China’s Hypersonic Missiles Present Huge Risks to the U.S. Navy, but the U.S. is Firing Back

Related Video Above: Defending Against Hypersonics: Rob Nelson, Roundtable and Kris Osborn, Warrior Maven discuss 

By Kris Osborn – President & Editor-In-Chief, Warrior Maven

China’s now operational DF-17 hypersonic missile was specifically developed to destroy “foreign military bases and fleets in the Western Pacific.” according to DoD’s 2021 report on the People’s Liberation Army.

“In 2020, a PRC based military expert described the primary purpose of the DF-17 as striking foreign military bases and fleets in the Western Pacific,” DoD’s 2021 Report on Military and Security Developments involving the People’s Republic of China, states.

DF-17 Hypersonic Missiles 

The DF-17 missiles are slated to replace some of China’s older Short Range Ballistic Missiles with high-speed, maneuverable and extremely lethal Hypersonic Glide Vehicles. 

One interesting question of great relevance to this would relate to how far along China may be when it comes to engineering a hypersonic missile to hit maneuvering targets? 

Details of the DF-17 are likely tough to come by, yet an ability to track, target and then adjust course to destroy moving targets on land or at sea introduces a very serious risk to the U.S. Navy.