The U S Military could launch strikes against specific North Korean targets as early as next month if North Korea continues threats of nuclear weapons and long-range missile development.
Reported elevated readiness of Chinese, South Korean and U S military assets in the region have increased tensions and speculation about the likelihood of either the U S or North Korea launching a preemptive strike.
In this video, Defense Updates looks at 5 weapons of US that North Korea should fear, and think about before any acts of aggression.
Lets get started.
ARLEIGH BURKE CLASS
The Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers (DDGs) is the United States Navy's first class of destroyer built around the Aegis Combat System and the SPY-1D multifunction passive electronically scanned array radar. These are considered to be one of the most potent destroyers in the world.
These displace around 9000 tonnes, and have a length of 505 ft (154 m).
The Arleigh Burke design incorporates stealth techniques, which make the ship more difficult to detect, in particular by anti ship missiles. A Collective Protection System makes the Arleigh Burke class the first U S warships designed with an air-filtration system against nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare.
These warships were designed as multi mission destroyers and can perform the following roles:
1. Air Defense (AD) role with their powerful Aegis radar and surface-to-air missiles like SM2.
2. Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW), with towed sonar, anti-submarine rockets, and ASW helicopter.
3. Anti Surface Warfare (ASW) with their Harpoon missile and strategic land strike role with the Tomahawk missiles.
F 22 RAPTOR
The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is a 5th generation, single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF).
F22 raptor is considered to be the most deadly operational fighter aircraft, having combined supercruise, supermaneuverability, stealth, and sensor fusion in a single weapons platform. Its technology is so advanced that F-22 cannot be exported under American federal law.
The Raptor has 3 internal weapons bays: a large bay on the bottom of the fuselage, and two smaller bays on the sides. These bays can accommodate air to air as well as air to ground attack missiles as well as bombs.
The MiG-29 is the K P A F's most modern fighter and North Korea operates approximately 40 of these. F 22 is a generation ahead of Mig 29, and coupled with U S fighter pilot's better training and strategy, is expected to quickly get air superiority over North Korean skies.
NIMITIZ CLASS CARRIERS
The Nimitz-class super carriers are a class of 10 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in service with the United States Navy. Nimitz-class displaces about 100000 tonnes and spans 333 meters long. It is capable of carrying more that 60 fighter jets.
The Nimitz strike fighters are primarily F18 Hornets, and F18 Super Hornets. These are twin-engine carrier-capable 4th generation multirole fighter aircrafts designed for land and air attacks.
Being nuclear powered Nimitz-class has unlimited range, and hence is capable of projecting power far beyond U S coaste lines.
North Korea has no platform, which can project power like the Nimitz class.
MINUTEMAN III
In case of eventualities, the U S may decide to bring Minuteman III on the table.
For the knowledge of viewers, the Minuteman III was the world's first M I R V Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles, and Minuteman series of missile are the only land based ICBM in United States arsenal.
It has an approximate range of 13000 km (8100 miles) and a speed of more than 24000 km (15000 miles) per hour.
North Korean missle have much smaller range and the missile tests have been unsuccessful many times, showing that it has long way to go before mastering this technology.
OHIO CLASS
The Ohio class is a class of nuclear-powered submarines that is considered to be one of the most lethal platform in the world. The U S navy has 18 Ohio-class submarines: 14 ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) and 4 that were later converted to guided missile submarines (SSGN).
The 14 Ballistic Missile Submarines of Ohio class together carry approximately 50% of the total US active inventory of strategic thermonuclear warheads. The Ohio-class submarines are the largest submarines ever built for the U S Navy having a displacement of 16764 tonnes. It has a range of 1100 km and carries 24 Trident Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles.
Each of these missiles has 12 MIRV (Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicle) nuclear warheads, and each of these warheads have explosive power equivalent of 300 to 475 kilo tonnes of TNT.
This lethal destructive power makes Ohio class Ballistic Missile Submarines the most potent assets of US Forces.
North Korea has no platform even somewhat close to this.
