The U.S Military could launch strikes against
specific North Korean targets as early as
next month if North Korea continues threats
of nuclear weapons and long-range missile
development.
Reported elevated readiness of Chinese, South
Korean and U.S military assets in the region
have increased tensions and speculation about
the likelihood of either the U.S or North
Korea launching a preemptive strike.
In this video, Defense Updates looks at 5
weapons of U.S that North Korea should fear,
and think about before any acts of aggression.
Lets get started.
The Arleigh Burke class of guided missile
destroyers (DDGs) is the United States Navy's
first class of destroyer built around the
Aegis Combat System and the SPY-1D multifunction
passive electronically scanned array radar.
These are considered to be one of the most
potent destroyers in the world.
These displace around 9000 tonnes, and have
a length of 505 ft (154 m).
The Arleigh Burke design incorporates stealth
techniques, which make the ship more difficult
to detect, in particular by anti ship missiles.
A Collective Protection System makes the Arleigh
Burke class the first U.S warships designed
with an air-filtration system against nuclear,
biological, and chemical warfare.
These warships were designed as multi mission
destroyers and can perform the following roles:
1. Air Defense (AD) role with their powerful
Aegis radar and surface-to-air missiles like
SM2.
2. Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW), with towed
sonar, anti-submarine rockets, and ASW helicopter.
3. Anti Surface Warfare (ASW) with their Harpoon
missile and strategic land strike role with
the Tomahawk missiles.
The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is a 5th generation,
single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth
tactical fighter aircraft developed for the
United States Air Force (USAF).
F22 raptor is considered to be the most deadly
operational fighter aircraft, having combined
supercruise, supermaneuverability, stealth,
and sensor fusion in a single weapons platform.
Its technology is so advanced that F-22 cannot
be exported under American federal law.
The Raptor has 3 internal weapons bays: a
large bay on the bottom of the fuselage, and
two smaller bays on the sides. These bays
can accommodate air to air as well as air
to ground attack missiles as well as bombs.
The MiG-29 is the KPAF's (Korean People's Army Air Force) most modern fighter
and North Korea operates approximately 40
of these. F 22 is a generation ahead of Mig
29, and coupled with U.S fighter pilot's better
training and strategy, is expected to quickly
get air superiority over North Korean skies.
The Nimitz-class super carriers are a class
of 10 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in
service with the United States Navy. Nimitz-class
displaces about 100000 tonnes and spans 333
meters long. It is capable of carrying more
than 60 fighter jets.
The Nimitz strike fighters are primarily F18
Hornets, and F18 Super Hornets. These are
twin-engine carrier-capable 4th generation
multirole fighter aircrafts designed for land
and air attacks.
Being nuclear powered Nimitz-class has unlimited
range, and hence is capable of projecting
power far beyond U.S coastlines.
North Korea has no platform, which can project
power like the Nimitz class.
In case of eventualities, the U.S may decide
to bring Minuteman III on the table.
For the knowledge of viewers, the Minuteman
III was the world's first M.I.R.V Inter Continental
Ballistic Missiles, and Minuteman series of
missile are the only land based ICBM
in United States arsenal.
It has an approximate range of 13000 km (8100
miles) and a speed of more than 24000 km (15000 miles) per hour.
Minuteman III can carry a maximum of 3 warheads
with a cumulative weight of 1150 kg. So a
single missile can target 3 independent locations.
North Korean missles have much smaller range
and the missile tests have been unsuccessful
many times, showing that it has long way to
go before mastering this technology.
The Ohio class is a class of nuclear-powered
submarines that is considered to be one of
the most lethal platform in the world. The
U S navy has 18 Ohio-class submarines: 14
ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) and 4
that were later converted to guided missile
submarines (SSGN).
The 14 Ballistic Missile Submarines of Ohio
class together carry approximately 50% of
the total U.S active inventory of strategic
thermonuclear warheads. The Ohio-class submarines
are the largest submarines ever built for
the U.S Navy having a displacement of 16,764 tonnes.
It has a range of 11,000 km and carries
24 Trident Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles.
Each of these missiles has 12 MIRV (Multiple
Independent Reentry Vehicle) nuclear warheads,
and each of these warheads have explosive
power equivalent of 300 to 475 kilo tonnes
of TNT.
This lethal destructive power makes Ohio class
Ballistic Missile Submarines the most potent
asset of U.S Forces.
North Korea has no platform even somewhat
close to this.
