China’s Bold Claim: Missiles from Space at Mach 20
In a dramatic development that could change the global military balance, Chinese scientists have announced a new breakthrough in missile technology. According to a report published in the Chinese academic journal Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica, China claims it now has the ability to launch hypersonic missiles directly from space. This announcement suggests that these powerful weapons could reach any point on Earth in just 30 minutes.
These missiles are equipped with something called a Re-entry Glide Vehicle (RGV). This advanced technology allows the missile to fly at speeds up to Mach 20, which is about 13,000 kilometers per hour. The speed of sound is twenty times slower than that. The RGV is designed to survive re-entering Earth’s atmosphere and can glide towards its target while making sharp turns. This further complicates their tracking and defense.
One key feature of these missiles is their flexibility in launch platforms. China’s hypersonic weapons can reportedly be launched from satellites orbiting Earth, as well as ground-based systems. This makes them even more difficult to track or defend against.
Unlike conventional missiles, these hypersonic missiles do not travel in a straight line. Instead, the RGV allows them to change direction suddenly, which confuses enemy defence systems. Also, most radars have difficulty detecting these high-speed missiles. However, scientists say that infrared technology might still be able to track them because they generate a lot of heat while flying.
India’s Operation Sindoor and Growing Capabilities
This announcement by China came shortly after India’s Operation Sindoor, where India reportedly used the BrahMos missile to strike and penetrate Pakistani defence systems. This operation is believed to have showcased India’s growing missile strength.
India has also been working hard to develop its own hypersonic technology. The Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) prototype was successfully tested by India’s Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in 2020. This test was seen as a major step forward for India in the hypersonic race.
India most recently successfully tested a long-range hypersonic missile from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha in November 2024. This missile was also developed by DRDO and can carry different types of payloads—which means it can carry either explosives or special equipment—for distances of over 1,500 kilometers.
Additionally, India is developing the BrahMos-2, a new variant of the BrahMos missile. This will be even faster and could help India keep up with other countries in hypersonic technology.
Even though India already has powerful air defence systems like the S-400 and Prithvi, hypersonic missiles are much harder to stop. That’s because they move very fast and can change direction mid-flight, unlike regular missiles.
Global Race for Hypersonic Weapons
Right now, Russia and China are seen as the leaders in hypersonic missile technology. Russia has already tested and used missiles like the Avangard and Kinzhal, which travel at extremely high speeds and are hard to intercept. China’s latest claim, if true, puts it at the front of this high-speed arms race.
The United States and the United Kingdom are not far behind. They are collaborating on a demonstration for hypersonic cruise missiles. According to reports, they have already completed over 200 tests, and hope to finish the full system by the year 2030.
Many other countries are also joining this race. Nations like France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Iran, and Israel are actively working on their own hypersonic missile programs. These weapons are becoming a new standard in modern warfare because of how fast and flexible they are.
A basic hypersonic missile can travel five times the speed of sound, or Mach 5, which is approximately 6,100 kilometers per hour. Some advanced models can even travel faster than Mach 15. These missiles can carry regular explosives or nuclear warheads, making them a serious threat if used in conflict.
Countries are spending billions on research and testing to perfect these technologies. Some tests are done on land, while others are conducted in the air or in space. The goal is to build missiles that are not only fast but also smart enough to dodge enemy defences.
As the world watches closely, the growing number of hypersonic missile programs adds new tension to the international security landscape. With these weapons being so fast and hard to stop, countries are now rethinking their military strategies and defence systems to prepare for this new kind of threat.