PLA study suggests China’s Fire Dragon missiles could sink US warships
- A simulation indicates that the missiles, which have been exported to the UAE, could destroy Ticonderoga-class cruisers
A Chinese tactical ballistic missile known as the Fire Dragon 480 that has been exported to the Middle East would be capable of sinking a US cruiser patrolling the Red Sea, according to a computer simulation run by the People’s Liberation Army.
With close coordination of a swarm of drones and the adoption of new tactics, an average of six of these long-range guided rockets would be needed to destroy a large US warship, according to a peer-reviewed paper published in the academic journal Command Control & Simulation on May 15.
In Yemen, the Houthis have been targeting shipping in the Red Sea, actions the Iranian-backed group says are intended to stop supplies of weapons and other equipment to Israel following its assault on Gaza.
The Houthis have employed a diverse array of attack methods, including ballistic missiles, drones, and anti-ship cruise missiles.
These assaults have imposed considerable strain on US sailors, yet there is no evidence that it has caused any damage to the US Navy.