Is China’s DF-17 hypersonic glider ready to strike from anywhere at any time?

PLA anniversary series suggests the world’s first operational weapon of its kind may have achieved a ‘constant state of readiness’

Securing Victory

–a series marking the 99th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on August 1 – was devoted to the PLA Rocket Force, which oversees land-based missiles and a chunk of China’s nuclear arsenal.

In a rare glimpse during a test launch into the workings of the command-and-control centre, along with the research and development team and field operators, the episode showed an exercise involving missile transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) units.

The distinctive wedge-shaped profile and fins of the missiles on the TEL vehicles matched previous sightings of the DF-17, although the documentary did not identify them and did not give details of the time or location of the test.

The TEL vehicles, with their camouflage covers against the backdrop of a desert landscape and visible roads, as seen in the deployment footage, also matched the first official DF-17 launch video released in June.

During the filmed exercise, a TEL unit was ordered to abort its launch preparations. It was then directed to relocate and execute a delayed strike at a designated time.