US defense officials reported that Chinese submarines carry a new missile that can hit the United States mainland from the South China Sea.
According to a Bloomberg article, the head of the United States Pacific Fleet, Admiral Samuel Paparo, informed a group of military reporters in Washington that China's Jin-class submarines are "equipped with JL-3 intercontinental ballistic missiles."
The admiral remarked that they are constantly monitoring the activities and location of the submarines loaded with China weapon "built to threaten the United States."
The Department of Defense's annual report on China weapon capabilities suggested the PLAN will soon be able to attack the mainland US from coastal waters, especially the South China Sea and Bohai Gulf, as per Fox News.
Paparo refused to respond when asked by journalists if the six submarines armed with JL-3 missiles had conducted patrols close to Hawaii, per the report.
According to a Pentagon report, the PLAN had 12 nuclear submarines, six of which carry JL-2 intercontinental ballistic missiles.
According to the report, the JL-2 was the first Chinese nuclear submarine to be taken seriously as a deterrent. When compared to the JL-2, the JL-3 has a greater range, making it possible for a China missile to strike the United States from thousands of miles away.
Can the US Keep Up with Superpower Rivals?
With the fast progress in weapons development showcased by China, as well as Russia, the United States is prompted to increase the pace of testing and research for the development of its hypersonic weapon.
Vice Admiral Johnny Wolfe, who is in charge of the US Navy Strategic Systems program, says that the US military has to act fast because its rivals are getting better at developing weapons.
Last month, as the US military conducted two rocket test launches to gather information for hypersonic development, Wolfe admitted to CNN that China and Russia had developed weapons while the US had not.
Various experiments, including those involving lightweight materials, heat-resistant materials, and advanced electronics, were carried out aboard each of the two test launches required to successfully develop a hypersonic weapon.
To defend against the growing hypersonic missile threat posed by China and Russia, the US Navy is creating directed energy systems.
According to reports, Russia has used hypersonic Kinzhal missiles for the first time in combat in Ukraine, while China last year tested a hypersonic missile that circled the globe before striking its target.
More Tests, Funds Needed for US Weapons Development
Since hypersonic weapons can reach speeds of over Mach 5, or about 4,000 miles per hour, they are difficult to detect and intercept in time. Moreover, the missiles can change their trajectory and altitude to sneak past modern missile defenses.
The US Department of Defense has asked Congress for nearly $1 billion more to fund research and development of hypersonic weapons.
The Pentagon received $3.8 billion for hypersonic research last year. This year, it is requesting $4.7 billion, per Republic World.
The first full-system test of the US Navy and the US Army's Common Hypersonic Glide Body was conducted this summer and failed. Though, according to Admiral Wolfe, the USA shouldn't be afraid of failure in its weapons development because each attempt is a chance to improve.
"I think failure is part of the process," he underscored.
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