Unsinkable No More: China's Hypersonic Missiles Challenge US Navy...Chinese researchers are claiming that the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, could be demolished with absolute certainty using hypersonic missiles.

 

Unsinkable No More: China's Hypersonic Missiles Challenge US Navy

 BY PNW STAFF MAY 30, 2023

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Chinese researchers are claiming that the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, could be demolished with absolute certainty using hypersonic missiles. 

The researchers conducted a war game simulation, which showcased China's military sinking the carrier fleet by launching a relentless onslaught of 24 hypersonic anti-ship missiles across 20 intense battles. Their findings challenge the previously held notion that the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier fleet is invulnerable to conventional weapons.

The simulation unfolded in the disputed South China Sea, where the US vessels persisted in approaching an island claimed by China, despite repeated warnings. Chinese researchers demonstrated the long-range capabilities of their hypersonic missiles by launching some from distant locations like the Gobi Desert. The outcome of the simulation was bleak for the US, as nearly every surface vessel was shattered and ultimately sank under the devastating attack. These findings arrive at a time when China is actively exploring strategies to overcome US naval defenses in its quest to take over the Island of Taiwan. One such approach involves the development of advanced stealth submarines like the Type 095 and Type 096. These silent and elusive submarines pose a significant challenge to US anti-submarine defenses, bolstering China's underwater warfare capabilities.

China has also been investing in anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) such as the DF-21D and DF-26. These long-range missiles, equipped with maneuverable warheads, are specifically designed to target and disable aircraft carriers. Their ability to evade interception poses a considerable threat to US carrier strike groups.

In addition to submarines and anti-ship ballistic missiles, China has been actively utilizing drone swarms to overcome US aircraft carrier defenses. By deploying large numbers of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in synchronized attacks, China aims to overwhelm the defensive systems of US carriers. These drone swarms can carry out coordinated strikes, evading interception and overwhelming the carrier's defenses. The sheer volume and agility of the swarm enable them to disrupt operations, inflict damage, and create chaos on the carrier's deck.

To further enhance its military capabilities, China is investing in robust electronic warfare and cyber operations. Electronic warfare techniques, such as jamming and spoofing, are employed to degrade or disable US naval communication systems, sensors, and radars. This disruptive approach reduces the effectiveness of US defensive capabilities.

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Moreover, China's navy has rapidly expanded in recent years, now boasting a larger fleet than that of the United States. With over 350 ships, including surface vessels, submarines, and aircraft carriers, China now possesses a naval force that surpasses the US fleet in terms of sheer numbers. This growth in naval strength grants China greater operational flexibility and the ability to project power across the world's oceans, not just in the Taiwan strait.

In the face of China's continuous expansion of its navy, an alarming message has been delivered to American military strategists by a professor at the US Naval War College. According to Sam Tangredi, the Leidos Chair of Future Warfare Studies and a former US Navy captain, history has shown that in naval warfare, the larger fleet almost always emerges victorious.

Tangredi's warning was published in the January edition of the US Naval Institute's Proceedings magazine. He examined 28 naval conflicts, ranging from the ancient Greco-Persian Wars to more recent Cold War proxy conflicts and interventions. His research revealed that superior numbers, rather than superior technology, have been the determining factor in the outcome of most naval wars.

"In only three instances did superior technology defeat bigger numbers," Tangredi stated. "All other wars were won by superior numbers or, when between equal forces, superior strategy or admiralship." He further explained that operating a large fleet enables more extensive training and often indicates that leaders are attentive to strategic requirements.

While the three exceptional cases of technological superiority over numerical advantage in naval warfare were from the 11th, 16th, and 19th centuries, Tangredi emphasized that the instances where numbers prevailed over technology are more recognizable to the general public.

One such example he highlighted was the Napoleonic Wars of the early 1800s. Despite France possessing superior ship design and construction technologies, it was the overwhelming numbers of the Royal Navy that prevented Napoleon from crossing the English Channel.

The US Navy is struggling to match the rapid expansion of China's fleet in terms of size and based on current production numbers it appears unlikely to catch China, with odds of the gap becoming even greater in China's favor.

To overcome this challenge, US military strategists are relying on technological advancements. A Pentagon document states that victory in future conflicts will be determined by the integration of technology, concepts, partners, and systems, rather than fleet size alone. Nevertheless, Tangredi points out that the case of World War II in the Pacific refutes the Pentagon's conclusions. At the beginning of the war, Japan possessed superior technology, including the formidable Zero fighter, Long-Lance torpedoes, and aerial torpedoes capable of striking in shallow waters. However, it was the sheer industrial might and the size of the US fleet, particularly its logistics and amphibious ships, that ultimately secured victory over the Imperial Japanese Navy.

As China continues its naval expansion, these historical lessons serve as a cautionary tale for the US Navy. While technological advancements are crucial, the importance of fleet size and numerical advantage cannot be underestimated in determining the outcome of future naval conflicts.

China has also made significant strides in developing space weapons that could potentially neutralize or destroy US satellites in the event of a conflict. These space-based weapons, such as anti-satellite missiles and directed energy weapons, have the capability to disrupt critical US military communications, reconnaissance, and navigation systems. The ability to impair satellites would significantly impact the US military's intelligence gathering and operational coordination, giving China a strategic advantage in potential conflicts.

