally cover Guam. In one interview, cruise missile designer Yang Baokui high­lighted six focus areas for next-generation weapons systems, including:76

1. increased range

2. increased precision

3. higher reliability

4. increased weapons system effects

5. easier maintenance

6. improved electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM).

Research and development investment into next-generation extended – range precision strike systems exemplifies the PLAs evolving concept of aero­space power. With ballistic and cruise missile technology serving as the basis, investment into aerospace strike also may illustrate how service-related com­petition could evolve. Aerospace flight vehicles blur the distinction between the air and space domains. In discussing new generation ballistic and extend­ed-range air – and ground-launched cruise missiles, aerospace engineers have advocated modification of existing ballistic missile designs toward ones that adopt characteristics of both ballistic and cruise missiles. As two aerospace en­gineers put it, “The traditional ballistic reentry mode of reentry vehicle cannot meet the demand of the new battle environment. A new-style lift reentry weap­on platform is an optimal key to solve this problem.”77

Hypersonic aerospace flight vehicles exemplify the merging of the air and space domains from both operational and industrial perspectives.78 Aero­space strike systems under development in China could be divided into two categories: a boost-glide vehicle that is launched into a suborbital trajecto­ry in near-space by a ballistic missile; and/or a horizontal take-off and land­ing strike system that utilizes an air-breathing supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) engine to propel a vehicle to hypersonic speeds.79 Key areas of R&D include high lift-to-drag ratio delivery vehicles, high-temperature materials for thermal protection, precision navigation, guidance and control, and ability to maintain external radio frequency links through plasma in near-space.

Initial aerospace vehicle R&D is believed to rely on conventional ballistic missile technology for ascent into a suborbital trajectory in near-space.80 The missile would then release a post-boost vehicle to glide and maneuver toward the intended target. Chinese engineers appear to be conducting preliminary research into a conceptual design for a suborbital flight vehicle (ШЛМ^ТЖ) or strike system that adopts a boost-glide (ЙШШі) trajectory, or, as some en­gineers call it, a “Qian Xuesen trajectory” (®^Щ#М).81 Instead of flying on a normal ballistic path that takes the missile into space before returning to Earth, the boost-glide missile skips in and out of near-space, those altitudes between 20 and 100 kilometers.82

Aerodynamically configured to glide toward its target, the flight vehicle adopts hybrid characteristics of both ballistic and cruise missiles. In its initial stage of flight, sources indicate the flight vehicle would reach hypersonic speeds of between Mach 8 and Mach 12.83 Another study references an upper altitude of 60 kilometers and lower of 30 kilometers (37.2 and 18.6 miles).84 In addition to complicating mid-course missile defenses, boost-glide flight vehicles are said to extend the range of existing ballistic missiles. One study, for example, asserts that a basic boost-glide capability could extend the range of a missile by 31.2 percent.85

Signifying the importance that China places on development of aero­space flight vehicles, senior political and military authorities established a steering group in 2006 and a dedicated research institute for leveraging the unique characteristics of near-space under the CASC First Academy in 2008. The CASC First Academy is China’s principal organization for R&D and pro­duction of strategic ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles. Senior design­ers for boost-glide strike systems likely reside within the CASC First Academy 10th Research Institute (Near-space Flight Vehicle Research Institute, 1’еО^^ЭДЙ№), which formed in October 2008 after 2 years of closed door meetings, conferences, and feasibility studies.86 Most recently in June 2009, a CASC manufacturing facility in Chengdu (7304 Factory) initiated testing on an engine designed to support a near-space flight vehicle program.87

In line with the PLA’s “informatization” of weapons systems, precision guidance enjoys a high R&D priority. For high-altitude target acquisition of moving targets at sea, such as aircraft carriers, China’s defense R&D commu­nity appears to be investing significant resources into fielding a missile-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) capability that would be integrated with satellite positioning and inertial navigation systems.88 Chinese aerospace engineers have been refining technologies for advanced flight vehicle terminal guidance, in­cluding millimeter wave, infrared, and laser detection and ranging (ladar) seek – ers.89 A former high-ranking aerospace industry official opined that precision strike systems, such as an ASBM, would share many of the same guidance tech­nologies as the antisatellite (ASAT) system that was tested in January 2007.90

