China’s Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) is a next-generation warhead used in ballistic missiles, capable of achieving extreme speeds during re-entry from space. Chinese researchers are adapting this technology to develop re-entry missiles that can reach speeds up to Mach 20.
China Is Taking Missiles To The Next Level With Their Hypersonic Glide Vehicle Technology
Various countries around the world are investing heavily towards the development of air defence systems that can detect missiles from a distance. These systems come with defensive measures that help them neutralise these missiles midair, but you might wonder how these systems will handle missiles travelling at hypersonic speed.
One such missile, the re-entry glide vehicle, could potentially outpace modern air defence systems; a run for their money are the Chinese re-entry glide missiles. Using HGV technology, these missiles can travel at Mach 20 and strike targets from space in under 30 minutes.
Last month, new details on the developing missile system were published in the Chinese academic journal Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica. From this journal, we learn that some of these re-entry glide missiles can travel faster than the response time of some early-warning systems.
These missiles can be launched from space via satellites carrying the necessary launch equipment. Also, the missiles can be deployed from various ground launch systems and diverse platforms.
Such missile technology in the arms of the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force might raise concerns globally. This might move other countries to look into upgrading their air-defence systems to be able to detect the Chinese re-entry glide missiles.
Experts Identify Some Shortcomings of The Chinese Re-entry Glide Missions
As China showcases its space-launched missile capability, some experts are looking into its performance. These researchers have been able to identify some of the areas where this new missile might face some shortcomings in its overall performance.
The research on the performance of this new missile was conducted by the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force of China. Leading the research was Professor Guo Yang, and it reveals that the new missile’s infrared signature might hinder its performance.
Guo Yang’s team notes that the infrared signature may make the missile more detectable during its descent. Other issues that the research points out are manoeuvrability limitations and restrictions in its communication bandwidth during the terminal phase.
Chinese scientists are now racing to fix these shortcomings, hence ensuring that this hypersonic re-entry glide missile stays ahead of the advancement in air-defence systems. In the coming years, Chinese scientists aim to refine the system to overcome its vulnerabilities and maintain a strategic edge.
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