The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Dongfeng-17 (DF-17) and Dongfeng-27 (DF-27) Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) can maneuver in flight to amplify threat potential, yet questions remain about how maneuvers are achieved and the extent to which they can adjust to avoid defensive interceptors. Much of the maneuvering of an HGV projectile is pre-programmed prior to flight using advanced computer algorithms, yet research by Chinese scientists at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA) proposes leveraging advanced AI-enabled neural networks to enable “intercept avoid,” meaning the HGV could elude interception and continue successfully to its target. This research explores methods for recognizing, analyzing, and approximating the flight path of an HGV interceptor by “learning” and adapting flight patterns during flight. Accordingly, the research suggests that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) appears to be seeking to further improve or adapt HGV maneuverability so that weapons such as the DF-17 and DF-27 can not only evade radar but also elude defensive interceptors.
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