Key facts
- China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) is developing 'Steel Rain' shells.
- These shells are designed to disperse submunitions over a wide area.
- The development suggests a strategy to overwhelm Taiwanese defenses.
- The shells could be used to disrupt troop movements and suppress artillery.
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) is developing 'Steel Rain' shells, a type of artillery ammunition designed to disperse submunitions over a wide area. This development is seen as indicative of potential war planning for a conflict over Taiwan.
The 'Steel Rain' shells are designed to saturate an area with bomblets, which could be used to suppress enemy artillery, disrupt troop movements, and overwhelm defensive positions. This approach aligns with a strategy of overwhelming Taiwanese defenses and potentially neutralizing artillery emplacements before an amphibious assault.
Analysts suggest that such munitions could be a key component in the PLA's strategy to achieve rapid dominance in a conflict scenario, aiming to degrade Taiwanese military capabilities and create an environment conducive to invasion.