Well currently, the MRLs belong to the PLAGF and their priority will be providing direct fire support/suppression for the grond forces while suppressing the Ryukyu island is more of a PLARF's job. DF-15 has way more varients than most people thought and still they are serving as one of the primary firepower for the potential Taiwan conflict. They are cheap, abundant and very matural to operate just to strick some secendary targets. If there is a need for a new TBM, they may use some modified domestic M20s, they are cheap as well and with gliding tragectory and more importently, can be mass produced in no time. And since PHL-16 has a modular design, it should not be an issue to launch the M20 (or improved/extended range version) with some minor modifications. In fact, delivering firepower is no longer an issue for PLA at this stage, how to perform real-time recon for targeting is the real challenge.
2025 Victory Day parade thread (workup, 3rd Sept)
- Thread starter Blitzo
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Looks to be an radar/comms array in folded/retracted position.
PHL-16 and something else
Nope. The DF-15 is getting retired/phased out right now. Its role has been taken over by the DF-16.
Kindly refer back to what I've already said/explained above.
Still highly doubt about the retirement thing unless more evidence is shown, but I respect your points.
As for "less valued" targets on the first chain, cruise missiles and drones are better options in my opinion. Once AD is tanken care by SRBMs, you can pretty much launch anything you like rather than just stick with BMs. Not to forget, PLAN and PLAAF could also play their part since they all have their own version of SR/MRBMs.
If AD is taken out, they will use JDAM equivalent.
Looks like this is the Zhuhai Airshow equivalent for the PLAGF/PLARF/PLAN.
The first blue tarp object (4x of them) is intriguing, the one following it appears to be JL-3 but what could it be? Looks like a missile.
