Chinese hypersonic program. How much should the US worry?
Solving current military and political tasks, China has so far built quite numerous and powerful strategic missile forces. In the foreseeable future, they are planned to be strengthened, including through fundamentally new systems. To this end, the development of promising strike systems, including hypersonic war blocks, is underway.
Possible appearance of the product DF-ZF
The hypersonic program is of particular importance for national security, and therefore Beijing is in no hurry to publish all the details of such work. Most of the information about promising projects is not subject to disclosure. However, official Chinese sources from time to time talk about certain events. In this case, the bulk News about Chinese hypersound comes from third countries - through intelligence, etc.
Thanks to foreign sources, it is known that China is engaged in the development of hypersonic weaponsat least since the beginning of the last decade. A number of scientific organizations had to spend a lot of research, and then started the development of experimental equipment of one of two known types.
The first tests of the hypersonic device of the Chinese development took place in 2014. To date, about a dozen launches have been completed, some of which ended in success. As far as is known, development work is still ongoing, and practically applicable results will appear only in the future. The adoption of the first of the new complexes is expected no earlier than 2020.
At the moment it is known about the existence of two projects of hypersonic weapons, which have reached the testing stage. It cannot be ruled out that other promising designs are being created in an atmosphere of secrecy.
At the beginning of 2014, it became aware of a recent flight test of a promising hypersonic aircraft. Initially, this development was referred to as WU-14, and later the designation DF-ZF appeared. Information about the tests, which appeared in the foreign press, received official confirmation from the Chinese side. However, Beijing claimed that the new project was being created for scientific and not for military purposes.
In the period from 2014 to 2018, Chinese experts conducted at least seven test launches of WU-14 / DF-ZF. The launches were carried out from the Taiyuan space center, followed by a flight along a safe route. It was argued that all tests ended in success and without accidents. Last year, foreign media reported on several new launches, during which other configurations of the aircraft were tested.
Accurate technical data are not yet available, but plausible versions and evaluations have long appeared in foreign sources. It is assumed that the DF-ZF is a planning hypersonic warhead, accelerated to working speeds with the help of a launch vehicle. Maximum flight speed exceeds M = 5. The approximate range is unknown. A warhead can carry a conventional or nuclear warhead, or hit a target with kinetic energy.
Recently, more bold estimates of flight speed have appeared, based on the available data. Not so long ago, China developed a new ceramic composite that can withstand temperatures up to 3000 ° C for an extended period of time and is suitable for use on aircraft. Chinese scientists argue that such a skin allows you to bring the flight speed to M = 20.
Preparations for the launch of the rocket with the device "Shinkun-2"
According to various estimates, the DF-ZF product will be part of a combat missile system based on one of the existing ballistic missiles. In particular, the DF-31 MBR can be the carrier of such a combat unit. Its characteristics are sufficient to accelerate the payload to hypersonic speeds, the firing range of such a complex will be comparable to the characteristics of the DF-31 in the basic configuration. The system in the form of DF-31 and DF-ZF will solve strategic problems and will become a kind of addition to the “traditional” ICBM or BRSD.
It is also suggested that the use of DF-ZF as an anti-ship weapon. Such a combat unit can be used to defeat individual ships or ship formations. However, such a use of a hypersonic unit is associated with certain difficulties, and the assumption of such a role for DF-ZF / WU-14 may be incorrect.
Information about the success of several test launches led to the assumption of the imminent launch of DF-ZF into service. This may happen in the coming years. Most likely, it will be a strategic missile system with a planning warhead.
In August last year, the first reports about the Sinkun-2 project (Starry Sky-2), developed by the Chinese Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, appeared. This project provides for the creation of a planning hypersonic apparatus capable of working as a percussion instrument. It is noteworthy that the very first news about the Sinkun-2 project spoke about a successful test flight.
A new type of glider made a flight using a launch vehicle. She dispersed him to the desired speed and brought to a predetermined height. It is reported that the "Sinkun-2" rose to an altitude of 30 km, where he performed several maneuvers. Then the product went down and landed in a given area of the landfill. The flight lasted only 10 minutes, but during this time the prototype has completed all the tasks. Information about the new flights of "Starry sky" has not yet appeared.
