China's Defense/Military Breaking News Thread

[bebops]

In any point of the video, did they mentioned about the B-21 bomber. What is the best strategy to deal with it.

 

[AndrewS]

@AndrewS .. Vietnamese economy is 45x smaller than China ($409B vs 18.3T) ... and Vietnamese military spending is 53x smaller ($5.5B vs $293B according to SIPRI 2022)

I went with PPP figures because it's a more accurate reflection of the disparity.

Even in comparison to China, Vietnamese foreign exchange rates are kept far weaker by the government.

 

[antiterror13]

I went with PPP figures because it's a more accurate reflection of the disparity.

Even in comparison to China, Vietnamese foreign exchange rates are kept far weaker by the government.

Most modern weapons of Vietnamese are purchased from foreign countries while China is almost 100% domestically made. So if you want to compare the military spending between China and Vietnam, perhaps would be better to use PPP for China and PPP and nominal for Vietnam (perhaps 50:50) and the gaps even bigger

 

[tankphobia]

In any point of the video, did they mentioned about the B-21 bomber. What is the best strategy to deal with it.

I mean it's not bringing anything that the B-2 wasn't to the table, just that the US will have the numbers to make it actually effective in its role. With the new US budget calling for a large increase in LRASM purchases we'll probably see B-21 squadrons fully kitted out for anti-shipping duties if conflict were to break out. To counter that? Very difficult other than vigilance with AWACs/CAP over active combat areas.

 

[Michaelsinodef]

I mean it's not bringing anything that the B-2 wasn't to the table, just that the US will have the numbers to make it actually effective in its role. With the new US budget calling for a large increase in LRASM purchases we'll probably see B-21 squadrons fully kitted out for anti-shipping duties if conflict were to break out. To counter that? Very difficult other than vigilance with AWACs/CAP over active combat areas.

Weren't patch saying that the LRASM isn't all that impressive? Or maybe rather, that it was at the end of the day, just a temporary weapon, since their actual focus was on its succesor (LRASM 2?) or something like that?

 

[tankphobia]

Weren't patch saying that the LRASM isn't all that impressive? Or maybe rather, that it was at the end of the day, just a temporary weapon, since their actual focus was on its succesor (LRASM 2?) or something like that?

it's temporary, but the US is going to have a few thousand of them sitting around by the time the replacement is available in numbers. They really aren't all that bad based on the stats on paper. Can't really overstate the value of a long ranged stealthy sea skimming anti-ship missile, which is now able to be safely (as far as we know) carried into firing range from stealth bombers.

 

[AndrewS]

I mean it's not bringing anything that the B-2 wasn't to the table, just that the US will have the numbers to make it actually effective in its role. With the new US budget calling for a large increase in LRASM purchases we'll probably see B-21 squadrons fully kitted out for anti-shipping duties if conflict were to break out. To counter that? Very difficult other than vigilance with AWACs/CAP over active combat areas.

The most effective counter is against the bases that they have to operate from.
Stealth bombers and their accompanying tanker aircraft are large vulnerable targets on the ground.

Geography does not favour the USA in a Western Pacific conflict, as their basing options are severely limited in terms of available locations

China developing long-range strike options against those bases will also factor in the calculations of whether host countries allow their territory to be used at all

 

[AndrewS]

Most modern weapons of Vietnamese are purchased from foreign countries while China is almost 100% domestically made. So if you want to compare the military spending between China and Vietnam, perhaps would be better to use PPP for China and PPP and nominal for Vietnam (perhaps 50:50) and the gaps even bigger

Military equipment procurement is typically a smallish part of the overall defence budget, if you look at the numbers
And much of Vietnam's procurement is from Russia, whose currency is even more undervalued relative to Vietnam

So I think PPP values are accurate enough

Plus does a PPP/nominal recalculation actually make any difference to the overall conclusion that Vietnam can't hope to keep up with the Chinese military?

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Why do you find it surprising? How else could something like Galwan happen if they didn't drink their own koolaid?

I didn't find that surprising, but rather unbelievable that someone holding of such calibre can say things like that. At first, anyways.

But since we have someone like Trump who are allowed to be granted command access to the 2nd largest nuclear arsenal in the world, so I guess that statement actually did "makes sense" for that former Indian Navy official.

Well, cold war was over, and it was "the end of history". I think people back then truly believed that the Liberal International Order has triumphed over the godless commies.

 

[siegecrossbow]

In any point of the video, did they mentioned about the B-21 bomber. What is the best strategy to deal with it.

Patch did mention that it is more than just a stealth bomber and will be useful in a lot of useful roles like reconnaissance, EW, etc s and doing it on budget too. It is pretty much agreed upon that it will be a headache for China to deal with. Bltizo suggested that H-20 will be similar in concept.