A CHINESE destroyer with a “kill web” of drones has survived an attack by a huge US Navy fleet, according to a World War Three game.
A team of Chinese scientists developed a simulation to demonstrate how a group of drones and unmanned boats could outmaneuver and overpower eight American warships in a single coordinated attack.
The simulation, set in the western Pacific just a few hundred kilometres east of Taiwan, depicts a Type 055 destroyer go up against a US naval fleet.
The Chinese Type 055 warship, recognized as one of the biggest globally, faced off against the US fleet supported by eight Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in the simulation.
But the Chinese destroyer had back-up, with unmanned drone mothership vessels.
These were equipped with a whopping 32 drones and 14 unmanned boats – all set to destroy the US Navy fleet.
In the simulation, the American ships launched 32 Tomahawk and LRASM stealth anto-ship missiles towards China‘s Type 055.
But the Chinese vessels were able to detect incoming threats and launch countermeasures to terrifyingly intercept them, according to reports.
After a series of missile interceptions, the Chinese destroyer and its drone mothership allies managed to evade the intense encounter without sustaining any damage.
And on top of that, the ships had enough missile to spare the withstand of another attack, according to the South China Morning Post.
The game, by The China Ship Development and Design Centre (CSDDC) and Huazhong University of Science and Technology, was designed to show China’s chilling ambitions during conflict.
The aim of the game appears to be to test what China’s People’s Liberation Army navy dub a low-cost “kill web”.
This would allow the PLA to “quickly and precisely strike targets, thereby establishing an asymmetrical combat advantage over the enemy.”
China have ambitions to alter the nature of maritime conflict by developing and sing unmanned weapons on a large scale.
The game also suggested that an exchange would likely be much cheaper for China, with the cost of expended missiles costing the US between an eye-watering $1 million and $3 million.
Meanwhile China’s missiles are significantly lower in cost – priced between $400,000 to $1,000,000.
Despite the games effective ability to fear-monger, it has many issues.
The American ships used for the games – the Arleigh Burke-class, is an old warship that first launched in the 1980s.
And each of the guided missile destroyers are equipped with over 90 missiles and specialises in anti-aircraft, anti-ship, and tactical land strikes.
But the Navy is developing a replacement for the fleet dubbed the DDG(X).
These are set to deploy as late as 2032, but details on the ship’s capabilities remain top-secret.
The Type 055 destroyer is a lot newer, after being launched in 2014, and is thought to be the biggest of its class in the world – as well as one of the most advanced.
It apparently has stealth capability, designed for multi-missing duties as a guided missile destroyer.
And while Arleigh Burke destroyers are capable of operating individually, they would likely operate as part of a larger group dubbed a Carrier Strike Group.
This would therefore increase the type and scale of response to such an attack, most likely to also include drones, submarines and aircraft.
The game appears to be a reaction to the US’s proposed “Replicator” programme which could see the production of large amounts of cheap and effectively disposable drones for similar scenarios.
The Pacific Theatre would be the main focal point – as fears loom that China may decide to make a move against Taiwan, which would require urgent defence.
In a chilling New Year’s address, President Xi Jinping issued a brutal warning to Taiwan as the nation continues its war games against the self-ruled province.
He warned that no one can stop China’s “reunification” with Taiwan.
Bringing the self-goverened province back in line with mainland China has been a goal of Xi’s for a long time and recent military activity has shown that China is ready to take it back by force.
China has previously called the independence of Taiwan a futile effort and that annexation by Beijin is a “historical inevitability.”
Tensions in the region has been high espeically after the election of the island’s latest president William Lai Ching-te in May who has been labelled a “separatist” by Beijing.
Xi Jinping’s military has increased its miiltary activity in the area over the past few years as a show of force.
This included encircling Taiwan’s skies and waters in October – holding joint drills with its warships and fighter jets on a near-daily basis near the island.
Taiwan fears a “surprise attack” from China is inevitable and has been preparing for war for years with Xi having vowed for years to take back the island by force “if necessary.”
RISING TENSIONS
China and the US are currently also locked in a feud over President Donald Trump’s serious tariffs.
The US imposed a 10 per cent tariff on all goods for China – leaving them retaliating with with brutal revenge sanctions of their own.
China said it will be imposing the tariffs on American crude oil, agricultural machinery, large-displacement cars and pickup trucks.
There will also be 15 per cent tariffs on coal and liquefied natural gas – as well as an investigation into Google.
China added that it is imposing export controls on rare earth metals like tungsten, tellurium, ruthenium, molybdenum and ruthenium-related items – all which are key for the transition to clean energy.
But there could be room for talks as the tariffs imposed by China won’t come into effect until Monday 10 February.
Why Trump originally hiked the China tariffs
PRESIDENT Donald Trump imposed 10 per cent import tariffs from China that took effect early on Tuesday.
Trump believes that China is “sending fentanyl to Mexico and Canada” and, through the tariffs, wants to stop the manufacture and import of the deadly drug as well as end the “RIPOFF OF AMERICA”.
China has slammed Trump for the claim and described fentanyl as America’s problem.
The country also said the tariffs are a “serious violation” of the World Trade Organization rules.
China is therefore filing a lawsuit with the WTO against the US for “wrongful practice”.
China serves as a major supplier of auto parts to the US.
Phones and computers along with other key electronic devices were also in the top imports from China last year, according to Commerce Department Data.
And the US imported over a shocking $32 billion in “toys, games and sporting goods” from China last year too.