Chinese industry publications appear to view boost-glide flight vehicles in a similar context as the U. S. Air Force FALCON program, one of a num­ber of Prompt Global Strike-related research, development, test, and evalua­tion (RDT&E) programs underway in the United States. CASC First Academy, CASIC Third Academy, and PLA designers have conducted feasibility studies of common aero vehicles (CAVs), and appear to believe China could overcome technical obstacles to fielding such as system.91 In one study, CASC First Acad­emy engineers noted use of a ramjet engine for the post-boost vehicle and cited issues associated with heating and use of infrared terminal sensors when going after sea-based and land-based targets. After detailed analysis, First Academy designers identified 10 key technologies needed for global precision strikes. Engineers believe that a ballistic missile equipped with a post-boost-glide ve­hicle could enter the R&D phase in the 12th Five Year Plan.92

Other concepts under development also include air-launched conven­tional ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles. Preliminary research by the space and missile industry into air-launched solid-fueled vehicles is said to have begun in 2000.93 Airborne platforms are viewed as fuel efficient since launch would be at a high altitude, and the missile could enjoy velocity ben­efits. Aerospace industry executives have outlined a conceptual design for a 1-meter diameter solid motor that could lift a 50-kilogram (110-pound) mic­rosatellite into a 500-kilometer (310-mile) orbit from a converted B-6 bomb­er.94 While not confirmed, some indications exist that some testing has taken place. Another variant, similar to a winged cruise ballistic missile, is for near­space flight.95

Authoritative sources indicate that preliminary R&D funds are being in­vested into a more advanced hypersonic aerospace flight vehicle program.96 Next-generation flight vehicles may adopt airbreathing supersonic combus­tion ramjet (scramjet) engine (®Й$Е^^Л) technology, enabling accelera­tion to hypersonic speeds in excess of Mach 5. In addition to scramjet engine technology, R&D is focused on advanced heat-resistant materials, radar and infrared signature reduction (e. g., “stealth”), micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), smart structures, and autonomous control.97 One Chinese study out­lined results of modeling and simulating a scramjet-powered vehicle with a range between 1,000 and 2,000 kilometers (620-1,240 miles), flying toward its target at an altitude of between 25 and 30 kilometers (15.5-18.6 miles) and a speed of Mach 6.98

Chinese engineers have been investigating turbine-based combined cy­cle (TBCC) propulsion systems. More specifically, Chinese aerospace engi­neers have been carrying out basic research into an air-turbo rocket (ATR) propulsion system, an airbreathing system that combines elements from both turbojets and rocket engines. Simulations validated one ATR design that oper­ates at speeds up to Mach 4 and altitudes of up to 11 kilometers (6.82 miles).99 In a Xinhua interview, a founding father of China’s space and missile program, Zhuang Fenggan (£й^), argued that that aerospace flight vehicle testing could begin as early as the end of the 11th Five Year Plan.100 Hong Kong’s Wen Wei Po reported in 2006 that R&D could be completed by 2020.101

As a final note, China’s R&D community also has been investing resourc­es in more exotic forms of electronic attack. In particular, efforts have been di­rected toward an energy weapon that produces a strong electromagnetic pulse (EMP) to neutralize electronic systems within its effective radius. Known as a high-powered microwave (ЛЙ$Ш$ЙЖ) device, it has been championed by many of China’s most respected advocates of information warfare. PLA-af – filiated research institutes have already mastered certain power sources com­monly associated with microwave weapons.102 Chinese writings indicate vari­ous applications for high-powered microwave (HPM) devices to shut down adversarial radars and C4ISR systems in an opening salvo, including direc­tional systems for jamming the electronic systems of attacking aircraft and antiradiation missiles, and as an antisatellite weapon to degrade sensitive satel­lite electronic systems.103