New Delhi. The US has deployed the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) in Guam, indicating growing preparedness against potential threats from China. The move comes as the US is adding the most modern missile interceptors to strengthen its Pacific Ocean bases. Last month, 'The War Zone' reported that the US Navy has installed the Mk 41 VLS for Guam's Aegis Ashore air defense system, marking a significant progress in protecting the island. According to the report, the deployment is part of a larger effort to enhance Guam's airspace security, with a main focus on Chinese threats.

The report said that the Aegis Ashore system, which includes the Aegis Combat System and the AN/SPY-1 radar, is intended to intercept ballistic missiles in flight using SM-3 interceptors. This move will not only strengthen Guam's security but also enhance US military capabilities in the region. The Mk 41 vertical launcher deployed by the US in Guam has the power to accommodate other interceptors such as the SM-6 and the upcoming Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI), making it capable of countering hypersonic threats.

However, according to The War Zone report, this deployment may face challenges due to Guam's limited open space and mountainous terrain. The Mk 41 launcher is a key part of the planned Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense (EIAMD) system, which aims to provide a large-scale 360-degree defense to protect the island, which will completely cover the threats coming from the sky. With this development, Guam's defense capability will be significantly enhanced, which will further strengthen US military stability in the region. This system is considered extremely important to counter hypersonic threats, especially given the growing global security challenges.

Guam, a small island in the Pacific Ocean, has a strategic role in the US Indo-Pacific strategy. In an article for the Hudson Institute, Center Fellow Oriana Skyler Mastro analyzes Guam's strategic importance, the threats posed by China to US forces, and measures to counter Chinese aggression in the region.

Mastro says that Guam is not only an important center of US military activities, but it is also necessary to counter China's growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region. The article explains what measures should be taken to protect US forces on Guam, so that stability can be maintained in the region and China's aggressive behavior can be prevented.