The anti-ship ballistic missile is a type of long-range strike against sea targets, and its advantages lie in high speed, stealth and penetration capabilities. At the moment, only a few countries in the world have this kind of **, among which China is the most advanced, and the United States and Iran are also trying to develop it.
China's anti-ship ballistic missiles are DF-21D and DF-26, both of which have a range of more than 1000 km and can pose a serious threat to US aircraft carrier battle groups. China's anti-ship ballistic missiles use terminal maneuvering and radar guidance, which can carry out high-precision attacks in the atmosphere and are difficult to intercept. China's anti-ship ballistic missiles are the core equipment of the anti-access area denial strategy, which can effectively protect China's maritime rights and interests.
The American anti-ship ballistic missile is a modification of the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which has a range of about 300 kilometers and can strike enemy ships near the sea. American anti-ship ballistic missiles use anti-radiation and infrared guidance, which can identify and track enemy radars and heat sources. U.S. anti-ship ballistic missiles are part of the U.S. military's multi-domain combat concept and can enhance the U.S. military's maritime strike capabilities.
Iran's anti-ship ballistic missile, adapted from the Hongqi-2 anti-aircraft missile technology imported from China, has a range of about 200 kilometers and can strike enemy ships in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. Iran's anti-ship ballistic missiles follow the flight path of ballistic missiles and attack targets at an angle of 45 degrees, but their accuracy and power are not high. Iran's anti-ship ballistic missiles are a means for Iran to counter the United States and Saudi Arabia and demonstrate Iran's military might.
Recently, the Houthis used Iranian anti-ship ballistic missiles to hit a merchant ship in the Red Sea, which attracted international attention. This incident shows that anti-ship ballistic missiles have become a new maritime threat that no country can ignore. However, there is also a big difference in the technical level of anti-ship ballistic missiles, with China still leading the way, and there is still a big gap between the United States and Iran. The development and application of anti-ship ballistic missiles will have a major impact on future naval warfare.