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“No Escape” For F-22 Raptor Or B-21 Raider? China’s 1000 Km Hypersonic Air-To-Air Missile Aims To Redefine Air Combat

Date: July 20, 2025

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Air-to-air missiles (AAMs) are fundamental to air dominance. They are the primary weapons in air-to-air combat and have been so since the beginning of the Vietnam War. From close-range dog-fights to beyond visual range (BVR) air battles, AAMs have come a long distance.


However, China’s recent claim of developing a hypersonic AAM with a staggering 1,000 km ‘kill range’ can practically redefine air warfare and compel the Air Forces of enemy countries to stay grounded during conflict situations.


For instance, when operationalized, Chinese combat jets can hit any airborne aircraft anywhere in Taiwan and even in some parts of Japan without even crossing the Chinese airspace.


For perspective, this range is around five times the range of Meteor, one of the most advanced AAMs in the world. This range is also more than double that of the longest-range AAMs in the US Navy, such as the AIM-174B, which has a reported range of 400 km, and the Russian R-37M, which also has a reported range of 400 km.


Even China’s longest-range AAM, as of now, is the PL-17, with a reported range of 400 km.

Thus, the under-development Chinese hypersonic AAM can not only transform aerial combat doctrines and operational planning, but also has the potential to decisively tilt the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific in Beijing’s favour.


To understand how the capability of AAM can redefine aerial warfare and force adversary countries to modify their war doctrines, we must examine the evolution of AAMs over the last six decades.


The Evolution Of AAMs

Work on developing AAMs started shortly after the Second World War at the Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) at Inyokern, California (now called the Naval Air Weapons Station).


The first AAMs became operational in the second half of the 1950s. In 1956, the US became the first country to induct an AAM, the AIM-9 (Air Interceptor Missile), into its Air Force. It used infrared (IR) homing, the missile’s seeker head detected and followed the heat signature from an aircraft’s engine exhaust.


The early version of AIM-9B used a lead sulfide (PbS) detector, which was sensitive to heat signatures. The missile operated in a fire-and-forget mode, which freed the launching aircraft, providing it with operational flexibility.


Though revolutionary for its time, the AIM-9B still suffered from significant limitations.


For instance, since it detected and followed heat signatures from an aircraft engine’s exhaust, it could lock onto targets only from the rear aspect (tail-on), where the heat signatures of an aircraft were most prominent.


Furthermore, the missile did not work very well in humid or rainy conditions. It had an operational range of 2 to 4.8 km.


The Soviet Union followed quickly with its K-5, which entered service in 1957. It used a rudimentary form of radar guidance. The missile did not have its own onboard radar seeker; it relied on the aircraft’s radar to illuminate the target and follow it. This meant that the aircraft launching the missile had to keep the target locked even after launching the missile, making it vulnerable to counter-missile fire.


China's 1000 Km Hypersonic Missile

 

China has developed a hypersonic air-to-air missile with a reported range of up to 1,000 kilometers, which could significantly alter the dynamics of aerial combat.

This missile, which is currently undergoing final tests, is designed to engage high-value targets, including advanced stealth aircraft such as the U.S. B-21 Raider bomber.  The missile's speed, which exceeds Mach 5, makes it extremely difficult to intercept with current missile defense systems.

 

The development of this missile marks a significant advancement in China's military capabilities, as it could revolutionize air combat and shift the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region.


The missile's range is approximately five times that of the Meteor, one of the most advanced AAMs in the world, and more than double that of the longest-range AAMs in the U.S. Navy, such as the AIM-174B.

 

In addition to its range, the missile's speed and heat resistance are key factors contributing to its effectiveness. It has undergone intense heat-resistance tests to meet the strict requirements of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), ensuring it can withstand prolonged exposure to temperatures exceeding 1,200 degrees Celsius.


The missile's unique capabilities make it especially lethal against slower targets such as transport planes, bombers, refueling aircraft, and early-warning systems.

 

The development of this missile has serious implications for global air combat strategies, particularly for the U.S. military and its allies. The U.S. B-21 Raider, with its stealth capabilities and long-range strike capabilities, represents the cutting edge of American air power, but the threat of hypersonic weapons could force a reconsideration of how such aircraft are deployed in contested airspace.

 

China's hypersonic air-to-air missile is part of a broader trend in the development of hypersonic weapons, with other nations such as the U.S. and Russia also making significant strides in this area.


However, China's advancements in this field could lead to a shift in the tactical and strategic dimensions of aerial combat.


 
 
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