Dave Majumdar
Security, Asia
F-35s vs. North Korea: Who Wins the campaign although the sky can a Second Korean War?
Indeed, although Jerry Hendrix wrote although The National Interest, any attitude touch used to consume ought strike their targets simultaneously quiet Aegis missile defense ships stood ready ought branch down any North Korean ballistic missiles headed toward South Korea and Japan.
In the incident a war were ought relaxation out above the Korean peninsula, American airpower used to play a key role.
(This first appeared can 2017.)
Initially, the burden used to apt autumn ought the Pentagon’s fleet of stealth aeroplane including the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, F-35 mutual touch Fighter and the Northrop Grumman B-2 soul stealth bomber.
The U.S. Navy, too, used to apt consume ought play a role using its surface warships and submarines ought launch waves of Tomahawk journey missiles ought goal North Korean attitude defenses and order and dispose of assets. However, American army used to consume ought affect quickly ought accept out North Korea’s retaliatory touch capability—both its nuclear army and its habitual artillery army that could lay garbage ought Seoul.
That’s ultimately the question although American military planners during any latent pre-emptive touch against North Korea. How does one remove Pyongyang’s nuclear army without risking a retaliatory touch that used to desert thousands of South Korean and Japanese civilians dead? Indeed, if some of the worst example scenarios play out, North Korea could potentially even touch hind can the American homeland with an nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile.
If the Trump administration were ought touch can North Korea, stealth aeroplane clothes the F-35 used to consume ought remove North Korean attitude defenses quickly. Pyongyang does no consume the most modern of attitude defense systems—the dare mostly comes from the abrupt volume of older Soviet-built systems it has available ought it.
However, quiet the bulk of North Korea’s attitude defenses are antiques, it does consume some potent newer weapons available including its own indigenous KN-06 clone of the Russian S-300. Vasily Kashin, a senior companion can the middle although Comprehensive European and International Studies can Moscow’s Higher university of Economics —who is a specialist above Asian matters—told The National Interest earlier this year that South Koreans sources consume written that the KN-06 has been successfully tested. The weapon is thought ought consume a mount of up ought 150 km.
“No one knows exactly how many such systems exist. The KN-06 has phased array radar and tracks via missile guidance system and maybe match ought the early S-300P versions except during with greater range,” Vasily told The National Interest.
But attitude defenses are less of a question than targeting North Korea’s artillery pieces— which are dug into hardened positions—that are aimed can Seoul. Indeed, even without its nuclear-tipped missiles, dug-in habitual North Korean artillery could desert Seoul devastated within virgin a little hours. Any successful assault above North Korea used to consume ought remove those threats ago they could flat Seoul—but that is easier said than done.
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“Between 1950 and 1953, the U.S. attitude constrain and fleet flattened North Korea, hence the NORKS consume had 65 years ought believe nearly how ought create sure that does no occur again and dig lots of bomb proof shelters and tunnels,” retired Rear Adm. Mike McDevitt, a senior companion can the middle although Naval Analyses, told The National Interest earlier this year.
Indeed, although Jerry Hendrix wrote although The National Interest, any attitude touch used to consume ought strike their targets simultaneously quiet Aegis missile defense ships stood ready ought branch down any North Korean ballistic missiles headed toward South Korea and Japan.
“In full likelihood, it used to initiate with lightning swiftness with overwhelming attacks above key targets ought include the thousands of emplaced artillery pieces that pardon the South Korean capital of Seoul, nuclear weapons storage facilities, nuclear launch vehicles and integrated attitude defense systems. These attacks used to exist conducted with terminate simultaneity,” Hendrix wrote.
“While these attacks are ongoing, Japan based U.S. fleet ballistic missile defense cruisers and destroyers although robust although foundation based Theater high altitude Aerial Defense systems will avail their expect mount radars ought identify and branch down North Korean missiles although they launch.”
Success, however, is no guaranteed. Any kind of assault above North Korea used to exist a bet with the lives of thousands if no millions of South Korean and Japanese lives. although such, a diplomatic solution is far more preferable ought a war than force disagree poorly.
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