Now Reading: China Expands Regional Ballistic Missile Arsenal, US Estimates Show
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China Expands Regional Ballistic Missile Arsenal, US Estimates Show
China’s ballistic missile arsenal has grown over two decades and is a key part of the People’s Liberation Army’s modernisation. US estimates cited by The Times of India put the force at…
The Story in Brief
China’s ballistic missile arsenal has grown over two decades and is a key part of the People’s Liberation Army’s modernisation. US estimates cited by The Times of India put the force at about 200 short-range launchers with 1,000 missiles, 300 medium-range launchers with 1,300 missiles, and 300 intermediate-range launchers with about 550 DF-26 missiles. The systems range from the DF-11 and DF-15 to the DF-26 and DF-27. The DF-17 carries a hypersonic glide vehicle, while the DF-21 has an anti-ship variant.
The Pentagon also estimates around 600 missiles in a boosted hypersonic category. This includes hypersonic glide vehicles and air-launched ballistic missiles. The DF-27’s reported range of 5,000 to 8,000 km remains an estimate, as China has not officially disclosed its specifications. The JL-1 air-launched ballistic missile is carried by the H-6N aircraft.
The Indian Opinion
The figures show the scale and variety of China’s missile development, but they do not establish how or when these weapons might be used. Terms such as “carrier killer” can sound more certain than public evidence allows. The DF-27’s range is estimated, and the boosted hypersonic category combines different systems. Readers should distinguish reported capabilities from assumptions about immediate threats or intentions.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
