In pursuit of hypersound: what weapons did China demonstrate at a military parade

At the parade in honor of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) introduced new weapons. In particular, the audience was shown ballistic missiles JL-2 "Juilan-2", which are deployed in submarines, and the intercontinental ballistic missile DF-41. But of particular interest to those present was the medium-range ballistic missile DF-17.

This novelty of the Chinese military-industrial complex can change the flight path and carry a hypersonic flying vehicle (glider) moving at a speed that significantly exceeds the speed of sound in the atmosphere, reports the Global Times CPC Central Committee. DF-17 is a “most recently developed type of missile” and belongs to the category of hypersonic weapons. Intercepting it using existing air defense systems is almost impossible, writes the Global Times.

"Missile and quantum technology specialist Yang Chengjun said that she will play a key role in ensuring the territorial integrity of China, as regions such as the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait and Northeast Asia are within its reach," notes edition.

The fact that China is conducting this kind of development has been known for a long time. Back in December 2017, the American publication The Diplomat, citing U.S. intelligence data, reported that the People's Liberation Army of China tested a new ballistic missile equipped with a hypersonic glider. According to journalists, the tests allegedly took place on November 1 and 15.

As The Diplomat reported, the DF-17 is capable of traveling a distance of 1.8 thousand to 2.5 thousand km. However, official confirmation of this information from the authorities of the PRC has not been received. At the current parade, the DF-17 rocket was first shown publicly.

The second after Russia

If the information about the new missile spread by the Chinese authorities is correct, the PRC has become the second country in the world after Russia with hypersonic weapons.

Last year, the Russian military completely completed the flight test program for the Avangard hypersonic missile system. The test launch was made on December 26 from the Dombarovsky position area in the Orenburg region. Having overcome about 6 thousand km, the combat unit maneuvered at hypersonic speed and hit the target at the Kura training ground in the Kamchatka Territory.

• Chinese army soldiers
• Reuters
• © Jason Lee

The lag behind Russia and China in the development of hypersonic weapons is of concern to the US military. In early March 2019, Raytheon Corporation announced a contract with the Department of Advanced Research Projects of the US Department of Defense (DARPA) in the amount of $ 63.3 million for the development of the Tactical Boost Glide program (Tactical Acceleration - Planning. - RT ). The program provides for the creation of a missile system with a hypersonic planning warhead. However, at the end of July, the corporation only announced that it had completed an analysis of design decisions.

And in September, the US Congressional Research Service presented a report stating that the Pentagon has no approved hypersonic weapons development programs yet.

If China really received hypersonic weapons, this is of great political importance for the country, especially in the context of its relations with the United States, experts say.

“For many American politicians, the presence of hypersonic missiles among the Chinese will be an occasion to speculate whether the PRC poses a threat to America or not. The potential Chinese threat, in turn, will justify the sanctions that the US is currently applying against China, ”said Alexei Maslov, head of the HSE School of Oriental Studies, in an interview with RT.

The expert notes that in the issue of possession of hypersonic weapons, China "has its own truth." According to him, the PRC today is extremely important to show that the country is able and able to protect itself. At the same time, Maslov is confident that China will not use the threat of hypersonic weapons in resolving trade disputes with the United States.

“China is being balanced. Official Beijing clearly distinguishes between military threats and economic relations and believes that any non-military issues should be resolved diplomatically. China shows that any military threat around the territory of China will find a worthy answer, but no more, ”Maslov believes.

Corresponding Member of the Academy of Military Sciences, Americanist Sergei Sudakov, in an interview with RT, suggested that the fact of owning hypersonic weapons is important to China.

"The PRC has shown the DF-17 rocket to demonstrate its strength to the United States, so that Washington will more politely negotiate with Beijing," the expert said.

Confirmation Needed

At the same time, experts advise not to rush to conclusions that China actually had hypersonic weapons, only on the basis of the samples demonstrated at the parade.

• Rocket in flight
• Gettyimages.ru
• © shutterjack

According to Sergei Sudakov, there is no official evidence that the DF-17 has ever been tested.

“It often happens that the declared characteristics are very different from the real ones,” the expert explained.

In his opinion, it cannot be ruled out that an ordinary ballistic missile with an updated engine was demonstrated at the parade. In addition, Sudakov emphasizes that creating hypersonic weapons and being able to use them effectively is not the same thing.

“The problem is not to create a rocket that flies very fast. After all, it is necessary to bring it to the goal, and for this we need our own satellite constellation, ”the expert says. “Russia has such a grouping, but whether China is able to create it is an open question.”

“So far, the PRC does not have a reliable network of satellites that would allow a hypersonic missile to be launched. Of course, it can be created, although it is more than doubtful that it will be able to surpass the network that Russia has, ”Sudakov believes.

According to Alexei Maslov, China now has to confirm that the country really received hypersonic weapons.

“If there are confirmations, this will change a lot. China will be the first Asian power with such weapons, and will stand in one row in its military power with the United States and Russia. Then the voice of China on a number of issues will sound much more solid, ”Maslov concludes.