China tests supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles

China has conducted the first flight test of its new Russian-made anti-ship cruise missile, the most potent naval weapon in China's growing arsenal and a major improvement over its other anti-ship cruise missiles, according to U.S. intelligence officials.

A Chinese Sovremenny-class guided missile destroyer fired an SSN-22 Sunburn missile during a test Sept. 15, said officials familiar with reports of the test.

First of all, the only people seriously calling them "Aegis killers" are the sales staff at the manufacturer.

In reality, China still lacks the C4ISR backplane needed to use these weapons, and they will have a grand total of 24 launchers--not enough for an overwhelming strike.

I'm with you, Poobah. Less of a threat than published. Better the Chicoms did not have them, but they lack the complete weapons system. "Soviet" Shipwrecks and Sunburns have indeed been around for a while. (to others besides Poobah -->) Bear in mind they have to make trade-offs to carry the large warhead at supersonic speeds, specifically range, manuverability, and stealth/survivability. Our Block 2 SAMs on a variety of platforms have the capability (and now software) to ID, target, track and kill high and low-flying supersonic targets, espcially those with the RCS of a Shipwreck or Sunburn. Also, the Block-2s can be targeted against a surface vessel (that might have these SSNs), lethally, at high-supersonic speeds at ranges exceeding that of the Sunburn and Shipwreck. Point being-- instead of having to wait for a high-subsonic Harpoon or two to finally get there, the SM-2 can do the job in moments ... Plus, with a blanket of ECM, the Russian/Chinese missiles can be made to miss at all but point blank firing ranges.

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