What we know about the Chicom hypersonic missile

 Washington Examiner:

China scored a half-win this summer with its somewhat successful test of a hypersonic glide vehicle.

First reported by the Financial Times, the test took place in July or August. It involved a hypersonic, vehicle-laden, intercontinental ballistic missile traveling thousands of miles before the vehicle launched. The vehicle then operated successfully but missed its intended target by around 40 kilometers. China denies the test was military-related, instead claiming it focused on civilian space exploration. A foreign ministry spokesman suggested the test was of "great significance for reducing the cost of spacecraft use."

That's a lie.

Just as Iran's civilian satellite program is a cover for its ballistic missile research, China's space exploration program is often used to conceal hypersonic glide vehicle research. This research has a clear purpose and, as evinced by this test, the prospect of profitable outcome. Namely, China's near-term employment of weapons that can evade detection and interception by U.S. missile defenses. Russia has developed similar hypersonic weapons systems.

What does this mean for the United States?

The first point is not to panic. The U.S. military has a range of hypersonic vehicle programs in various stages of development. One advanced system was successfully tested last month. Even in the unlikely scenario that China and/or Russia achieved short-term hypersonic supremacy, the U.S. would retain deterrent power.

The stealth-survivability of U.S. nuclear ballistic missile submarines and B-2 stealth bombers, which can carry nuclear weapons, would assure deterrence. Ballistic missiles equipped with reentry vehicle-laden warheads are older technology. Still, China and Russia cannot effectively defend against them.

...

Defending against the Chicom missile should be a top priority.  I suspect that this technology is directed toward intimidating Taiwan at this point since does not have the deterrent capabilities of the US to strike back.  The US will go to work on a defense against this system.  It has a way to go get there now.

See, also:


‘We Just Don’t Know’ How to Defend Against Possible Chinese Hypersonic Missile: US Ambassador

For a more pessimistic view. 

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