The United States is strategically building an arsenal of easily accessible anti-ship weapons to counter China’s growing military presence in the Indo-Pacific region. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a new military approach known as “affordable mass” is being adopted by the U.S. to ensure an ample supply of cost-effective weapons.
The Pentagon is focused on increasing the production of the QUICKSINK weapon, a low-cost bomb with GPS guidance capabilities designed to track moving targets efficiently. This weapon, along with other anti-ship missiles, aims to reduce the advantage China holds in numbers and territorial base for deploying such weapons.
QUICKSINK, developed by Boeing and BAE Systems, is part of the U.S. military’s plan to overwhelm Chinese ship defenses with a variety of weapons. The deployment of Typhon mobile missile batteries in the Philippines is a strategic move to counter China’s control over the South China Sea.
With the increasing production of SM-6 and Tomahawk missiles, the U.S. is rapidly catching up in the Indo-Pacific missile race. This approach aims to level the playing field against the People’s Liberation Army Navy and strengthen the U.S. military presence in the region.
The use of cost-effective anti-ship weapons projects deterrence and ensures military preparedness in facing potential conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region, bringing a balance of power amidst rising tensions.
Source: © Thomson Reuters 2024.