China surprises U.S. with hypersonic missile test

Here&#x27;s the original FT article: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.ft.com&#x2F;content&#x2F;ba0a3cde-719b-4040-93cb-a486e1f843fb" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.ft.com&#x2F;content&#x2F;ba0a3cde-719b-4040-93cb-a486e1f84...</a><p>The surprise isn&#x27;t the development of hypersonic tech, it&#x27;s how this was done and the capabilities. The DF-17 mentioned in comments is a relatively well-known missile, with about 2,000 km of range, and delivers a hypersonic glide vehicle called DF-ZF. What happened here is a Long March orbital rocket put a DF-ZF or secret version into space, it orbited the globe, then essentially launched from space at a ground target.

I’ve seen the content reported here in two other places, both which emphasize a “surprised” aspect.<p>However, the link article includes this statement which (to me) indicates that the surprise, if one truly existed, was the test, not the existence of the missile platform:<p>“At a 2019 parade, China showcased advancing weaponry including its hypersonic missile, known as the DF-17.”

The UCS (Union of Concerned Scientists) has an article stating that, essentially, this development is not that special and is probably just defense hawks (paraphrased) wanting to go off and spend billions more all over the place.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;blog.ucsusa.org&#x2F;elliott-negin&#x2F;calling-out-the-hype-over-hypersonic-weapons&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;blog.ucsusa.org&#x2F;elliott-negin&#x2F;calling-out-the-hype-o...</a><p>Also, an anecdote, there&#x27;s been a lot of articles recommended to me over the past few days about both Russian and Chinese hypersonic missles, so I wouldn&#x27;t doubt that this is literally a defense hawk doing some shady advertising, as others have mentioned.

Maybe I&#x27;m a fool, but what is the point in things like this anymore, like post nuclear do fancy missiles really make that much difference, as in if china for whatever reason sent a hypersonic missile at the US and blew up a city, couldnt the US just do the same in return but slower? I guess I&#x27;m asking why is there investment in stuff like this when we know we have far more powerful things already.

China is clearly setting up the path to Taiwan invasion, these weapons serving as a deterrent to USA.

Is it publicly known if US is already working on this capability? Is it a kind of like the Boeing X37-B was able to launch a hypersonic missile with nuclear head?

&gt;The missile missed its target by about two-dozen miles<p>Article itself rehash of FT article, pretty vague and clumbsy with technical details. Somewhat related from a couple days ago:<p>&gt;China military researchers pinpoint AI for hypersonic weapons accuracy [0]<p>...<p>&gt;PLA scientists say artificial intelligence could write flight algorithm within seconds and be 10 times more accurate<p>...<p>&gt;Their study showed an AI-based system could keep a hypersonic weapon on course with an accuracy of about 10 metres (32 feet).<p>...<p>&gt;The researchers said physical disturbances to the sensors were inevitable during their assembly, transport and routine maintenance. And each time the weapon is powered up, it affects the hardware, causing further deviations from the factory settings.<p>...<p>&gt;Using their method, the AI would start work immediately after launch, before the weapon reached hypervelocity, to calculate its position using the signal from the GPS or BeiDou – China’s navigational positioning system – and compare it with the results generated by the on-board sensors to evaluate the actual condition of the hardware.<p>[0] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.scmp.com&#x2F;news&#x2F;china&#x2F;military&#x2F;article&#x2F;3152179&#x2F;china-military-researchers-pinpoint-ai-hypersonic-weapons" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.scmp.com&#x2F;news&#x2F;china&#x2F;military&#x2F;article&#x2F;3152179&#x2F;chi...</a><p>PRC building up nuclear capabilities because PRC minimum deterance posture is being unbalanced by US rolling out missile defense. Also ties back to Joint Chiefs of Staff Milley trying to calm PRC down over worries that Trump might start war from last month. Ergo all the new Chinese silo contruction and testing of fractional orbital bombardment. IMO the AI article on improving accuracy is also massive. Outlines a future where PRC has ICBMs with 10M accuracy (CEP?) and can do precision conventional strikes on US assets (think carriers in port).

The question is why China feels the need to do this.<p>The acknowledged superpowers are China, Russia, and the United States. The prior were in agony in World War II, and action by the latter was instrumental in their preservation. For this, I feel some measure of satisfaction with my country, for defending our true allies in that conflict.<p>I remember massive armament and food shipments to Stalin, and U.S. bombers flying out of China.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;history.army.mil&#x2F;brochures&#x2F;72-38&#x2F;72-38.HTM" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;history.army.mil&#x2F;brochures&#x2F;72-38&#x2F;72-38.HTM</a><p>All three tacitly agree upon sovereignty and borders, with a few minor differences (we could mention Taiwan, the Crimea, and perhaps Cuba).<p>Minus these, I believe that the three can and should enter agreements for the mutual defense of their borders, as we have done before in times of dire need, and may do again.<p>None should tolerate the invasion of any. If this question were completely resolved, perhaps this particular &quot;cross of iron&quot; would not be necessary.