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Source- Want China Times
The cruise missile DH-10 may be China's deadliest, stealthiest weapon, according to a report from US monthly Popular Science.
The missile deserves much more attention than the DF-15 and DF-21, two of China's ballistic missiles, said the report.
The PLA could attack Pacific targets, such as Hawaii, with the missile if it is carried by an H-6K bomber. The Chinese military could also attack a target across 90% of the world's land mass if the missile was launched from a 052D guided missile destroyer and Type 0930A nuclear attack submarine.
The 1-1.5 ton missile, debuted during China's National Day Parade in 2009, has an attack range of 2,500km and can hit targets as small as a garage door, said the report. The variety of payloads that can be loaded into the missile is one of its greatest strengths. It can carry, for example, 500kg of highly explosive warheads, submunitions, nuclear warheads and fuel air explosives.
Guidance also comes from a variety of means, including satellite navigation, inertial navigation and terrain-based navigation. This makes it difficult to intercept or deceive. The missile can also receive in-flight updates and avoid air defense radar since it flies lower than ballistic missiles. Its fuel efficiency reduces the missile's weight and price.
China said it has at least hundred DH-10 missiles.
The two most likely developments of China's cruise missiles in the future will be stealth capability and hypersonic flight. DH-10's next generation offspring, the YJ-100, is a supersonic cruise missile with a range of 800 kilometers. Its onboard radar can detect aircraft or land targets beyond visual range, according to China Military Online.
The YJ-100 is believed to be a response to America's Long Range anti-ship missile, said the report.
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