Got this from Kanwa, confirming the existance of a new 3M80 missile called the 3M80MBE, with a 200km range (the 3M80E does 120km in a low to low flight).
Given this, I begin to suspect that this missile might actually be arming the DDG 168/169/170/171/172? as well. The older 137/138 Sovremannies could be upgraded to this new missile.
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KANWA has confirmed more details about 956EM DDG.
As for the ship-to-ship missile, earlier report said it was the 3M80E with a range of more than 120km. A a variety of sources confirmed to KANWA that 956EM actually employed 3M80MBE, an upgraded version of 3M80E specifically developed for China. It is said that China paid for the designing and upgrading projects. The designer of the missile claims that the maximum range of this missile is up to 200 km, which is what China demanded and eventually accepted. This indicates that the anti-ship attack capability of 956EM is far greater than what the West earlier expected.
The two 956EM DDGs currently being built for the Chinese navy have undergone a series of modifications in the air defense and anti-ship weapon systems. In general, 956EM no longer adopts the 130mm naval gun in the rear. Instead, it is now outfitted with two Kashtan ADGMSs. In addition, a target acquisition radar has been newly installed on the vessel specifically for Kashtan.
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July 21, 2003 at 1:08 pm