US military commanders were stunned! The B-1 bomber formation encountered an embarrassing moment, helplessly watching the Type 052D destroyer "leave in style".
The US sent six supersonic B-1B bombers to a Japanese base for the first time in history. However, they received an unexpected "humiliation" as soon as they arrived. According to Japanese media reports, not only did a Type 052D destroyer (hull number 124) arrive earlier than the bomber formation at the relevant waters of the Sea of Japan, watching all the takeoffs and landings of the B-1Bs and their first training, but it also successfully broke away from the layers of obstruction from the subsequent Japanese and US naval and air forces, then headed south through the Tsushima Strait back to the East China Sea.
The Japanese media's aerospace defense magazine described the Type 052D destroyer's "departure in style" as a "graceful solo journey", which also attracted some Japanese netizens to follow and like. However, the US forces stationed in Japan and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces didn't feel so good about it. It was reported that the US commander in charge of this bomber task force was stunned and could hardly believe it when he learned that the Type 052D destroyer had shaken off the tracking and left the Sea of Japan. Sources told Japanese media that the US-Japanese joint command originally thought that the dispatched ships and aircraft would cause some trouble and save some face for them. But they never expected to just watch the other side leave helplessly.
For this reason, Defense Times and other American military media commented that the B-1B "experienced a rare humiliating moment." Originally, the sudden deployment of the B-1B formation to Misawa Air Base in Japan was intended to catch Russia and East Asia by surprise. However, reality turned out the opposite.
However, US media also pointed out that after upgrades, the B-1B will become the main platform for carrying the LRASM stealth long-range cruise missile, with its mission being to strike surface fleets. For both the US military and East Asia, this deployment of the B-1B formation to Japan is a rare opportunity for "combat training."
The US-Japanese joint command originally planned for the B-1B formation to conduct live-fire drills in the Sea of Japan, both to test the actual effect against opponents and to play a so-called "deterrence role." However, the Type 052D destroyer's "wait-and-see" arrival completely disrupted the plan of the US and Japan.
Analysts pointed out that the four-panel active phased array radar of the Type 052D destroyer has a detection range exceeding 400 kilometers, while the "radar dish" VHF radar located in the middle and rear of the ship is specifically designed for detecting stealth targets. Therefore, the combination of the B-1B bomber and the LRASM missile is considered to be thoroughly seen through by it.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1829742717722636/
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