I was previously puzzled by the reports of the development of VLS launched ballistic missiles, but I think I understand now.
Taiwan has 2 mountain airbases and runways located on its East Coast, which means mountains are in the way of ballistic missiles launched from mainland China. So there is no quick way for China to launch a surprise missile attack against these airbases and shut them down in a few minutes.
But these 2 airbases are designed to shelter and operate the entire Taiwan Air Force fighter jet inventory, because they know how vulnerable their other airbases are to attack. Taiwan has close to 300 fighter jets in total worth $20Billion+
So it's worth having the Chinese Navy putting together a small task force of 4 Type-55 destroyers with a total of 200 ballistic missiles.
North Korea reportedly sold SCUD-C ballstic missiles with a range of 600km for just $3M each, so 200 ship-launched ballistic missiles would probably cost China less than $1Billion, which is far less than the $20Billion+ of Taiwanese fighter jets presumably inside those mountain airbases.
Then the Type-55 could be stationed say 500 km off the Eastern coastline of Taiwan, which should be far away enough to avoid E-2 AWACs detection and anti-ship missiles launched from Taiwan.
The Type-55 would be able to launch their ballistic missiles against those 2 mountain airbases, and the short time to impact would mean the vast majority of fighter jets would not be able to exit the mountain and scramble into the air before missiles started hitting the runways.
It would also force Taiwan to buy and build yet another PAVE PAWS radar for ballistic missile early warning facing EAST into the Pacific Ocean.
The existing one faces the opposite direction, towards mainland China.
The last PAVE PAWS cost $1.4Billion, and remember that Taiwan only has a military budget of $11Billion per year.
Comments?
Why would a mountain affect short or mid range ballistic missile? If a mountain can shield an air base from enemy ballistic missile, wouldn't building ballistic missile launching site at a mountain valley make it untouchable to enemy ballistic missiles? If that's the case, wouldn't it be unnecessary to build SSBN in order to acquire second strike capabilities?
As far as I understand, those mountains should only be able to shield Taiwan's air bases from land attack cruise missiles flying at low altitude, or unguided long range rocket artillery MLRS attacks from across the straight. Ballistic missiles, as far as a know have a much larger tragectory (they involve atmospheric re-entry). I don't think a mountain could shield an airbase from a ballistic missile.
I maybe wrong, please enlighten me.