The introduction of the B-21 Raider, the latest stealth bomber from the U.S. Air Force, is occurring against a backdrop of apprehensions about missile technology advancements by peer adversaries, notably China. Concerns linger about the potential future threat these advances pose to the B-21 Raider’s combat survivability.
As reported by the South China Morning Post, China’s progress in hypersonic weapons, capable of reaching Mach 6 (six times the speed of sound) and featuring a distinctive trajectory, raises the possibility of countering the sophisticated B-21 Raider. This revelation coincides with the recent in-person sighting of the B-21, marking a critical moment for assessing its vulnerability to evolving missile technologies.
The cited report referred to a Chinese academic study emblematic of the ongoing arms competition between the world’s two major economies. Notably, these nations, while engaged in an arms race, continue to depend on each other’s markets for sustained economic prosperity. The authors of the study were associated with China’s Northwestern Polytechnical University, an institution subject to U.S. sanctions due to its connections with the People’s Liberation Army. This underscores the complex interplay between military advancements and economic interdependence in the global landscape.
Emerging as the predominant global power post-World War II, the United States has held a substantial lead in military technologies for decades. However, China’s accelerated defense research and development efforts aim to narrow this gap, strategically countering each new capability introduced by the United States.
The B-21 represents a monumental advancement in American combat aviation, marking one of the most significant leaps forward in decades. A key challenge lies in preserving air dominance amid a shifting landscape where next-generation missile technology could potentially detect, track, and target the Air Force’s most advanced bomber to date.
In a simulated war game, China’s air-to-air missiles, capable of reaching a top speed of Mach 6, successfully targeted and brought down a B-21-like stealth platform and its accompanying drone, as reported by The Post, a Hong Kong-based newspaper. The comprehensive findings, elucidating China’s advancements in missile technology and the dynamic landscape of future aerial warfare, were published in the peer-reviewed journal Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica. The report highlighted China’s hypersonic missiles, designed with unique features for tracking and neutralizing stealth aircraft, utilizing a novel solid fuel “pulse engine” that enables variable power output during flight, allowing the missile to ascend near space and descend onto enemy aircraft at an exceptionally high speed.
