No longer safe at the rear? How China's hypersonic weapons could hunt US aircraft
China has reportedly developed hypersonic glide vehicles capable of launching air-to-air missiles, potentially threatening high-value US support aircraft from long distances. This advancement complicates US military strategy by putting previously 'safe' command and surveillance assets at risk.
Why it matters
The development represents a significant shift in military technology that could alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region.
China has developed hypersonic glide vehicles that can launch air-to-air missiles, a new capability that could threaten high-value US aircraft such as command-and-control and surveillance planes from thousands of miles away, according to Bloomberg.The development is part of China’s wider effort to expand the use of its huge missile arsenal for different military missions. A person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that China has also added air-to-air capabilities to some hypersonic cruise missiles and anti-ship capabilities to several other missile types.Hypersonic weapons could target support aircraftUS military aircraft such as aerial tankers, airborne warning-and-control planes and flying command posts are designed to stay away from the main battlefield.
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