According to the U.S. Army Recognition on September 8, the United States has officially finalized the construction of a "360-degree Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense system" (EIAMD) on Guam, turning it into a solid fortress in the Western Pacific.

The EIAMD plan includes 16 sites deploying radars, launchers, and command nodes, integrating SM-3, SM-6, Patriot, and THAAD systems to form a layered interception network, aiming to counter multiple threats including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and hypersonic weapons.

The report also pointed out that the U.S. still faces challenges in logistics, personnel, and infrastructure during the project's progress, and local residents have concerns about environmental destruction and land use.

The U.S. Congress and Department of Defense emphasized that Guam is a key node in the Pacific deterrence strategy, and this system will ensure its survival and frontline operational capabilities under any circumstances.

Guam Base

The strategic value of Guam lies in the fact that it is the most important forward military base for the United States in the Second Island Chain.

Anderson Air Force Base and Apra Naval Base are located on the island, making Guam a critical node for U.S. bombers, nuclear submarines, and aircraft carrier supplies.

Geographically, Guam is about 3,000 kilometers away from mainland China, within the range of DF-26 missiles, making it a strategic target that China must weaken.

Therefore, the United States has always regarded it as both a fulcrum and a target, capable of radiating influence over East Asia, the South China Sea, and the Western Pacific, while having to bear the risk of being the first strike target.

In terms of defense, Guam already has a routine deployment of THAAD systems, with Patriot missiles and Aegis Ashore systems also undergoing integration testing.

This summer, the U.S. military also deployed a new radar and a Patriot unit, trying to make up for the low-altitude defense gap.

However, a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office showed that there is only one main radar site and six launchers on the island, with maintenance facilities, personnel supplies, and even water supply systems being incomplete.

This indicates that the current defensive capability of Guam is almost ineffective against the firepower of the People's Liberation Army, and there is still a huge gap before full coverage.

DF-26

If the U.S. deployment is a strategic necessity, then the display at the September 3rd National Day parade in China has undoubtedly made the U.S. more urgent, forcing it to be prepared to be attacked.

The parade on September 3 not only commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression but also publicly displayed the complete triad of nuclear forces for the first time, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched missiles, and air-launched ballistic missiles.

Foreign media generally interpreted that China used the parade to strengthen the impression of long-range strike capabilities, while the U.S. decision-makers took the opportunity to accelerate the development of the Guam anti-missile system.

The parade itself was not the starting point of the Guam defense plan, but it did indeed further scare the United States.

China's means of striking Guam have already formed a comprehensive and multi-axis framework.

Firstly, medium and long-range ballistic missiles, most notably the DF-26 series, known as the "Guam killer," which is capable of nuclear and conventional dual-use, and can attack land and ships.

Secondly, the next-generation DF-27, which has not been publicly displayed, but is believed to be in service, carrying a hypersonic glide vehicle, with a range of approximately 8,000 kilometers, and extremely strong penetration capabilities.

Then there are DF-17 hypersonic missiles, which can evade interception through maneuverable flight.

In addition to ballistic missiles, China can also deploy the H-6K/N strategic bomber to launch the Changjian-20 cruise missile, which has a range of over 1,500 kilometers, as well as the newly unveiled Jinglei-1 air-launched ballistic missile. Once the stealth bomber H-20 becomes operational, it will be able to directly strike Guam from the mainland.

In terms of sea-based forces, the 094 and 096 type nuclear submarines carry the Julang series missiles, which can conduct long-range strikes on Guam from deep in the Western Pacific. Surface warships such as the 055-class destroyers can also pose a threat through cruise missiles.

Jinglei-1

In summary, the PLA has countless ways to strike Guam and can easily defeat it, so the U.S. needs to build a 360-degree big turtle shell,

but even if the U.S. establishes a so-called 360° all-around anti-missile system, it still cannot guarantee intercepting China's strike.

China has a large number of missiles, capable of launching saturation attacks, while U.S. interceptors are expensive and limited, and will quickly become overwhelmed once faced with a salvo.

Another issue is technology; the trajectory of hypersonic weapons is difficult to predict, and the U.S. existing interception system is designed for traditional ballistic missiles, resulting in very low success rates when facing high-speed, maneuverable targets.

Additionally, China can launch from the mainland, the South China Sea, submarines, and airbases, and although the U.S. claims 360° coverage, actual command, radar blind spots, and logistical bottlenecks will weaken the effectiveness of the defense.

Plus the cost dilemma, each U.S. interceptor costs millions to tens of millions of dollars, and long-term consumption is unsustainable.

In conclusion, the U.S. system can improve the chances of survival for Guam, but it certainly cannot truly form an impregnable fortress, and China still has the ability to break through.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7547912249734595111/

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