Chinese military claims that its hypersonic missiles could sink the US’ Ford-class aircraft carrier, are a cognitive-warfare response to the failure of similar missiles in the war in Ukraine, a national-security official said Friday.
Ukraine’s military on May 16 said it had shot down six Russian Kinzhal hypersonic missiles using US-made Patriot missile defense systems. This was seen as a blow to Chinese propaganda efforts, which have touted China’s Dongfeng hypersonic missiles as a strategic advantage and a threat to US territory, the official, who chose to remain anonymous, said.
Photo courtesy of the US Navy
Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post on May 24 reported that in a Chinese wargame exercise, Chinese forces destroyed a Ford-class aircraft carrier using 24 Dongfeng-17 (DF-17) hypersonic missiles. The report was later shared by Chinese-language media in Taiwan. The claim was similar to one that previously circulated saying the DF-17 could wipe out Patriot missile systems, but recent events in Ukraine showed that to be unlikely, the official said.
Another recent report claimed by Chinese media was that China’s H-6 bomber would cause the USS Ronald Reagan – a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier – to flee in order to avoid attack.
“The H-6 is a bulky high-altitude bomber. It would be very difficult for reconnaissance planes and the fighter jets accompanying them to approach a carrier strike group,” the official said.
“Such propaganda from China is a routine occurrence, but with cross-strait tensions high for such a long time already, fewer and fewer people pay heed to the propaganda.”
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