China develops hypersonic glide vehicles that can target aircraft thousands of miles away; must nations worry?

China has developed hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) capable of launching air-to-air weapons, an advancement that could allow its military to target high-value aircraft such as airborne command-and-control platforms from thousands of miles away.

According to a report in Bloomberg, the development is part of a broader Chinese effort to expand the roles of its missile arsenal, which the Pentagon estimated included at least 3,150 ballistic missiles and 300 ground-launched cruise missiles as of 2024.

According to a person with direct knowledge of the matter who told the news site, China has also added air-to-air capabilities to some hypersonic cruise missiles and anti-ship capabilities to several missile types.

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Is it a concern for the US?

The new capability could pose a serious threat to US air operations in a conflict with China. Tankers, airborne warning-and-control aircraft and flying command posts such as the E-4B Nightwatch are designed to operate away from combat zones but could become targets.

An HGV launched from a DF-17 missile could travel about 1,500 miles, putting it within range of Guam, a major US military site. The DF-27 has a maximum range of about 5,000 miles, bringing Hawaii within its reach.

HGVs can maneuver through the atmosphere while travelling towards their targets, extending their range and making interception more difficult. No other country is known to operate a weapon combining an HGV with air-to-air missiles.

The US Air Force’s China Aerospace Studies Institute said China’s missile modernisation increasingly focuses on inflicting coordinated damage across an adversary’s military architecture.

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However, the technology also has limitations. Using a ballistic missile to attack a distant aircraft is costly, difficult and risky. A missile travelling for 20 minutes or more at maximum range requires highly precise targeting information, while the long chain connecting distant sensors to the missile can be disrupted.

There is also a risk that ballistic missile launches could be mistaken for a nuclear attack, potentially triggering an unintended escalation.

Must India worry?

China's expanding missile capabilities are also relevant to India, particularly as long-range air-to-air weapons become increasingly important in future conflicts. China’s PL-15 air-to-air missile was used in last year’s brief India-Pakistan conflict, with Pakistan saying it employed the weapon to shoot down several Indian aircraft.

China's broader missile arsenal has expanded significantly since 2015, with ballistic missiles increasing by 147% and ground-launched cruise missiles by 50%, according to Pentagon estimates.

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