While China's multifaceted approach to overcoming US naval defenses poses significant challenges, concerns have been raised about the US Navy's focus. A recent US naval recruitment video featuring a non-binary drag queen emphasizing the role of LGBTQ+ individuals in the Navy has drawn criticism. Many argue that the video highlights misplaced priorities, suggesting that the US Navy should be more focused on addressing potential threats rather than diversifying its ranks.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, tweeted a portion of the recruitment clip with the caption, "While China prepares for war, this is what they have our US Navy focused on." 

Bankruptcy Crisis Sweeps US Companies With No End In Sight...BY TYLER DURDEN/ACTIVIST POST MAY 30, 2023 Share this article:

 

Bankruptcy Crisis Sweeps US Companies With No End In Sight

 BY TYLER DURDEN/ACTIVIST POST MAY 30, 2023

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One would not know it from looking at the S&P which just hit a 2023 high, but there is a bit of a bankruptcy crisis sweeping the US where companies are filing for bankruptcy at the fastest pace in 13 years, in a clear sign of a tightening credit squeeze as interest rates rise and financial markets have locked out all but the strongest borrowers.

The increase is most visible among large companies, where there were 236 bankruptcy filings in the first four months of this year, more than double 2022 levels, and the fastest YTD pace since 2010 according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Several large recognizable companies with hundreds or thousands of workers have filed for bankruptcy protection in recent weeks, including Bed Bath & Beyond and Vice Media, although their financial troubles predated the recent economic turmoil.

The bankruptcies did not slow down in May, when just the past week saw eight companies with more than $500 million in liabilities file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, including five in a single 24-hour stretch last week, making this the busiest week for chapter 11 filings so far this year. In 2022 the monthly average was just over three filings. Last week's eight large filings, those with at least $50 million of liabilities, included those of now defunct woke "media empire" Vice Media, Envision Healthcare and Monitronics International. Prior to last week, the busiest seven-day stretch this year belonged to a week in late February that saw firms including Covid-19 testmaker Lucira Health, generic drugmaker Akorn and former SPAC Starry Group kick off insolvency proceedings.

In total, twenty-seven large debtors have filed for bankruptcy so far in 2023 compared to 40 for all of 2022, according to figures compiled by bankruptcydata.com.

Among all types of companies, large and small, the increase in bankruptcies is somewhat more muted, with filings remaining below pre-pandemic levels and historic norms, according to Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics. However filings, especially among large, unprofitable companies, are ramping at a frenzied pace as interest rates rise, pandemic-era government support dries up and sales growth slows amid a cooling economy.

There were about 16,200 bankruptcy filings among all types of companies in U.S. District Courts in the first quarter -- up from 12,200 a year earlier, but still well below the 21,000-or-more-a-quarter in the pre-pandemic period, data from Moody's Analytics shows. Even those pre-pandemic numbers were relatively low in historic terms, in part because low interest rates made it easy for companies to borrow.

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"The era of low interest rates and pandemic-related government support programs helped keep companies afloat that may have otherwise had few other options," S&P analysts said of their large-company data. "Now that interest rates are back to pre-Great Recession levels and pandemic support programs are largely over, we're seeing a fresh uptick in a possible sign that companies are running out of time."

Yields on junk bonds have more than doubled from less than 4% in mid-2021, as measured by the Bloomberg US High Yield Index. The Fed has warned that lenders could further contract the supply of credit to businesses after recent turmoil in the banking sector.

"Our general view is that we are going to see an increase in 'hard restructurings', driven by the combination of higher debt levels from the borrowing binge of Covid and rising interest rates. The triggers will be running out money and inability to refinance maturing debt," said Bill Derrough, an investment banker at Moelis who advises clients across distressed situations. "Some companies have used every trick in the book and now have run out of tricks."

Companies that sell nonessential consumer items have been harder hit than other sectors as Americans curb their spending amid high inflation, S&P said. Plant-Based Pizza Boston, catalogue retailer AmeriMark Interactive and the Party City retail chain are among the recent casualties. Last month, the dress retailer David's Bridal filed for bankruptcy for the second time in 5 years, and said it was seeking a buyer, days after informing state labor departments that it planned to lay off more than 9,000 employees nationwide. The 70-year-old company said its business was weighed down by "the post-covid environment and uncertain economic conditions."

Perhaps the most notable recent bankruptcy was that of long-struggling Bed Bath & Beyond, which filed for bankruptcy in late April, got a boost from the wave of consumer spending during the pandemic -- when Americans spent more time at home. But when the economic climate shifted and stubbornly high inflation reduced discretionary purchases, the retailer's fortunes tumbled.

Recent filings make clear how some large, indebted companies were clobbered by the end of easy money. A Vice Media bankruptcy filing last week disclosed that the company had been cash flow negative for several years, forcing it to borrow heavily to fund operations. As interest rates rose, it became costlier for Vice to refinance those loans. 

They are not alone and expect many to follow in the days ahead.

Originally published at Activist Post - reposted with permission.