China unveiled its DF-17 hypersonic missile, alarming the U.S.
China has demonstrated the DF-17 hypersonic ballistic missile, which has been in service for more than a decade and is gradually strengthening the military capabilities of the People's Liberation Army.
Experts note that this missile is considered a serious threat to the United States due to its high speed and ability to overcome modern missile defense systems.
According to analysts, it was suddenly featured for the first time in official Chinese media in June, where it was described as one of China’s most powerful military assets.
Experts believe that this disclosure is a response to military exercises conducted by other countries in the Asia-Pacific region and is intended to warn the U.S. military that these missiles, better known as the DF-17, could inflict significant damage in the event of any war with China.
“The video could be a political signal or a soft deterrent, since the DF-17 is very difficult to defend against, especially for large ground targets. This poses a serious threat to aircraft carriers and other amphibious ships,” said Alexander Huang, chairman of the Council for Strategic Studies and War Games in Taipei.
These medium-range missiles are equipped with a hypersonic gliding body, allowing them to fly at low altitudes in unpredictable directions.
It is also known that the DF-17 missiles have been in existence for at least 12 years and have been in service with the People’s Liberation Army of China since 2019.
“The appearance of information about the DF-17 in Chinese media coincides with the ongoing U.S.-led ‘Rim of the Pacific’ (RIMPAC) 2026 near Hawaii and U.S.-Japan exercises in late June,” Defense News reported.
As Huang noted, the other exercises were intense and rigorous, designed to simulate potential Chinese actions.
"By showcasing the DF-17 missiles after the RIMPAC exercises, China seeks to demonstrate that these missiles are capable of evading interception while simultaneously delivering 'saturation strikes.' This signal is intended to underscore the People’s Liberation Army’s growing confidence in its ability to overcome regional missile defense systems and complicate the operational planning of ‘any military adversaries,’ said Chen Yi-fan, an associate professor in the Department of Diplomacy and International Relations at Tamkang University in Taiwan.
In addition, CGTN reported that the missiles can be launched without fixed launchers and under any weather conditions.
“Coordinated salvo launches significantly increase the effectiveness of strikes and safety on the battlefield, demonstrating China’s achievements in the field of military technology,” the journalists wrote.
Meanwhile, an American think tank describes the DF-17 missiles as 11-meter-long missiles with a range of 1,800 to 2,500 kilometers. According to the think tank, they can carry conventional or nuclear warheads.
“As one of the PLA’s key strategic assets, the DF-17 missile is likely intended for the most critical scenarios, such as foreign military intervention perceived as support for Taiwan’s independence,” Chen said.
This is reported by Defense News.
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