News emerged about China’s DF-27 hypersonic missiles through reports that the weapon system had not been publicly disclosed in advance. A military source cited by a major publication indicated that the DF-27 had already been in service before 2019, and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army preferred to withhold this information to avoid tipping its hand too early as a strategic asset. These details were reported by the South China Morning Post, a newspaper known for its defense and security coverage in the region.
According to the SCMP account, the DF-27 is designed to accept a variety of warhead configurations. The source described the DF-27 as blending traits from the DF-17, which can travel at speeds up to five times the speed of sound over ranges near 1,500 kilometers, with aspects reminiscent of the DF-21D, often described as a weapon capable of threatening large naval formations. The report suggested that the DF-27 could carry multiple warheads and achieve a range close to 1,800 kilometers, underscoring its potential flexibility in deployment and mission profiles.
In a separate development, remarks attributed to Christine Wormuth, who previously served as US Army Secretary, were presented before the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee. The testimony indicated that the United States Army planned to field hypersonic missiles in 2023, despite recent halts in some testing programs. The narrative noted that new testing timelines were being set, with officials indicating that a battery based at the Lewis-McChord joint base, where Army and Air Force units collaborate, had completed training with the relevant equipment and was prepared for subsequent test or deployment activities.