SOURCE: AFI
The YouTube channel “Grim Reapers,” known for its detailed Digital Combat Simulator (DCS) simulations, recently carried out a fascinating scenario exploring how the Philippines’ new Indo-Russian BrahMos anti-ship missile batteries might fare against China’s navy in a hypothetical conflict. The simulation, titled “Philippines Brahmos Missile Batteries vs US & Chinese Carrier Groups (WarGames 241) | DCS,” tested the effectiveness of the BrahMos missiles in a series of strikes against both Chinese and US carrier groups, providing an insightful look at the potential combat outcomes.
The scenario begins by testing the BrahMos missile batteries against a Chinese naval fleet. In the first attempt, a single BrahMos missile was launched toward a Chinese Type 052D destroyer. The warship responded by launching its HQ-9B interceptor missile. The result was an interception success for the Chinese, as the BrahMos missile was neutralized before reaching its target.
In the second attempt, the simulation escalated the engagement by firing a salvo of 12 BrahMos missiles toward a Chinese aircraft carrier group. The Chinese fleet responded robustly, launching 40 interceptor missiles. Despite the concentrated strike, all 12 BrahMos missiles were intercepted, demonstrating the carrier group’s formidable missile defense capabilities.
A third simulation run increased the number of BrahMos missiles to 24, testing the saturation threshold of the Chinese carrier group’s defenses. The Chinese fleet fired 63 interceptor missiles in response. This time, however, the defense was not completely effective; two BrahMos missiles managed to penetrate the defenses and struck the Chinese aircraft carrier, ultimately sinking the vessel.
In the fourth and final scenario against the Chinese fleet, a large-scale attack involving 36 BrahMos missiles was launched. The Chinese carrier group responded with 76 interceptor missiles. Despite the heavy defensive response, approximately 12 BrahMos missiles successfully hit their targets, resulting in the sinking of multiple warships within the Chinese carrier group. This outcome highlighted the potential for overwhelming even advanced missile defense systems with a sufficiently large salvo of high-speed, sea-skimming anti-ship missiles.
The Grim Reapers didn’t stop with the Chinese fleet; they also simulated an attack on a US carrier group using the same BrahMos missile batteries. In this scenario, a salvo of 36 BrahMos missiles was launched. The US carrier group, known for its state-of-the-art missile defense systems, responded by firing an impressive 95 interceptor missiles. Despite the overwhelming defensive measures, seven BrahMos missiles managed to evade interception and strike the carrier group, suggesting that even highly advanced naval forces could face significant threats from massed missile attacks.
The DCS simulation by “Grim Reapers” offers an intriguing glimpse into the potential effectiveness of the Philippines’ BrahMos missile batteries against formidable naval forces. While the results of such simulations are not predictive of actual combat outcomes, they do provide valuable insights into the dynamics of missile defense and offense in naval warfare. The scenarios demonstrate that even the most advanced naval defense systems can be overwhelmed by saturation attacks, underscoring the importance of strategic planning and missile defense integration for modern navies.
The simulation also highlights the strategic value of the BrahMos missile, developed jointly by India and Russia, which combines high speed, maneuverability, and precision to pose a significant threat to large naval assets. As tensions in the Asia-Pacific region continue to simmer, such analyses become ever more pertinent, offering a glimpse into the evolving landscape of naval warfare and the importance of maintaining robust defensive and offensive capabilities.