maybe, but I also remember seeing some kind of paper that mentioned taking into consideration of interception ratio. Maybe the paper was brought in during the discussion.
2025 Victory Day parade thread (workup, 3rd Sept)
- Thread starter Blitzo
- Start date
Do we know why this system only saw very limited service compared to DF-17?
Its maximum speed is only Mach 4, so its penetration capability isn't particularly outstanding. With a range of 3,000–4,000 km, it's long but not extremely long.
It was originally a backup plan for the DF-21D—if the DF-21D failed or faced delays, the PLA could rely on it. Turns out that the DF-21D progressed rapidly, but DF-100's development lagged behind
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I remember it was something like there were news circulating (released by American officials, amplified by Taiwanese media in particular) about how those ballistic missiles had multiple warheads and only half of the warheads hit the target.
The theorycrafting at the time was one of the objects released by the missile was not a warhead at all but a targeting module that trailed behind the actual warhead and maintained communication and relayed targeting information to the warhead by talking with its cooler rear section that's hidden in the shadow of the re-entry plasma sheath. And that Americans, not familiar with this system mistook it for a MIRV system.
it is good to drop a less optimized system IMO. supersonic cruise missiles necessarily have to fly high and are vulnerable in flight as they're within the flight envelope of typical aircraft. Mach 4 terminal is more like Mach 2 cruise, which is fast but not that fast for a non-maneuvering, blind aircraft. If a SAM or AAM can shoot down a F-15 or Su-27 with its radar off, it can shoot down a Mach 2 missile too. Yes it will be with much greater difficulty than subsonics, but it is still possible. A ballistic missile on the other hand is just completely outside the flight envelope of most SAMs and all AAMs.
China should have a zircon like scramjet missile. Its a shame they couldn't develop it. Only Russia has been able to develop scramjet missile.
Aren't supposedly working on that, people were hinting at such a missile to be shown at the parade.
Says who?
Because the PLA will not be satisfied with just a scramjet version of P-800, lessons of DF-100 are enough. PLA will only target the US military's to develop a long scramjet flight, serious air-breathing waverider HCM. Otherwise it would be better to go back to using the YJ-21
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