China Develops Hypersonic Weapons Capable of Targeting US Support Aircraft
· World · Times of India, NDTV
China has developed hypersonic glide vehicles capable of launching air-to-air missiles, potentially threatening high-value US military aircraft like command-and-control and surveillance planes. These weapons could theoretically strike targets from thousands of miles away, putting assets near US military bases like Guam and Hawaii at risk. The hypersonic glide vehicles, which can maneuver through the atmosphere, are reportedly integrated with DF-17 and DF-27 missile systems. While the technology poses a new threat, experts note that maintaining a long-range "kill chain" requires constant, accurate data on moving targets. Furthermore, the launch of such missiles could be misinterpreted as a nuclear strike, adding significant risk to any potential deployment.
Why it matters
The development challenges the safety of US support aircraft that typically operate outside the immediate battlefield, potentially forcing a shift in American military operational strategy in the Indo-Pacific.
Read the original report — Times of India
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