Chapter 1235 The Strongest Spear
The impact of the 911 incident on the North American continent was almost subversive.
Since then, "anti-terrorism" has become the top and most unquestionable political correctness in Washington.
As long as any claim is related to this, almost all the way will be smooth.
In order to avoid another similar incident, the White House quickly granted special permission to the intelligence agencies and launched targeted secret surveillance and surveillance activities.
After all, most of the Internet and communication equipment in the early 21st century are highly dependent on the core technologies of American companies, so it is not difficult to achieve this.
It should be said that this decision is not necessarily a bad one based on the original intention alone.
But everyone knows it.
Some things, as long as they are not applied across the board, are equivalent to not taking care of them.
A useful method like monitoring quickly began to flourish and develop after losing its restrictions.
Initially domestic, but soon spreading almost worldwide.
As for the purpose of surveillance, it was almost immediately separated from the real "anti-terrorism needs" and completely let go.
The Central Intelligence Agency, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, the Treasury Department, and the National Intelligence Service have all launched their own surveillance programs under the cover of anti-terrorism.
It can be said that the immortals are like hemp.
The later famous "Prism" project was one of them.
In this context, the U.S. military, as the most powerful department, cannot remain indifferent.
Not only the intelligence agencies under the Ministry of National Defense, but also the four major military services quickly followed suit. Relying on the foundation they laid during the Cold War, they came from behind and once occupied half of similar projects...
The "Lady's Love" project called by General Lance Lord is a long-term monitoring mission authorized by the Air Force in East and Southeast Asia, relying on the intelligence station at Misawa Air Force Base.
Like all its peers, the initial mission was to acquire satellite communication signals over the Asia-Pacific region through an array of 33 antennas.
But surveillance soon expanded to include phone calls, faxes and Internet data.
The intelligence station that was originally just an addition to the base was quickly upgraded to the "Misawa Security Operations Center."
It has become one of the highest-security units jointly supported by the Air Force Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency.
Even in a department like the Air Force Space Command, not just anyone can have access to relevant information.
It is precisely because of this that Admiral Lord showed a secretive look just now.
It was not until he entered the office again that he motioned to Brigadier General John Raymond behind him to start reporting the specific situation:
"Tell me what specific findings Misawa has made."
Although the report itself is in the hands of the latter, its thickness is at least dozens or hundreds of pages.
Lord was not an intelligence officer by background, so if he had read it slowly by himself, it would have taken him several hours to finish it.
"Although China only changed the new communication key a few months ago, we are temporarily unable to decipher the specific content of its encrypted satellite communications. However, the 373 Brigade discovered through retrospective monitoring information that starting from 6 o'clock last night local time in China, some Satellite communication signals became extremely active, especially the two tactical communication satellites numbered FH-1 and FH1A.”
Raymond opened the folder, took out a page and put it in front of Lord:
"It has been initially determined that the communication range is within this area in central and western China."
Lord put on his glasses and looked down, and found that the paper was a map of China.
An oval encloses a total of six regions in the central and western regions.
Among them, Longyuan, Qin Province and Ning Province were marked with high probability, while the remaining three regions had relatively low probability.
After a pause, Raymond took out another page:
"This morning local time, another high-orbit communication satellite numbered ST-1 conducted two rounds of high-intensity signal transmissions. Although it is subject to the fixed position and broadcast mode of this satellite, the specific communication range cannot be determined for the time being. But according to the intelligence we have obtained before, ST-1 is responsible for strategic communications functions within the Chinese military. Generally, only the highest decision-making levels or theater-level units will use this satellite."
Combined with the news he just heard outside, Lord quickly made up the whole story in his mind:
"So, the situation is probably that they conducted a missile test last night, confirmed the test results this morning and reported the results to the capital?"
He frowned slightly:
"But if that's all, it doesn't seem like there's any need to make such a big show of things?"
"Of course it's more than that."
Raymond shook his head:
"The 373 Brigade also used backdoor programs to analyze mobile phone communications in several key areas in the past period. Although most of them were peripheral personnel, and the content of calls and text messages basically did not directly involve secrets, the large amount of information still can draw some useful conclusions.”
"About a week ago, China transported a new model of medium-range ballistic missile to the central area of Qin Province. Judging from the units involved in this work, it is likely to be some improved model of Dongfeng 21. Before this missile was shipped After that, several research institutions involved in synthetic aperture radar in the aerospace system were released from lockdown, and some employees entered the Spring Festival holiday. In addition..."
"..."
In the 21st century with highly developed information levels, it is basically impossible to achieve 100% confidentiality of anything from the source.
However, a lot of useful information is often hidden in a vast sea of useless information.
Only after obtaining certain clues can we quickly narrow down the screening scope and carry out rational deductions in a targeted manner.
What Raymond is explaining is this process:
"Combined with the above indirect signs, as well as the relevant information we have obtained before, the target that looks like the deck of an aircraft carrier is not just a simple symbol."
