China’s newly unveiled GDF-600 hypersonic weapon could significantly alter modern warfare, especially in regions like the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.

Developed by the Guangdong Aerodynamic Research Academy and showcased at the Zhuhai Airshow in southern China, the GDF-600 is a boost-glide hypersonic vehicle that can reach speeds of Mach 7 (5,370 miles per hour) and has a range of between 200 to 600 kilometers (124 to 373 miles). The GDF-600 is designed to carry various submunitions, such as supersonic missiles, drones and loitering munitions, allowing for flexible and multi-target strikes.

One of the GDF-600’s most notable features is its ability to release payloads mid-flight, which enhances its versatility for kinetic strikes, electronic warfare (EW) and reconnaissance. This capability could give China a significant advantage by disrupting enemy defenses, particularly in high-stakes areas where rapid, multi-target attacks are crucial. However, the technological challenges of deploying payloads at hypersonic speeds remain significant, a hurdle that the U.S. military is also grappling with as it develops similar systems. (Related: China making “dramatic advances” in development of HYPERSONIC WEAPONS.)

If fully realized, the GDF-600 would strengthen China’s hypersonic arsenal, particularly in regional conflicts. Integrating EW systems into the payload could make the weapon even more potent by jamming enemy radar, disrupting communications and neutralizing defensive measures. This mid-flight deployment of EW assets would help China disable tactical targets, making it harder for adversaries to respond effectively.

Chinese hypersonic weapons could be used to deploy EMP weapons against Taiwan

China’s potential use of non-nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NNEMP) weapons is also a key concern. NNEMP weapons, which can be made using commercially available components, are compact and can be mounted on drones or trucks. These weapons can disable key infrastructure, causing widespread power outages.

A 2021 report by the Department of Energy‘s EMP Task Force on National Homeland Security in the United States warned that a single NNEMP attack on fewer than 100 transformer substations could trigger nationwide blackouts, disrupting military operations that rely on the civilian power grid. The report notes that countries like China, Russia, North Korea and Iran are actively developing NNEMP capabilities.

These weapons are seen as a means to achieve “blackout warfare,” where critical infrastructure is incapacitated, severely disrupting both civil and military systems. In a conflict, the ease of acquiring and deploying NNEMP weapons could make them an attractive option for state and non-state actors alike.

NNEMP weapons could also be a strategic tool for China to avoid escalation risks associated with high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) attacks, which are often linked to nuclear warfare.

Tin Pak, in a 2024 article for the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, noted that China views NNEMP weapons as an extension of cyber warfare, allowing for the same effects as HEMP without triggering the nuclear escalation risks. This lowers the threshold for their use, making them a more feasible option for strategic intimidation or military action.

Taiwan, which is frequently cited as a potential target in China’s military strategy, could be particularly vulnerable to NNEMP attacks. Experts warn that China could use NNEMP weapons in a “shock and awe” campaign against Taiwan to paralyze its communication networks, possibly forcing Taiwan into capitulation before it even launches an amphibious invasion of the island nation.

In response to these threats, Taiwan has made strides to fortify critical military facilities. For instance, Taiwan’s military command centers were upgraded in 2023 to withstand HEMP attacks.

Watch this clip of Chinese businessman and political dissident Miles Guo discussing how a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would only speed up Beijing’s collapse.

This video is from the channel Chinese Taking Down Evil CCP on Brighteon.com.

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Sources include:

GreatGameIndia.com

AsiaTimes.com

Brighteon.com