China is developing hypersonic weapons, stealth drones, AI, and quantum technologies. Here are five strategic military advances to watch.
China’s military development is based on a clear strategy: to achieve technological superiority in key areas of modern combat. Faced with the US military and its traditional alliances, the Chinese army is relying on targeted technological advances to gain the upper hand in future conflicts. These efforts are supported by a massive research ecosystem, continuous investment, and a military doctrine geared toward “smart” warfare. This concept emphasizes autonomy, stealth, electronic warfare, and emerging technologies such as quantum and artificial intelligence.
Among the current priorities, five programs are particularly attracting the attention of Western military analysts. They cover areas ranging from hypersonic weapons to cognitive electronic warfare, drone swarms, high-altitude missile defense, and quantum communications. These programs are not just technological showcases: they are part of an operational transformation aimed at enabling China to intervene at long range, while strengthening its capabilities to deny access and neutralize enemy systems without direct confrontation.
Against a backdrop of strategic rivalry with the United States and its allies, the rapid development of these technologies could reshuffle the military deck in the medium term. This article offers a technical, neutral and uncompromising analysis of the five most transformative innovations of the Chinese military-industrial complex.
An operational hypersonic weapon: the DF-17 missile
The DF-17 (Dong Feng 17) hypersonic glide vehicle ballistic missile is one of the Chinese army‘s most advanced programs. It is designed to reach speeds of over Mach 5, or more than 6,000 km/h, and follow maneuverable trajectories in the terminal phase, making it extremely difficult to detect and intercept. It is associated with the DF-ZF glider, which was first tested in 2014 and officially integrated into the Chinese forces in 2020.
Unlike a conventional ballistic missile, the DF-17 uses a gliding warhead capable of changing direction after re-entering the atmosphere. This feature distinguishes it from conventional systems, particularly those based on predictable trajectories. Its range is estimated at between 1,800 and 2,500 km, placing it in the intermediate-range weapons category.
This weapon is seen as a means of penetrating anti-missile systems such as THAAD and Aegis. According to the 2024 Pentagon Annual Report to Congress, China has at least 12 units deployed in Guangdong province, near Taiwan.
The program is based on solid scientific foundations. Nine of the world’s ten best hypersonic research centers are now located in China, including the Institute of Mechanics at the Academy of Sciences in Beijing, which tests its vehicles in wind tunnels capable of simulating speeds of up to Mach 30. This gives China a significant technological lead over the United States and Russia in this specific field.
An emerging offensive concept: cognitive electronic warfare
Cognitive electronic warfare (CEW) is a new frontier for the Chinese armed forces. It relies on artificial intelligence to analyze enemy signals in real time, dynamically adapt jamming, and even deceive enemy sensors or guidance systems.
The systems developed incorporate machine learning algorithms capable of automatically identifying, classifying, and countering radar emissions, data links, or tactical communications. This capability makes it possible to disrupt an enemy’s electromagnetic bubble without kinetic action. Autonomous jamming drones, for example, can target the frequencies used by reconnaissance drones or anti-radar missiles.
CEW is currently being tested on platforms such as GJ-11 Sharp Sword drones and Y-9DZ specialized aircraft. Several sources indicate that China tested a ship-based AI jammer during exercises in the South China Sea in 2024. The results remain confidential, but the initiative reflects a desire to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum from the very first minutes of an engagement.
This strategy is designed to counter Western dependence on digital systems by targeting command and control (C2) systems, Link-16 data links, and ISR drones. By disrupting these systems without resorting to missiles, China aims to neutralize the effect of enemy technological superiority from the outset of a conflict.
A tactical combination: stealth drones and swarm technology
China has stepped up its testing of platforms combining stealth, high altitude, and autonomous swarms. In 2023, satellite images revealed a HALE (High Altitude Long Endurance) winged drone stationed at the Malan base in Xinjiang. This large, flying-wing drone is reminiscent of the US RQ-180 but is believed to be capable of launching several dozen tactical drones in flight.
The concept aims to overwhelm enemy defenses with a large number of low-observable targets coordinated by shared mission intelligence. By combining stealth, endurance, and autonomous maneuvering, this system allows deep penetration of enemy territory, with drones capable of disrupting, destroying, or collecting data.
The AI-piloted drone swarms can be pre-programmed for missions such as electronic warfare, radar attack, or targeted assassination. Tests conducted in 2021 showed flights of more than 200 micro-drones launched from ground vehicles.
In industrial terms, CASC (China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation) and AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) have consolidated the production capabilities for these swarms. The estimated production cost of a swarm drone is less than $15,000 per unit, making the model economically viable compared to surface-to-air missiles, which often cost more than $300,000.
A strategic shield: the HQ-19 system
The HQ-19 is an exo-atmospheric missile defense system developed by China to intercept ballistic missiles and high-altitude space objects. It complements China’s strategic defense alongside the HQ-9B (long-range anti-aircraft) and HQ-26 (anti-missile at sea) systems.
The HQ-19 is said to have a missile interception capability at an altitude of over 200 km and a horizontal range of 3,000 km. In particular, it would be able to neutralize enemy hypersonic gliders or target low-orbit satellites, such as ISR or communications satellites.
The militarization of space is entering a new phase: the HQ-19 is in line with US initiatives such as the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program and the Israeli Arrow-3 systems. China is said to have carried out at least three successful tests since 2021, with no official communication on their success rate.
Militarily, the HQ-19 enables China to pursue an A2/AD (Anti-Access/Area Denial) strategy in regions such as the South China Sea, threatening satellites and incoming missiles from adversaries. It thus helps protect Beijing’s strategic bubble in the event of regional escalation.
A technological breakthrough: military quantum communications
China was the first country to launch a quantum communications satellite, Micius, in 2016. This satellite uses the principle of quantum entanglement to transmit cryptographic keys that cannot be intercepted without being detected. The aim is to guarantee completely secure communications between command centers.
To date, more than 700 km of terrestrial quantum links are already operational between Beijing and Shanghai. The Chinese Ministry of Defense plans to integrate this network into a secure global system by 2030, linking strategic bases via quantum satellite.
Militarily, these systems offer a major advantage in information warfare. No electronic eavesdropping system, including the most advanced ones used by the NSA or the British GCHQ, can intercept these communications without being immediately detected.
China is also investing in quantum radar, which could detect stealth aircraft such as the F-35. Several tests are reportedly underway at Nanjing University of Science and Technology, with experimental ranges of 100 to 120 km. These devices are still far from reliable operational capability, but could eventually challenge current stealth doctrines.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.