In Warning to America, China Tests Carrier-Killer Missiles

By Kyle Mizokami Aug 26, 2020

• China fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles into the South China Sea.
• The missiles are designed to attack enemy warships, particularly aircraft carriers.
• The test was in response to recent U.S. Navy carrier maneuvers in the sea.

China launched two ballistic missiles from the mainland into the South China Sea on Wednesday. The rare double test was almost certainly a warning to the U.S. Navy, which has sent several aircraft carriers into the sea on exercises this year. China claims up to 90 percent of the sea as its territory, a position the U.S. and other nations dispute.

China launched DF-26B and DF-21D missiles from the northwestern part province of Qinghai and the eastern province of Zhejiang, respectively. Prior to the test, the Chinese government issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) warning commercial aircraft from entering the area, marked yellow in the tweet below. The yellow lines indicate the rough paths of the two missiles.

The DF-26B and DF-21D are anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs), which are designed to launch from mobile transporters and travel hundreds of miles to attack enemy warships. The hypersonic warhead flies higher and faster than conventional anti-ship missiles, making it difficult for ships without ballistic missile engagement capability to intercept. The warhead is designed to slam into a warship at blisteringly fast speed, then detonate a high explosive or even nuclear warhead deep in the bowels of the ship.