POTENTIAL VERSUS PROVEN THREATS: China claims the DF-26C IRBM has a maneuverable warhead capable of sinking U.S. warships at sea. It’s ostensibly a carrier killer ballistic missile. But so far China has never tested the missile against a “static or moving target at sea”:
Such a test could easily be arranged, using a large (carrier size) retired tanker or container ship, moving and maneuvering under remote control in a designated (to keep any ships and aircraft out of harm’s way) portion of the ocean. Other nations could use their photo satellites to observe. Either the DF-26C maneuverable warhead hits the target or it doesn’t.
As the article says, the U.S. Navy has to take seriously the potential threat the missile poses.