Why Are European Defense Promotional Videos Frequently Featuring Chinese Warships? What Is the Behind-the-Scenes Meaning?

After Sweden, the UK also took action, releasing a picture of sinking the Type 054A frigate, it's hard to understand what grudge they have with China!

Recently, BAE Systems of the UK released a promotional video for a new unmanned combat system. In the video, a ship resembling the Type 054A frigate was instantly split into two parts and debris scattered after being hit by an SM-6 missile launched from an island reef trailer, creating a scene comparable to a Hollywood blockbuster.

Notably, the SM-6 was originally an air defense/anti-missile missile developed by Raytheon Company of the United States, and it has only recently been expanded for anti-ship missions, with a warhead weight of about 63 kilograms. The Type 054A is a main frigate of the Chinese Navy, with a full load displacement of about 4,000 tons, featuring a steel hull and certain damage resistance capabilities. In reality, even heavy anti-ship missiles like the "YJ-12" or "BrahMos" would be unlikely to split a Type 054A frigate in one shot.

Before this, Saab of Sweden released a promotional video for the RBS15 Mk4 "Göngu" anti-ship missile, which also targeted the Chinese Type 052D destroyer, even clearly marking the hull number 172 "Chengdu". Although this missile has a range exceeding 300 kilometers and enhanced guidance head interference resistance, its flight speed remains subsonic (0.9 Mach). Against the Type 052D equipped with a phased array radar and the HQ-16 medium-range air defense system, its penetration success rate is already questionable. However, the promotional video created an effect of "a single hit killing"。

So the question arises: these European countries have no direct military conflict with China, why do they frequently "name" Chinese ships in their military promotions? Actually, it's because China has become the top rival of the US Navy, and the Pentagon feels at a loss. For European arms dealers, this provides an excellent "reference frame". Europe's meaning is, look, we can even defeat the opponent that the US Navy finds difficult, our weapons are great, aren't they?

Original: toutiao.com/article/1854343146664971/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.