China Unveils New Hypersonic Missile With Thousands-of-Miles Range Against Aircraft

The Chinese military has developed a hypersonic weapons capability that could potentially be used to target high-value aircraft thousands of miles from the battlefield, Bloomberg reported, citing a person with direct knowledge of the matter.

The development reportedly forms part of China’s broader effort to expand the roles of its extensive missile arsenal. The capability could create a new threat for US aircraft operating deep behind the frontline in a potential conflict with China.

China Expands Hypersonic Missile Capabilities

According to the report, China has equipped some hypersonic cruise missiles with air-to-air capabilities and added anti-ship functions to several missile systems. The weapons could potentially target aerial tankers, airborne early-warning and control aircraft and airborne command posts. Such aircraft generally operate away from the frontline but provide critical support to combat operations.

A hypersonic glide vehicle launched by a DF-17 missile could reportedly travel about 1,500 miles, or 2,414 kilometres. The range is slightly shorter than the distance between China and the US territory of Guam, home to a major American military facility.

China’s DF-27 missile reportedly has a range of around 5,000 miles, potentially putting Hawaii within reach.

Hypersonic Weapons Pose Interception Challenge

Hypersonic glide vehicles can manoeuvre through the atmosphere while travelling at extremely high speeds, making their flight paths more difficult to predict and potentially complicating missile defence. Bloomberg reported that no other country is currently known to operate a weapon combining a hypersonic glide vehicle with air-to-air missiles.

A US Air Force China Aerospace Studies Institute assessment cited in the report said China’s missile modernisation is increasingly focused on disrupting an adversary’s wider military architecture through coordinated attacks.

However, using such weapons against distant, moving aircraft would also present significant challenges.

Targeting Moving Aircraft Remains Difficult

A missile travelling thousands of miles could take 20 minutes or more to reach its target. During that period, an aircraft can travel a considerable distance, making accurate targeting dependent on highly precise and continuously updated intelligence.

The information must pass through a long “kill chain” involving sensors, communications networks and missile systems. Any disruption along that chain could prevent the weapon from successfully engaging its target.

Another concern is the risk of misinterpreting a ballistic missile launch. A conventional missile fired at a distant aircraft could potentially be mistaken for a nuclear strike, creating serious escalation risks during a conflict.

China’s Growing Missile Arsenal

China has substantially expanded its missile forces over the past decade. Pentagon estimates cited by Bloomberg put China’s inventory at at least 3,150 ballistic missiles and 300 ground-launched cruise missiles in 2024.

Compared with 2015, those figures represented increases of 147% and 50%, respectively.

The report also said Chinese missile production appeared to have increased last year at its fastest pace since Xi Jinping became president in 2013.

US Also Pursuing Long-Range Air-To-Air Weapons

The US is developing its own longer-range air-to-air weapons as part of preparations for potential future conflicts. The US developed the AIM-174B from RTX’s SM-6 missile, although its exact range remains classified. The ground-launched SM-6 has a range of at least 250 miles.

The US Navy is also testing the AIM-424 Malice, developed by Raytheon, which reportedly has a range exceeding 300 miles.

Lockheed Martin’s AIM-260 is in production but has yet to enter service. Europe’s MBDA Meteor, meanwhile, uses ramjet propulsion and can reportedly engage targets more than 100 miles away.