China builds world's largest air-launched missile

China builds world's largest air-launched missile

The world's major powers are developing new hypersonic anti-ship missiles. These anti-ship missiles are different from ordinary sub/supersonic missiles and have a powerful anti-ship capability. China, the United States and Russia are the only three major powers developing new anti-ship missiles. Among them, China and Russia are at the forefront of this technology in the world. Russia will deploy "Zircon" hypersonic missiles on warships and submarines. In addition, Russia has developed an air-launched hypersonic missile, the Dagger. This missile can be carried by Russian MiG-31 fighters and Tu series strategic bombers. With a range of up to 1,000 kilometers and a speed of up to Mach 9, it can effectively strike U.S. carrier battle groups outside the defense zone.

China's hypersonic anti-ship missile technology is on par with Russia's, if not slightly better. The Chinese navy is also equipped with new shipboard hypersonic anti-ship missiles, which can be carried and launched by the 055 and 052D. The range is said to be over 1,500 kilometers. It is the most threatening weapon to the Chinese navy after the shipborne air force. The new air-launched missile developed by China has completely surpassed the Russian Dagger in terms of performance. According to U.S. media reports, this is the world's largest air-launched missile weapon equipped by the world's air force.

U.S. media outlet NAVANEWS reported in detail on China's air-launched hypersonic missiles. The weapon carried by the H-6 is the CH-AS-X-13.Information about the missile was first published on Chinese social media sites in 2018, revealing images of a Boom 6K strategic bomber equipped with the CH-AS-X-13.

Experts believe this is China's new generation of air-launched anti-ship hypersonic missiles. Unlike the Dagger, which can be carried by Russian fighter jets, the CH-AS-X-13 missile is so large that it can only be carried in the belly of a Boom 6K strategic bomber. Moreover, a bomber can only carry a maximum of one CH-AS-X-13 hypersonic missile. From this point of view, this missile is specially developed for American aircraft carriers. This is because, according to common sense, an average-sized anti-ship missile that a fighter jet can carry can cause significant damage to the Navy's conventional warships. And the CH-AS-X-13 hypersonic missile that appeared this time is estimated to be equivalent to a full anti-ship missile just by the size of its warhead warhead. A warhead of that weight is not meant for a destroyer or cruiser, and is clearly overpowered.

From the look of the missile, the CH-AS-X-13 hypersonic missile carries a hypersonic glider vehicle warhead (HGV). This warhead has unparalleled breakout capability, utilizing a glide trajectory through the atmosphere to attack enemy targets. It is not a traditional predictable parabolic attack, which makes it difficult for the U.S. Navy's Standard 3 anti-missile missile to intercept. The missile looks a bit like the Rocket Force's Dongfeng 17 hypersonic missile, but for some reason, the U.S. media believe that the CH-AS-X-13 is inextricably linked to the Dongfeng 21D anti-ship ballistic missile. However, domestic military sales experts analyzed that CH-AS-X-13 should be an air-launched missile of the PLA Rocket Force's Dongfeng 17, but much smaller than the original Dongfeng 17, and with a different rocket engine model.

Mainly in consideration of the bomber's carrying capacity, the missile has been reduced in weight accordingly. The U.S. media believe that due to the air-launching method and the inclusion of a glide warhead, the missile should have a range of about 3,600 kilometers, which is equivalent to the range of a medium-range ballistic missile.

With the Boom 6K carrying this missile, its operational range increases to about 7,000 kilometers. This distance can completely cover the US naval and air bases in the second island chain. For refueling operations, its combat radius can be increased to more than 9,000 kilometers. In other words, China can carry out precision airstrikes against the three major island chains created by the United States. Several different types of weapons will cover long, medium and near carrier ranges up to 8,000 kilometers. In other words, in the entire Western Pacific, US carriers become unsafe.

So, according to U.S. experts, the U.S. military now needs to consider how to effectively defend itself against these types of carrier-targeted missiles in the future, and the clear message of China's increased military confidence is a top priority for the United States.