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New Delhi: Here, we will try to explain an “unpowered hypersonic boost-glide weapon” which is said to be a new Chinese military hardware concept. A boost-glide vehicle or hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) is a type of warhead for ballistic missiles that can manoeuver and glide at hypersonic speed. The in-flight manoeuvrability of HGVs makes them unpredictable, allowing them to effectively evade air defenses.
China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, the biannual aerospace trade expo held in Zhuhai, Guangdong is going on (November 12 to November 17) and China revealed its novel idea for an unpowered hypersonic boost-glide weapon, the GDF-600.
The GDF-600 is said to be envisaged and devised by the Guangdong Aerodynamic Research Academy (GARA), at the Zhuhai Airshow. The GDF-600 hypersonic vehicle can reach speeds up to Mach 7 and ranges between 200 and 600 kilometers. It is capable of carrying various submunitions, including supersonic missiles, drones, and loitering munitions.
A report by The War Zone says that the GDF-600’s ability to release these payloads mid-flight enhances its operational versatility, allowing it to conduct kinetic strikes, electronic warfare (EW), and reconnaissance across multiple targets.
The report underscores China’s continued investment in hypersonic technology, contrasting with the US military’s struggles with similar systems, as quoted by The War Zone.
A model of the GDF-600 and some of its payloads are a part of the Zhuhai Airshow. According to the website asiatimes.com, this new hypersonic weapon could black out the United States adding that the GDF-600 could redefine warfare with its fast, multi-target strike and electronic attack capabilities.
“The wedge-shaped GDF-600 can be launched with a total weight of up to around 11,000 pounds (5,000 kilograms), including a payload of submunitions weighing up to 2,645.5 pounds (1,200 kilograms), according to information at GARA’s booth at Zhuhai. The vehicle is said to be able to reach a peak speed of Mach 7 and have a maximum range of between approximately 124 and 370 miles (200 and 600 kilometers). Hypersonic speed is typically defined as anything above Mach 5,” reports www.twz.com.
Their combination of speed and maneuverability creates significant complications for defenders, including reducing the total amount of time available to react at all, let alone attempt an intercept, adds The War Zone.
Apart from this system, China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force has introduced its fifth-generation new fighter jet J-35A to the world at the country’s Zhuhai Airshow which is said to be the Chinese counterpart to America’s F-35.
China’s military claims that the J-35A fighter jet is equipped with stealth technology and it cannot be tracked by any radar systems.
The debut of China’s latest aircraft carrier-based fighter jet, the J-15D has also caused a lot of excitement as well as consternation.
The introduction of the new model of China’s much anticipated CH-7 stealth drone has forced the world, especially the USA and NATO to take a serious look at the evolving technological prowess of the Asian giant as the Dragon has not only enhanced its size significantly at the global stage but is also breathing fire in the field of modern warfare.
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