China’s hypersonic DF-17 missile threatens regional stability, analyst warns
- With its glider technology and nuclear capability, the medium-range weapon will be able to penetrate US missile shields
China’s development of a hypersonic ballistic missile – capable of reaching well above the speed of sound and penetrating US missile shields – is a threat to stability in the region, a military analyst has warned.
A source from the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) said the DF-17 missile, currently in development, would be capable of hypersonic speeds and delivering a manoeuvrable re-entry vehicle which could shift targets in flight, making it less vulnerable to interception by other countries’ defence systems.
“And the DF-17 will be capable of delivering both nuclear and conventional payloads,” said the source, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the topic.
“There are now two institutions under CASIC that are competing to develop these advanced features,” the source added.
The US intelligence community has assessed that the DF-17 is expected to reach initial operational capability by 2020. In addition to China, the United States and Russia are also developing the hypersonic glider technology behind the Chinese DF-17.
Adam Ni, a military researcher at Macquarie University in Sydney, said the developments in the DF-17 enhanced China’s nuclear deterrence since it would be capable of penetrating existing US missile shields.