AMTI: China has installed AA guns and probably CIWS on outposts in Spratly Islands

The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) said today that China has installed large anti-aircraft guns and probable close-in weapons systems (CIWS) on the artificial islands it controls in the Spratly archipelago.

The U.S. think tank has been analyzing hexagon-shaped structures at Fiery Cross, Mischief, and Subi Reefs since construction started in June and July.

“It now seems that these structures are an evolution of point-defense fortifications already constructed at China’s smaller facilities on Gaven, Hughes, Johnson, and Cuarteron Reefs,” according to AMTI.

The fortifications on Fiery Cross, Subi, and Mischief Reefs are the most complex ever built. The tiered hexagonal towers are positioned so that any defensive weapons placed on them are able to cover all approaches along with overlapping fields of fire.