Aerial warfare started with pilots shooting hand held weapons at each other from their aircraft. The aircraft mounted guns replaced these hand held weapons. The aircraft guns improved over the years in terms of the caliber of weapons, rate of fire, ammunition carrying capacity and most important the lethal range. Improvements also took place with respect to the arc of fire, cone of fire and the aiming systems. The aerial combat and the tactics kept changing depending upon the capability of these weapon systems.
Gradually longer range air to air missiles became the weapon of choice for airborne platforms. These missiles advanced from close combat ones to all aspect beyond visual range weapons. The nature of warfare and the tactics underwent a drastic change with these weapons.
The airborne platforms including fighters and combat support heavy aircraft have become vulnerable to modern weapons fired from far ranges. With introduction of hypersonic weapons the reaction time will reduce further increasing their vulnerability.
First part of the recently published Annual Report to US Congress on military and security developments involving the people’s republic of china deals with understanding Chinese Strategy.
China’s National Strategy
Excerpt from US Report. The People’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) strategy aims to achieve “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” by 2049. Comments. China seems to be doing well and achieving the landmarks before the stipulated timelines.
Excerpt from US Report. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) frames this strategy as an effort to realize long-held nationalist aspirations to “return” China to a position of strength, prosperity, and leadership on the world stage. Comments. China aspires to be “the only sun in the sky”. They view the world to be in the shape of a cone with China in the center and on top of it.
Excerpt from US Report. China’s strategy can be characterized as a determined pursuit of political and social modernity. Comments. China is pursuing her goal with determination and vigor. Achieving political and social modernity seems to be from her point of view and is not the same as perceived by the rest of the world.
Excerpt from US Report. It includes far-ranging efforts to expand China’s national power, perfect its governance systems, and revise the international order. Comments. Expanding her national power and perfecting her governance system is acceptable to the rest of the world. Revision of international order as viewed by China amounts to ruling the world, which is objectionable to the others.
Excerpt from US Report. The CCP’s leadership has long viewed China as embroiled in a major international strategic competition with other states, including, and in particular, the United States. Comments. Chinese mind set is archaic and that of competition, with aspiration to be ahead of everyone. The world has moved on to the concept of Co-omperation i.e. be cooperative while being competitive.
Excerpt from US Report. In 2019, China intensified its efforts to advance its overall development including steadying its economic growth, strengthening its armed forces, and taking a more active role in global affairs. Comments. There could be few possible reasons for this. First is that CPC’s centenary year 2021 is approaching. Second is attempt by Xi Jinping to further consolidate his position and third is impatience to achieve the Chinese dream. Timing of the Covid pandemic and way of handling it by China, leaves quite a few questions unanswered. It could be a part of the overall strategy.
Please feel free to express your views and provide value addition.
Part 2 of the series would cover aspects related to foreign and economic policies.
