The following news article was translated and rewritten into English:
The United States defense and military expert David Axe stated that the US Air Force has “almost uncomplicated” plans to eliminate the Chinese Communist naval fleet attempting to invade Taiwan, which involves the use of numerous anti-ship missiles.
According to an article published by the UK’s Telegraph on January 24, the US Air Force is equipping its F-15E/EX fighter jets with the latest Pentagon anti-ship weapon – the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile.
Axe wrote that the US Air Force is evidently concerned that the Chinese naval fleet is preparing to cross the 100-mile (160 kilometers) wide Taiwan Strait and deploy forces on Taiwan’s beaches to invade the island.
If the US military were to intervene, they would have to act early in the Chinese invasion of Taiwan, when the Chinese ships are still shuttling in the strait to transport personnel, vehicles, and supplies.
To address this, the US Air Force is now hastening the process of arming a variety of fighter jets with advanced anti-ship missiles, ensuring that they can annihilate the vulnerable Chinese fleet during its invasion.
A recent contract announcement from the Naval Air Systems Command revealed that the US Air Force plans to integrate Lockheed Martin’s AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile with the F-15E and F-15EX fighter jets.
These two F-15 series fighter jets have similar airframes, but the newer F-15EX model boasts superior sensors, radar jammers, and extended weapon racks.
The AGM-158C, a powerful subsonic missile, draws design inspiration from the AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range, with the addition of a sensitive new guidance head capable of locking onto moving ships.
Both missiles have a range of 200 miles (322 kilometers) and a warhead weight of 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms), with their sleek design making them difficult to detect and intercept by radar.
The US Air Force confirmed several months ago that the newly acquired 36 F-15EX fighter jets will be permanently stationed at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, a key operational hub for US missions in the western Pacific region.
With the deployment of Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles, the F-15EX jets based at Kadena Air Base can quickly respond to Chinese aggression against Taiwan, potentially delivering the first strike against the Chinese forces within hours.
Considering that China has deployed numerous missiles targeting Kadena Air Base, the combat readiness of these F-15 jets may not be sustainable for long. However, they may not need to engage in prolonged combat as the bulk of the US Air Force’s firepower against the Chinese fleet comes from B-1 bombers taking off from distant bases. Each B-1 bomber can launch up to 24 Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles per sortie.
Notably, the US Navy has also equipped its F/A-18E/F fighters, F-35C fighters, and P-8 maritime patrol aircraft with Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles.
After the initial strikes by the F-15 fighters, if only half of the US Air Force’s 45 B-1 bombers are sent on a single attack mission, they could launch 650 Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles, sinking many of the most critical Chinese amphibious fleet vessels.
Subsequent reinforcements from additional US fighter jets equipped with anti-ship weapons, including precision guided bombs and glide bombs, are expected to arrive.
In conclusion, based on a report issued by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in 2023, if the US military can employ the 3,600 Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles and Extended Range Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles that the Pentagon is expected to have by 2026, the US strategy to defend Taiwan might be a “relatively uncomplicated” exercise.