China's hypersonic missiles could take down US B-21 Raider
Chinese researchers say they’ve already shot down a B-21 Raider in a computer simulation, indicating that China's hypersonic missiles could pose a significant threat to not only the B-21 but also other Western stealth aircraft.
According to media reports, scientists from Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xian conducted simulations indicating the vulnerability of the B-21 Raider, even though the bomber has just commenced flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base and is not anticipated to fly over Asia in the near future.
The researchers assert that they have tested novel tactics and technology targeting a weakness in the Raider's defenses, focusing on attacking the bomber from above.
In their simulated scenario, resembling a war game, the researchers claim to have successfully downed a B-21-like stealth platform and its accompanying drone using China's air-to-air missiles, renowned for achieving a remarkable top speed of Mach 6.
The critical aspect highlighted by the scientists is the unexpected response during the simulation. While the B-21 attempted evasive maneuvers, it failed to anticipate a secondary missile targeting the Raider's accompanying drone. Consequently, the missiles altered their targets, leading to the B-21 being neutralized by the redirected missile, followed by the drone succumbing to the original missile aimed at the bomber.
What stands out in their assertions is a potential breakthrough regarding the continuous communication maintained with hypersonic missiles throughout their flight. Ordinarily, these missiles, hurtling towards targets at Mach 6, are impeded from external communications due to the intense heat generated by friction with the air, akin to spacecraft reentering the atmosphere.
The Chinese researchers claim to have overcome this challenge, enabling continuous communication with their hypersonic missiles. This breakthrough allegedly facilitated course corrections mid-flight, resulting in the simulated defeat of the B-21 Raider.
The findings underscore potential vulnerabilities in current defense strategies against hypersonic missile threats. Understanding and addressing these vulnerabilities are crucial in fortifying the defenses of advanced military assets like the B-21 and other Western stealth aircraft against emerging threats posed by hypersonic technology.
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