In a major leap in the arms race, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has come up with a revolutionary hypersonic missile that can "morph" its aerodynamic shape mid-flight, even at Mach 5 speed. The new missiles could be a game-changer in the region and may have global implications as the "shape shifters" could make “predict-and-intercept” anti-missile defence systems redundant overnight.
According to reports, China's shape-shifters can be launched from the air, sea, or land, and PLA's abundant arsenal means hypersonic missiles could be fired in several waves. The morphing helps them to stay undetected even by the most advanced US systems—even seconds before hitting the target, a report said.
A brainchild of China's National University of Defence Technology (NUDT), the shape-shifting hypersonic missile was made possible by blending artificial intelligence with advanced raw materials and a focus on stealth-defeating agility — signalling a new era in global strike warfare.
The weapon’s existence was corroborated by the monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica, which reportedly claimed the capability to merge retractable composite wings is a "technological leap."
How the new Chinese hypersonic missiles work?
When launched, the wings of the missiles stay folded to minimise drag. As the target nears, they are capable of extending them partially to generate lift. This will permit a sudden altitude jumps and turns if needed — leaving enemy defence systems clueless.
When its wings are retracted, the morph missile looks like an arrowhead-shaped spear, making it capable of slicing through the atmosphere with minimal drag, Defence Security Asia said in a report. It is thus capable of extending its reach beyond 2,000 kilometres, the Malaysian website said.
When extended, the same wings are capable of delivering lift, which helps the missile to make swift altitude adjustments. If locked on by radar-guided interceptors or anti-missile aerial defence systems, these wings, with the help of AI-driven flight algorithms, let the missile make hard turns to dodge, the report added.
Also crucial for the morphing prototype for altering its profile in flight is the use of alloys that are more heat-resistant than those used in other contemporary designs. The morph missile prototypes survive temperatures around 3000 degrees Celsius caused by atmospheric friction while making the adjustments to its path, Defence Security Asia said. "The PLA’s morphing missile tackles this inferno through a combination of titanium alloys, ceramic ablatives, and proprietary coatings developed under China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025), which earmarks hypersonic research as a 'national strategic priority'," the report said.
On the defensive lines, PLA can now deploy them alongside the YJ-21 anti-ship hypersonic missile and the DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missiles, making the PLA capable of multi-axis attacks if challenged, the report added.