According to known data, the product "Synkun-2" is built using the concept of a waverider - during a hypersonic flight it creates a shock wave and "slides" along its edge, which allows optimizing various processes and obtaining a certain increase in characteristics. The possibility of equipping the device with a nuclear warhead is mentioned. The scope of its application has not yet been clarified.
At the moment, only one test run of the Shinkun-2 system is known. Obviously, for the further development and refinement of such weapons, new launches are required, which will take some time. Thus, the introduction of a new complex in the army is a matter of the distant future. One can only guess when the "Sinkun-2" to go into service - of course, if it is not abandoned.
By developing its own hypersonic shock systems, China seeks to reduce the backlog of the leading world powers. Similar weapons are already being created by other countries, and Beijing is forced to take measures in order not to be at a disadvantage. As follows from the available data, in the field of hypersonic technologies, at least two new projects are being developed.
Possible appearance of the product "Sinkun-2"
The real results of the DF-ZF and Shinkun-2 projects in the form of rearmament of the rocket troops will appear no earlier than the beginning of the twenties. Full-scale exploitation of such weapons, respectively, refers to an even more distant period. Nevertheless, in the end, the Chinese army will still receive promising weapons and increase its strike potential.
The reasons for China’s interest in hypersonic weapons are obvious. Hypersonic planning units or cruise missiles have a number of characteristic advantages that make them a convenient and effective weapon. High flight speed and maneuverability reduce the permissible response time of the air defense and missile defense, and thus make it difficult to intercept. Due to this, aircraft with a speed of more than M = 5 are currently capable of breaking through the existing defense systems and hitting target targets.
Weapons of this kind are being developed in several countries. The Russian Avangard complex has been tested and will soon take up combat duty. The appearance of serial Zircon missiles is expected. Similar systems are being developed in the USA; other countries are also interested in this topic.
China does not want to stand aside, which has already led to at least two promising projects. At least one of the new models in the near future may reach the troops and affect the combat capability of the army. The emergence of hypersonic weapons in China worries third countries, primarily the United States, and should lead to certain consequences. It is possible that the success of the DF-ZF project will lead to a new arms race, the results of which will depend directly on the speed of the participants.
Possible appearance of the product DF-ZF
In an atmosphere of secrecy
The hypersonic program is of particular importance for national security, and therefore Beijing is in no hurry to publish all the details of such work. Most of the information about promising projects is not subject to disclosure. However, official Chinese sources from time to time talk about certain events. In this case, the bulk News about Chinese hypersound comes from third countries - through intelligence, etc.
Thanks to foreign sources, it is known that China is engaged in the development of hypersonic weaponsat least since the beginning of the last decade. A number of scientific organizations had to spend a lot of research, and then started the development of experimental equipment of one of two known types.
The first tests of the hypersonic device of the Chinese development took place in 2014. To date, about a dozen launches have been completed, some of which ended in success. As far as is known, development work is still ongoing, and practically applicable results will appear only in the future. The adoption of the first of the new complexes is expected no earlier than 2020.
At the moment it is known about the existence of two projects of hypersonic weapons, which have reached the testing stage. It cannot be ruled out that other promising designs are being created in an atmosphere of secrecy.
DF-ZF project
At the beginning of 2014, it became aware of a recent flight test of a promising hypersonic aircraft. Initially, this development was referred to as WU-14, and later the designation DF-ZF appeared. Information about the tests, which appeared in the foreign press, received official confirmation from the Chinese side. However, Beijing claimed that the new project was being created for scientific and not for military purposes.
In the period from 2014 to 2018, Chinese experts conducted at least seven test launches of WU-14 / DF-ZF. The launches were carried out from the Taiyuan space center, followed by a flight along a safe route. It was argued that all tests ended in success and without accidents. Last year, foreign media reported on several new launches, during which other configurations of the aircraft were tested.
Accurate technical data are not yet available, but plausible versions and evaluations have long appeared in foreign sources. It is assumed that the DF-ZF is a planning hypersonic warhead, accelerated to working speeds with the help of a launch vehicle. Maximum flight speed exceeds M = 5. The approximate range is unknown. A warhead can carry a conventional or nuclear warhead, or hit a target with kinetic energy.
