Modern warfare is no longer limited to just tanks and fighter jets. With the pace of technology, the nature of weapons is also changing rapidly. In this series, Chinese scientists are working on a weapon which may seem simple, but due to its effect, the entire strategy of air war can change. Chinese engineers have designed a weapon that is extremely small, but can destroy enemy aircraft at hypersonic speed. This specialty of this weapon has given military experts all over the world sleepless nights. Initial information indicates that this technology could pose a major challenge to existing air defense systems.
What is this new hypersonic missile technology?
According to South China Morning Post, Chinese scientists and engineers are developing ultra-mini hypersonic glide missiles. The biggest feature of these missiles is that they do not require a conventional big launcher. These can only be fired from 80 mm anti-aircraft guns, which are usually used for shelling. After firing, this missile can reach the speed of Mach 6, i.e. about six times faster than the speed of sound. Due to its high speed, it is considered more effective than traditional anti-aircraft shells.
Where and whom can this missile target?
According to the information, this missile can target fighter jets or drones flying at an altitude of about 32,800 feet from a distance of more than 20 kilometers. This means that this weapon can prove to be effective even within the radius where enemy air platforms fly assuming a safe distance.
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The enemy doesn’t get a chance to react
The speed and small size of this missile makes it even more dangerous. This missile is not visible to any enemy aircraft until it reaches a distance of just 3 kilometers. In this situation the pilot has only a few seconds to react. Even at such a short distance, the missile’s speed remains approximately Mach 3.6, making it extremely unlikely that any kind of countermeasure or defense system would be effective.
Claim of 99 percent lethality
On the basis of computer simulation, it has been claimed that even if the target suddenly takes a sharp turn of about 90 degrees, this hypersonic missile can still hit the target by changing its direction. For this reason, its kill probability i.e. the probability of destroying the target is said to be around 99 percent. Due to this combination of speed and accuracy, it is being considered a very effective weapon for modern warfare.
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How can this small missile change the rules of war?
Experts believe that this technology can bring a big change in military strategy. A typical anti-aircraft gun can fire one every second. If these hypersonic systems are installed in these guns instead of traditional medium and short range air defense missiles, then the entire equation of air war can change. The relatively low cost and mass availability of these missiles also make them an attractive option for future conflicts.
Why did global concern increase?
It is not yet clear when, how and at what level these missiles will be deployed. But it is believed that if this technology becomes widely used, then the existing air defense system will need to be rethought. This is the reason why this initiative of China is no longer just a technical experiment but is becoming a subject of global security debate.
