Beijing conducted missile intercept test similar with THAAD in 2013

Beijing conducted missile intercept test similar with THAAD in 2013. March. 28, 2015 07:08. shcho@donga.com.

It has turned out that China conducted a defense missile test that is similar to THAAD. While China has strongly opposed to the U.S. deployment of THAAD in the Korean Peninsula, it tried to establish the missile defense system of identical functions.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), a U.S. nonprofit science advocacy organization, revealed on its website on Friday that China succeeded its intercept test of mid-range anti-ballistic missile on Jan. 27, 2013. The ballistic missile was fired from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) located in the Gobi Desert near the Mongolian border area and the intercept missile was shot after 2 minutes and 42 seconds from in Korla city in central Xinjiang and some 1,170 kilometers away from the JSLC. The intercept missile cut off the 700km flying ballistic one at the altitude of 250 kilometers. The 250km-altitude is the height that is assumed to intercept North Korea’s ballistic missile when the THAAD is deployed.

Assuming the missile to be a newer mid-range Dongfeng-16, the UCS analyzed that SC-19 was used for the interception. While Beijing is the most sensitive to the radar with 2,000 kilometers scanning scope in THAAD system, the UCS didn’t mention which radar was used for the test this time. China located its missile launching site in inland area, not in the Pacific coast, to avoid enemy’s attack in time of emergency.