China Strikes THAAD, F-22 Mock-up Using Surface-to-air Missiles

China’s People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) struck down a mock-up of US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) site and ground based models of F-22 Raptor stealth fighters during a ballistic and cruise missile exercise.

The PLARF employed four DF-26C intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBM), 10 DF-16A medium range ballistic missiles and six CJ-10 land attack cruise missiles in a live-fire drill it conducted a day before a major parade to celebrate PLA’s 90^th anniversary, the Diplomat reported quoting US government sources as saying on Thursday.

The drill, which took place in Inner Mongolia, near the PLA’s Zhurihe military base, involved at least three types of missile systems and the launch of at least 20 missiles, the report said.

At least three surface-to-air missile systems were involved in the exercise as well, including the HQ-6, HQ-16, and HQ-22. The HQ-22 was seen publicly for the first time at the PLA’s 90th anniversary parade.

Beijing has long opposed the deployment of a THAAD system in South Korea, where it will be deployed in the southern part of the country, in Gyeongsanbuk-do.

China fears that the system’s associated AN/TPY-2 X-band radar will be able to diminish the effectiveness of its strategic nuclear deterrent by improving the United States’ ability to discriminate real intercontinental-range ballistic missile warheads from decoys and other penetration aids.