China has successfully tested its Dongfeng-27 (DF-27) hypersonic missile, a development that underscores Beijing’s rapid progress in advanced missile technology and its challenge to U.S. military dominance in the Asia-Pacific. The test, carried out on Monday at the Wuzhai Missile Test Center in Shanxi Province, demonstrated the use of a hypersonic glide vehicle mounted on the DF-27 platform.
According to defense analysts, the glide vehicle successfully performed mid-flight maneuvers while traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5—over 3,800 mph (6,100 km/h). This capability makes the missile particularly difficult to track or intercept, even with advanced U.S. air defense systems such as Patriot batteries or the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD).
The DF-27 has an estimated range between 5,000 and 8,000 kilometers, placing major U.S. bases across the Asia-Pacific well within its strike envelope. Analysts also note that the missile is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads, further increasing its strategic value for Beijing.
China has been steadily ramping up its hypersonic weapons programs in recent years. Earlier this month, at a military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II, China showcased a range of new missile systems with hypersonic capabilities. Among them were the DF-26D medium-range missile and a suite of advanced anti-ship missiles, including the YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20. Reports also suggest that the DF-26D underwent a separate test earlier this month.
The scale of China’s buildup has alarmed Western defense experts. Some estimates claim that Beijing now possesses as much as twenty times the number of operational hypersonic systems fielded by either the United States or Russia.
Meanwhile, Washington appears divided over how to respond. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to prioritize resources toward countering China in the Asia-Pacific. However, more recent reports indicate a possible strategic shift toward focusing U.S. defense policy closer to the Western Hemisphere. Such a move would raise questions about Washington’s willingness to directly confront China’s growing missile arsenal in the region.