After the US claimed that it conducted a live intercept of a ballistic missile target from Guam—a possible frontline base for potential military operations in the event of a conflict with China—Chinese military experts have questioned the real-combat applications of this system against advanced hypersonic missiles.
Pentagon had said the test represented the first ballistic missile defense test executed from that US territory.
The test involved the Aegis Guam system, which used the AN/TPY-6 radar and Vertical Launching System to intercept a medium-range ballistic missile launched from a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III over the ocean near Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.
ALSO READ: How US conducted ballistic missile intercept test to showcase power against evolving Pacific threats
"The event marked a pivotal step taken in the defense of Guam and provides critical support to the overall concept for the future Guam defense systems," Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said.
However, Global Times quoted Chinese military expert Zhang Xuefeng as saying that the Missile-3 Block IIA is a mid-course anti-ballistic missile system and its interceptor is mainly designed to intercept incoming intermediate-range ballistic missiles outside of the atmosphere.
Zhang pointed out that the question lies in the probability of interception, as in the event of large-scale saturation attacks, an anti-missile system cannot possibly intercept all incoming targets.
Zhang further noted that the procurement of the Standard Missile-III is very limited as it is highly expensive, making it impractical for intercepting large-scale attacks.
Besides, the intercept system has a low chance against cruise missiles and some hypersonic missiles as they fly within the atmosphere.
Song Zhongping, another Chinese military expert, has been quoted as saying that the US is deploying anti-ballistic missile systems in Guam because they are using the area as a military base to project its forces near China and wants to showcase its ability to protect its military assets.
