Better Hypersonic Glide Vehicle Makes China Leader of Weapon Development

hypersonic glide vehicle

In the past, the US was the leader of weapon development, while China had to make great efforts to develop asymmetrical advantage to counter US military superiority. However, due to lack of funds and technology, such asymmetrical weapons merely managed to resist US superiority, but could by no means be regarded as superior to US one to constitute a threat to the US.

However, now it seems to be America’s turn to develop weapons to counter China’s growing superiority.

A clear sign of that is China’s successful test of a Mach 10 hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) in January. Unlike its usual practice in the past, Chinese Defense Ministry did not remain silent to keep it confidential but responded on January 15 to US media’s sensational reports on the threat such weapon constitutes to the US, pointing out that it is normal that China conducted the scientific test within its territories according to its plan and the test was not directed at any country or specific target.

Pantagon has been worried by the test and urgently wanted to catch up. It admits that China’s HGV is advanced. It is aware of Russian efforts in developing HGV but believes Russia lags behind China.

US navy believes that China develops HGV for its anti-ship missiles as even the best anti-missile system provides no defense against hypersonic missiles. That is nothing compared with ICBM or SLBM equipped with HGV nuclear warheads.

Now, the Chinese HGV has the speed of Mach 10, but the third test of American HGV X-51 last year, though successful, only achieved a speed quicker than Mach 5.

There is the worry that if China’s DF-26 aircraft carrier killer missile uses HGV warhead, US aircraft carriers will be in trouble within the range of such missile.

Previously, high Pantagon officials said that in spite of the reduction of US military budget, US development of HGVs have not been affected, but now they have asked Congress for more funds.

Sharing the worry, US congress allocated $70.5 million for development of HGV next year. It proves that the key issue remains that US military has limited budget while its Chinese counterpart has unlimited budget.

HGV is top priority as US experts believe mastery of the weapon will enable a country to dominate the world. Moreover, China is determined to surpass the US in its arms race with the US to resist US bully over the South China Sea issue. Chinese President Xi Jinping said, “lagging behind leaves one vulnerable to attacks and only development makes a nation strong.” He wants Chinese people to share his Chinese dream including the dream to make China militarily powerful.

To plant his Chinese dream deeper in Chinese people’s minds, Chinese government spent six months to make a five-episode TV series on Chinese dream and has just finished showing one episode a day as Chinese Official TV’s prime time program.

Xi Jinping wants to use his Chinese dream to overcome corruption, officials’ despotism, luxurious life style and bureaucratism and deepen China’s reform. The resistance from vested interests seems insurmountable. However, like Jiang Zemin, he is helped by the United States.

In my book “Tiananmen’s Tremendous Achievements”, I point out that US victory in Gulf War helped Jiang Zemin take control of Chinese military as the victory caused panic in Chinese military so that it provided Jiang with the opportunity to display his talents in modernizing Chinese troops and establishing his control in the course of modernization.

Now, by interfering with China’s territorial disputes at the South China Sea, the United States helps Xi Jinping to rally all Chinese people including diehard conservatives around him to support his anti-corruption and mass-line campaigns and thorough reform.

Previously, large conservative faction, though had lost its charismatic leader Bo Xilai, remained a powerful opponent to Xi Jinping especially his thorough reform. However, they had the desire to make China surpass the US militarily. They supported Xi’s struggles against corruption and official despotism and luxurious life style but strongly oppose Xi’s thorough reform.

US interference has enhanced their desire to make China militarily powerful. That makes it easier for them to accept Xi Jiping’s reform aiming at making China economically strong and thus have the resources to surpass US militarily.

Contrary to US intention, US efforts to contain China help China to grow more powerful.

In this respect, the US is its own enemy.

If Xi succeeds in his struggles and reform, he will make the US lag behind China in the most important technology.

Due to lack of funds, instead of creating its advanced weapons to force China to make efforts in respond to US efforts, the US has to watch what China has been developing over the past year and make corresponding amendments. The US has adjusted four major plans on its equipment and technology including littoral combat ship, Virginia class nuclear submarine, DDG1000 destroyer and long-range attack bomber.

US original plan was to build 50 littoral combat ships, but has now reduced the number to 32 and its navy is discussing the type of warship to replace such warships. It wants the replacement warship to have air-defense missiles and small Aegis radar.

The US suddenly wants to spend $18 billion in building 10 Virginia class nuclear submarines within a short period of time. It previously wanted to use DDG1000 destroyer as its major warships but now only wants to build 3 of them.

Another urgent project is to spend $11.4 billion in developing and building new unmanned bombers fully stealth with subsonic speed, loading capacity between 6.4 and 12.8 tons and a range not less than 3,200 km. The bomber has to be commissioned in 2018.

Littoral and DDG1000 plans are reduced because of major problems in drafting the plans that made the weapons not satisfactory due to changed situation. The submarines and bombers, especially the bombers, are made to make up for shortages. That is why they are wanted so urgently.

Sources: China News Service “Worried by China’s hypersonic weapons, the US counters by spending $70 million in developing new missiles” and xinhuanet “Mistakes in US assessment of China’s military strength causing adjustment of four major weapon plans” (summary by Chan Kai Yee based on the reports in Chinese)

Related posts:

• China First Vibration Test in Hypersonic Wind Tunnel, Vital for Hypersonic Weapons dated March 20, 2014
• China Developing DF-26 Aircraft Carrier Killer Missile with Hypersonic Warhead dated January 30, 2014
• China challenging U.S. military technological edge: Pentagon official dated January 29, 2014
• China’s 12 Advanced Weapons to Be Turned out or Developed in 2014 dated January 24, 2014
• China Tests Mach 10 Hypersonic Weapon: US media dated January 14, 2014
• Arms Race between China and America dated March 5, 2012