The US fears China's long-range missiles could reach Guam

If something goes wrong, be ready.

Why should we care about Guam? The answer is complicated because Guam is the US, but not entirely. The unincorporated territory in Micronesia, north of the infinite South Pacific dwarf islands, belongs to the US. Its citizens have US passports but limited rights. More than these bureaucratic issues, its location makes it a “nuclear” target.

A missile. A major milestone occurred Tuesday. The US intercepted the first ballistic missile from Guam using the Aegis Guam System (AGS). In the FEM-02 test, an SM-3 Block IIA interceptor destroyed a medium-range air-launched ballistic missile near Andersen Air Force Base.

For what? The achievement proved the system’s ability to detect, track, and neutralize flying threats, advancing Guam and regional defense. It proved to the world, especially China, that they can handle any threat.

The Guam Aegis Defense System. The Lockheed Martin-developed AGS uses an AN/TPY-6 radar and Mark 41 vertical launch systems like American destroyers and cruisers. This technology, tested in Middle Eastern conflicts, has been adapted to protect Guam, a strategic Western Pacific territory. The successful test boosts the Defense Department’s readiness to face new threats like Chinese ballistic missiles.

Goal of the project. After the ballistic missile launch and intercept, Reuters reported that the US wants to use this advanced missile defense system to make Guam one of the world’s most secure places. This effort is part of the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to counter China’s growing military capabilities and secure this vital territory for U.S. operations in Asia and the Pacific.

Of course, there is more. Guam is home to strategic bombers and the Air Force’s largest munitions depot, Andersen Air Force Base, and nuclear submarines at Naval Base Guam. It is vital to Indo-Pacific Command’s logistics and operations as a power projection point into the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.

System components and technology. SM-3 Block IIA, SM-6, Patriot PAC-3, THAAD, and AN/TPY-6 radars are part of the project, along with a short-range air defense system.

A “layered” network of regional and spatial sensors will detect and intercept threats at various flight phases, improving attack response.

Technical and Strategic Issues. The recent test showed the system can intercept ballistic missiles from the ground, but a massive attack raises concerns. The hypersonic DF-27 and advanced DF-26 ballistic missiles could easily hit Beijing. Due to their maneuverability and countermeasures, both are difficult. While stopping every missile in a simultaneous attack is impossible, the goal is to minimize damage and complicate Chinese plans.

Impact and issues locally. This is another battle behind the war. The project’s implementation worries Guam residents. Additional military and foreign workers are expected to worsen the island’s housing shortage and strain infrastructure and public services for nearly 170,000 residents.

Local authorities say the system will boost the island’s security, but many worry it will make it a target. It appears, especially after the launch, that it is meant to protect Guam and deter potential aggressors by sending a clear message: an attack on the island will be treated as an attack on US territory.

The US fears China’s long-range missiles could reach Guam

By ki0nk

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