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In modern warfare technology, Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS), which monitor air power and every activity of the enemy, are considered the backbone of the Air Force of any country. But such a sensational news has come out from the world of defense technology which has given sleepless nights to the superpowers around the world. China has claimed to have developed a dangerous hypersonic missile technology that has been specifically designed to eliminate advanced AWACS and airborne spy planes. According to defense experts, this new hypersonic anti-AWACS missile is not only capable of completely dodging conventional radar systems, but it can also turn even the safest command centers flying in the sky thousands of miles away into debris in the blink of an eye. After the appearance of this sophisticated and deadly weapon, there has been a wave of concern among defense strategists globally, because this technology has the power to change the equations of future air war forever.
What is AWACS technology and why is it the biggest strength of any Air Force?
For the Air Force of any country, AWACS i.e. Airborne Warning and Control System works like a flying fort. The huge radar dome installed on the upper part of the aircraft keeps a close watch on every movement of enemy aircraft, missiles and drones within a radius of hundreds of kilometers. The role of AWACS is most important in deciding which fighter aircraft is coming from where in the battlefield and what instructions to give to the ground command. Today, countries like America, Russia, China and India have such sophisticated spy planes which protect their country’s borders mid-air. When an enemy aircraft tries to enter the radar range, these systems immediately sound an alarm. This is the reason why these heavy and extremely expensive aircraft, which are called the backbone of the Air Force, are always kept away from the reach of the enemy and in the most secure environment.
Fear of China’s new hypersonic missile and its firepower
The biggest feature of this new anti-AWACS hypersonic missile developed by China is its unimaginable speed and long-range strike capability. Hypersonic weapons generally fly at a speed at least 5 to 10 times the speed of sound (Mach 5 to Mach 10), which no existing modern anti-missile defense system in the world can easily intercept. According to defense scientists, this missile has been specially tuned to target high altitudes and remote areas where AWACS aircraft fly. Normally, AWACS aircraft operate in safe airspace well within their borders so that they do not come under the radar of enemy fighter jets. But this new hypersonic missile of China, due to its unmatched range and super-fast speed, has the ability to cover a distance of thousands of miles in a few minutes and destroy these ‘flying command centers’ directly in the sky.
Its far-reaching impact on modern war policy and global defense
Defense and strategic affairs experts believe that the development of such weapons will completely change the course of future wars. If AWACS aircraft, which are called eyes and ears in the sky, will not be safe, then it will become extremely risky for the Air Force pilots to conduct operations in enemy territory. To counter the growing influence of the US and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region, China is continuously working on destructive technologies that can nullify the main military advantages of its opponents. With the advent of this missile, the rest of the world has also been forced to develop counter-hypersonic defense systems and electronic jamming technologies, so that the security of their strategic aircraft in the sky can be strengthened.
How serious is its threat to the security of India and neighboring countries?
For a country like India, which faces persistent two-way security challenges on its northern and western borders, the development of such Chinese defense technology is a serious strategic concern. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has also inducted indigenous net-centric warfare and modern AWACS (such as NETRA) systems into its fleet to enhance its strike capability. In such a situation, keeping in mind this new hypersonic capability of China, India needs to make its air defense system, radar network and early warning system more modern and multi-layered. Defense experts are continuously emphasizing that India also needs to accelerate its own hypersonic strike and defense capabilities so that any audacious move of the enemy can be given a befitting and immediate response.