Having said this, he took a deep breath and then gave the final conclusion of the entire report:
"China... probably launched a ballistic missile with anti-ship capabilities!"
In fact, as early as the late 1990s, the US military learned through some special channels that China was probably developing a special weapon specifically targeted at aircraft carriers to prevent the situation in early 1996 from happening again.
However, the good times did not last long, and this special channel was quickly cracked, causing them to lose subsequent more detailed intelligence sources.
There are also different opinions on the nature of this "special weapon".
Initially, considering that the service branch associated with the special channel was the Second Artillery Force, it was logically assumed to be an anti-ship ballistic missile. This made the Navy quite nervous.
But soon some technical departments believed that it was indeed difficult to use ballistic missiles to attack moving targets. Moreover, neither the United States nor the Soviet Union had previously had similar weapons for reference. The possibility of relying on China to complete the research and development of relevant weapons was very low.
At the same time, other subsequent signs also indicate that China has launched a research and development plan for supersonic heavy anti-ship missiles. The technical route and performance parameters are similar to the P800 equipped by the Red Navy during the Cold War——
Using a sub-fuel ramjet engine, the terminal speed when selecting high-altitude ballistics is about Mach 4, and the range is about 500-600 kilometers, which is basically equivalent to the combat radius of carrier-based aircraft when performing ground strike missions. It can indeed reach a certain area. The ability to refuse.
This seems much more "reasonable".
More importantly, the Navy is also more willing to believe in this possibility.
Discussions about anti-ship ballistic missiles were quickly discontinued, but remained on the desk of Air Force Space Command as a possibility.
Therefore, Lord, whose eyelids had been half drooped just now, instantly raised his head.
The spectacle lenses are slightly reflective under the light of the gorgeous chandelier, but they still cannot block the sharp sight hidden behind:
"This project actually exists?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he thought for a moment and said again:
"That's not right..."
"First of all, can you confirm that it is a medium-range ballistic missile?"
Some of the characteristics of heavy cruise missiles like the P800 when hitting high ballistics are very close to ballistic missiles.
But in terms of interception difficulty, there is a fundamental difference.
Raymond nodded:
"On the Chinese Internet, a video that was supposed to be of a missile launch appeared. Although it was quickly deleted, the intelligence department still obtained the relevant content."
"According to analysis, before the fire that can be visually detected disappears, the speed of the flying object has reached at least Mach 3, and if it is an ordinary supersonic cruise missile...or even a short-range tactical ballistic missile, It is impossible to have such a speed in the early stages of launch, unless..."
He hesitated.
"Unless what?"
Lord asked.
The nature of this missile was very important to him.
If it is really a medium-range ballistic missile with a range of more than 1,500 kilometers and a trajectory high point far away from the atmosphere, then the Air Force Space Command can use this reason to increase its voice in the sea-based missile defense system.
The premise is that no own incident occurs.
Otherwise it would be embarrassing to go around in circles.
"Unless China's hypersonic technology is at the same level as ours..."
When he said this, Raymond himself laughed.
Lance Lord, who was opposite him, also laughed.
This is obviously impossible.
The atmosphere in the office actually became a lot more relaxed because of this.
"You just said that they were hitting a fixed target?"
The admiral took out a cigar and then buried his entire body into the back of the boss's chair.
"That's right."
Raymond's expression is also much softer than before:
"So it is currently speculated that the other party may not be able to actually let the ballistic missile attack a moving target. It has only tested the ability of the SAR seeker to screen characteristic signals and use the rudder to calibrate the ballistic trajectory at the end."
"In addition, the missile may have slowed down in the final stage. On the one hand, it ensures the normal operation of the SAR seeker. On the other hand, it also allows for longer reaction time and improves hit accuracy."
“It’s better not to take it lightly.”
Lord waved his hand and looked worried:
"Even if we can only attack fixed targets, if the opponent strikes first and strikes before the fleet leaves port, it will still cause us great losses..."
In fact, Raymond knows very well that the possibility of China taking action against the US military first is almost non-existent.
But this statement can arouse the Pearl Harbor PTSD of superiors and lay the foundation for subsequent use of the topic.
So I nodded repeatedly:
"Although the reaction time of medium-range ballistic missiles is relatively long, if it is completely intercepted by the navy, the success rate is still very low..."
Lord took a puff of his cigar with satisfaction and continued his high-sounding rhetoric:
"Yes...the navy lacks capabilities, so we have to bear part of the pressure for them, which is really difficult..."
After speaking, the two looked at each other and smiled.
"You will work overtime tonight to write a complete analysis report on this matter, focusing on the threat of this new ballistic missile and the need to integrate the sea-based Standard 3 and land-based missile interception systems. ”
Finally, Luo Detu finally met:
"As for the specific details... you can use your own subjective expression without departing from the conclusions of the intelligence analysis!"
(End of chapter)