Recently, more bold estimates of flight speed have appeared, based on the available data. Not so long ago, China developed a new ceramic composite that can withstand temperatures up to 3000 ° C for an extended period of time and is suitable for use on aircraft. Chinese scientists argue that such a skin allows you to bring the flight speed to M = 20.
Preparations for the launch of the rocket with the device "Shinkun-2"
According to various estimates, the DF-ZF product will be part of a combat missile system based on one of the existing ballistic missiles. In particular, the DF-31 MBR can be the carrier of such a combat unit. Its characteristics are sufficient to accelerate the payload to hypersonic speeds, the firing range of such a complex will be comparable to the characteristics of the DF-31 in the basic configuration. The system in the form of DF-31 and DF-ZF will solve strategic problems and will become a kind of addition to the “traditional” ICBM or BRSD.
It is also suggested that the use of DF-ZF as an anti-ship weapon. Such a combat unit can be used to defeat individual ships or ship formations. However, such a use of a hypersonic unit is associated with certain difficulties, and the assumption of such a role for DF-ZF / WU-14 may be incorrect.
Information about the success of several test launches led to the assumption of the imminent launch of DF-ZF into service. This may happen in the coming years. Most likely, it will be a strategic missile system with a planning warhead.
Project "Starry Sky"
In August last year, the first reports about the Sinkun-2 project (Starry Sky-2), developed by the Chinese Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, appeared. This project provides for the creation of a planning hypersonic apparatus capable of working as a percussion instrument. It is noteworthy that the very first news about the Sinkun-2 project spoke about a successful test flight.
A new type of glider made a flight using a launch vehicle. She dispersed him to the desired speed and brought to a predetermined height. It is reported that the "Sinkun-2" rose to an altitude of 30 km, where he performed several maneuvers. Then the product went down and landed in a given area of the landfill. The flight lasted only 10 minutes, but during this time the prototype has completed all the tasks. Information about the new flights of "Starry sky" has not yet appeared.
According to known data, the product "Synkun-2" is built using the concept of a waverider - during a hypersonic flight it creates a shock wave and "slides" along its edge, which allows optimizing various processes and obtaining a certain increase in characteristics. The possibility of equipping the device with a nuclear warhead is mentioned. The scope of its application has not yet been clarified.
At the moment, only one test run of the Shinkun-2 system is known. Obviously, for the further development and refinement of such weapons, new launches are required, which will take some time. Thus, the introduction of a new complex in the army is a matter of the distant future. One can only guess when the "Sinkun-2" to go into service - of course, if it is not abandoned.
General trends
By developing its own hypersonic shock systems, China seeks to reduce the backlog of the leading world powers. Similar weapons are already being created by other countries, and Beijing is forced to take measures in order not to be at a disadvantage. As follows from the available data, in the field of hypersonic technologies, at least two new projects are being developed.
Possible appearance of the product "Sinkun-2"
The real results of the DF-ZF and Shinkun-2 projects in the form of rearmament of the rocket troops will appear no earlier than the beginning of the twenties. Full-scale exploitation of such weapons, respectively, refers to an even more distant period. Nevertheless, in the end, the Chinese army will still receive promising weapons and increase its strike potential.
The reasons for China’s interest in hypersonic weapons are obvious. Hypersonic planning units or cruise missiles have a number of characteristic advantages that make them a convenient and effective weapon. High flight speed and maneuverability reduce the permissible response time of the air defense and missile defense, and thus make it difficult to intercept. Due to this, aircraft with a speed of more than M = 5 are currently capable of breaking through the existing defense systems and hitting target targets.
Weapons of this kind are being developed in several countries. The Russian Avangard complex has been tested and will soon take up combat duty. The appearance of serial Zircon missiles is expected. Similar systems are being developed in the USA; other countries are also interested in this topic.
China does not want to stand aside, which has already led to at least two promising projects. At least one of the new models in the near future may reach the troops and affect the combat capability of the army. The emergence of hypersonic weapons in China worries third countries, primarily the United States, and should lead to certain consequences. It is possible that the success of the DF-ZF project will lead to a new arms race, the results of which will depend directly on the speed of the participants.
Information