China unveils six DF-17 hypersonic missile launchers in PLA anniversary footage

Beijing,UPDATED: Aug 4, 2026 18:52 IST

China has released fresh footage showing multiple DF-17 hypersonic missile launch vehicles as the People's Liberation Army marked its 99th anniversary. State television footage released on Monday showed at least six DF-17 launch vehicles appearing together in a single frame.

Chinese military affairs expert Zhang Junshe told the state-run Global Times that the DF-17 is a key part of China's missile force and could reshape modern air-defence operations. He said the weapon's hypersonic speed allows it to get past advanced air-defence systems and accurately hit key military targets.

Zhang said the missile has been mass-deployed and is on combat duty. According to him, it can travel at hypersonic speed while making sideways manoeuvres during flight, making its path difficult to predict. He said these characteristics make it hard for conventional air-defence systems to track and intercept the weapon effectively.

The video clip, released by CCTV News, showed a line of DF-17 transporter erector launchers driving in orderly formation on a rural road. The missile is believed to have a range of 1,800-2,500 km, according to the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post.

The report said this means the missiles can reach the first island chain, a strategic arc of islands in the western Pacific stretching from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines, and beyond. The DF-17 made its debut at the Day military parade in Beijing in October 2019 and, according to the Post, is China's first operational hypersonic glide weapon and is generally regarded as the first of its kind to enter service anywhere in the world.

With PTI Inputs

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