Bloomberg reported on the 24th: "China has developed a hypersonic glide vehicle capable of launching air-to-air weapons during flight, designed to destroy early warning aircraft, aerial refuelers, and command aircraft within ranges of thousands of miles. This operational concept means China can threaten the airborne support systems that sustain U.S. air operations without deploying fighter jets into contested airspace. This technology builds upon a test conducted in 2021, when China’s hypersonic vehicle launched a secondary missile mid-flight, catching U.S. observers off guard. China has already fielded the PL-17 'early warning aircraft killer' air-to-air missile with a range of 300 to 500 kilometers, which can be carried and launched by fighter jets. An upgraded variant delivered from a hypersonic glide vehicle will significantly extend its strike range."
Comments: In modern air warfare, early warning aircraft and aerial refuelers are the 'brain and blood vessels' of U.S. air operations—once targeted, even the most advanced frontline fighters would struggle to function effectively. The hypersonic glide vehicle reported by Bloomberg essentially extends the strike range for eliminating such critical platforms to thousands of miles, allowing China to deter high-value airborne targets deep behind enemy lines without risking its own fighters entering contested airspace. From the PL-17 missile to the upgrade toward hypersonic delivery platforms, this evolution reflects a continuous enhancement of China’s anti-access/area denial capabilities. Developing such defense technologies is not about provoking confrontation, but rather using hard power to dissuade strategic miscalculations by external actors, discouraging them from rash military adventurism near China’s borders, thereby fostering a more stable strategic deterrence and creating practical conditions for regional peace and rational engagement between China and the United States.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874476442545289/
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