China Conducted Final Test of Secretive Hypersonic Air-to-Air Missile
China has completed the final test of its highly classified hypersonic air-to-air missile, marking a significant advancement in its military capabilities. This announcement was made public on 19 January 2025. The missile is reportedly designed to engage high-value targets, including advanced stealth aircraft such as the U.S. B-21 Raider bomber. China’s hypersonic air-to-air missiles are built to target U.S. stealth bombers which could revolutionize air combat and shift the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region. These advanced weapons highlight a new era in military technology and strategy.
The China Airborne Missile Academy (CAMA) in Luoyang, Henan province, conducted the development and testing. Scientists working on China’s secretive hypersonic air-to-air missile revealed that the weapon underwent intense heat-resistance tests to meet the strict requirements of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). This process ensures the missile can withstand prolonged exposure to temperatures exceeding 1,200 degrees Celsius, equivalent to flying at Mach 9 for an extended period. The wind tunnel, primarily used for challenging space missions, operates continuously for an hour or more, though its enormous power consumption makes it costly.
Hypersonic air-to-air missiles can travel at speeds over Mach 5 (6,174 km/h (3,836 mph) at sea level), creating new challenges and opportunities in modern air combat. Unlike traditional missiles with ranges of a few hundred kilometers, these advanced weapons can strike targets over 1,000 km away. This extended range and incredible speed allow them to reach targets much faster than subsonic missiles. Their rapid trajectory makes them harder to intercept, leaving enemies with minimal time to react. Unlike conventional missiles, which require complex guidance and longer engagement times, hypersonic missiles significantly reduce the time from launch to impact, making them a game-changing threat for modern air forces.
The development of hypersonic systems is both a technological and economic challenge. These advanced weapons require complex engineering and come with high costs, such as operating sophisticated wind tunnels for testing. Currently, only a few nations, including China, the U.S., and Russia, are making significant investments in this cutting-edge technology. the Chinese hypersonic air-to-air missile marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of modern warfare, setting a new standard for the speed, range, and lethality of air-launched weapons.