China Deploys DF-17 Hypersonic Missiles in Operational Readiness

China’s state media released footage showing at least six DF-17 hypersonic missile launchers operating together, indicating the system has been mass‑deployed and placed on combat duty. The video, aired by CCTV, displayed PLA Rocket Force transporter‑erector‑launchers moving across a desert landscape, with missiles matching the known DF-17 profile. Military analysts say the display confirms the DF-17’s transition from prototype to routine operational readiness, enhancing Beijing’s strategic deterrence. The DF‑17 is the world’s first hypersonic glide‑vehicle missile, capable of Mach 5+ speeds and carrying conventional or nuclear warheads. The demonstration comes amid a broader acceleration of China’s hypersonic programme, including recent tests of the DF‑26 intermediate‑range missile and the anti‑ship YJ‑21 glide‑vehicle. The development is noted against the backdrop of hypersonic weapons already used by Russia and Iran in combat, underscoring growing concerns about the difficulty of intercepting such fast, maneuverable systems.