Charles R. Smith
Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2005

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  "We will show the planes during joint exercises to arouse their interest. Let them buy it if they have money."

The potential sale of deadly TU-22 Backfire or the even longer-range TU-95 Bear aircraft has a direct impact on U.S. national security. The supersonic Backfire bomber was designed to carry nuclear-tipped high-speed missiles in order to attack U.S. Navy carrier battle groups.

The Backfire has a maximum range of 4,000 miles and can fly at nearly twice the speed of sound. The swing-wing aircraft can cruise at low altitudes and penetrate highly defended airspace with a quick supersonic dash.

The long range allows the bomber to attack all of Japan, and even some areas in Alaska. It is not known if the Chinese will modify the high-speed bombers so they can be refueled in the air. Such a modification would allow the Backfire to attack the U.S. West Coast and return to bases in China.

Unlike the Backfire, the TU-95 Bear is a true strategic bomber and could strike at the U.S. homeland from bases inside China using advanced cruise missiles now being developed by Beijing.

Chinese Bombers

The Russian offer has already drawn a swift reaction from leading Western defense analysts.

"Russia now has two regiments of Tu-22M3s available for sale, and a model of the Backfire was displayed for the first time at the November 2004 Air show China," stated Richard Fisher.

"A potential Chinese purchase of the Backfire raises three issues: First, the PLA [People's Liberation Army] would be responding in a forceful way to new U.S. deployments at Guam so as to increase the cost of this investment to Washington," noted Fisher.

"Second, such a purchase would indicate a long-term PLA commitment to long-range strategic aviation, raising the prospect of future Chinese-designed stealth bombers," said Fisher.

"Finally, such a purchase would serve to exploit current U.S. plans to cut back on planned purchases of F/A-22 fighters – the only U.S. airborne platform now available that could assure U.S. air superiority," concluded Fisher.

The U.S. is not the only nation to announce cuts in its air forces. Russia recently announced that it would retire or mothball hundreds of advanced aircraft, including 40 new TU-22 Backfire bombers. The move by Moscow was seen as a cost-cutting effort to allow for future development of advanced aircraft.

Several Western defense analysts speculated that the Russian air force decline would benefit China with a possible sale of the mothballed TU-22 Backfire bombers.

Beijing has tried previously to purchase the Backfire from Russia. The Chinese efforts were not successful due to concerns in Moscow about future sales to India and the possibility that the Backfire units could be used against Russia.

The Backfire sale is a source of grave concern inside other capitals. The bomber already has enough range on internal fuel to strike targets in Japan and India. There is no question that a Russian sale will force India, Japan and Taiwan to seek additional air defense systems.

Nuclear-tipped Missiles

The Backfire bomber is armed with four Kh-22 "Kitchen" cruise missiles made by the Russian Raduga design bureau. The Kh-22 missile is a rocket-powered weapon capable of reaching out 300 miles or more at speeds in excess of six times the speed of sound.

The Russian version of the Kh-22 was reportedly equipped with a nuclear warhead equal to 300,000 tons of TNT. A Chinese version of the Backfire would likely come equipped with the Kh-22.

The Russian company that makes the Kh-22 is already heavily involved in selling advanced supersonic missiles to China. Raduga is currently finishing off a deal to provide the Chinese navy with an up-rated version of the 3M-80 Moskit – SS-N-22 "Sunburn" – supersonic cruise missile.

The Sunburn is fitted to the Sovremenny-class destroyers sold to the Chinese navy by Moscow. Raduga is committed to provide China with an extended-range version of the Sunburn – the 3M-80MVE. Raduga is also reportedly working with China on developing a new class of supersonic cruise missiles, which could easily be mounted on the Backfire bomber.

The sale of Backfire or even Bear bombers to China is a signal that a new arms race is breaking out between the two remaining superpowers. The Chinese war machine, fed by the Russian defense industry, will take a major leap forward by deploying such long-range weapons.

The Backfire, operating from bases on Hainan Island and from Burma's Meiktila Island, can range to Diego Garcia to the west, northern Australia to the south and Guam to the east.

Nuclear War

The proposed defense cuts in U.S. weapons, such as the F-22 and U.S. Navy carriers, are folly in the face of Chinese Backfire bombers. The entire argument for such military cuts was that state-to-state warfare, such as seen between nations during World War II, is impossible in the 21st century.

China is not purchasing Backfire bombers to battle low-level terrorists or put down dissidents at home. These bombers are aimed at America, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines.

Beijing and Moscow are not allies, nor partners in a new era. The battle in the North Atlantic predicted during the Cold war is restarting in the Pacific. Supersonic bombers, missile-attack submarines and nuclear weapons are directed at the U.S. homeland.

The current U.S. argument for disarmament, as viewed from Beijing, is certain to be seen as weakness in the face of danger. The proposed U.S. cuts are wrong in the face of a growing Chinese military.

The proposed Backfire sale is but one example of a major war yet to come. One warning of many. The sleeping dragon is awake and we may have to face it in combat. The best way to guarantee such a war is to not prepare for it.

Charles Smith will be on:

The Jerry Hughes Show on Friday, 1/28/05, at 3 p.m. Eastern time. Show information at http://www.cilamerica.com.

The Charlie Smith Show on the American Freedom Network on Monday, 1/31/05, at 11 a.m. Eastern time. Show information at http://www.americanewsnet.com/

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