China conducted a simulated military exercise using a war game simulation system, in which they targeted and destroyed the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, with hypersonic missiles. The simulation, carried out in 20 intense battles, demonstrated that the Chinese military could confidently and decisively destroy the US Navy warship.
According to the South China Morning Post, the results of the simulations were published in a paper in the Chinese-language Journal of Test and Management Technology in May. In the scenario, the US fleet was attacked by a barrage of 24 hypersonic anti-ship missiles after persistently approaching an island in the disputed South China Sea, which China claims as its own, despite repeated warnings.
The researchers revealed that the missiles were launched from various locations, including the Gobi Desert, and that the overwhelming majority of US surface vessels were incapacitated and ultimately sunk by the three-wave attack in the simulation.
According to researchers, the simulation provides evidence that the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier fleet, previously considered invulnerable to conventional attacks, could be definitively destroyed by a limited number of hypersonic strikes. However, the researchers caution that these simulations should be approached with caution, as the actual performance of the missiles in real-world scenarios may differ from the predictions made in the simulation.
It is important to note that the report has not been independently verified, and analysts have raised doubts about the intentions behind its release.
The publication of the study came shortly after the leak of classified documents online, which disclosed China’s deployment of an intermediate-range hypersonic missile capable of targeting distant locations and possessing a “high probability” of bypassing US defense systems.
According to federal investigators, these confidential Pentagon papers have been gradually uploaded to online message boards since late last year, providing a disturbing assessment of Beijing’s People’s Liberation Army’s improved strike capabilities. In addition to China’s military information, the leaked documents have also exposed US intelligence regarding Russia’s military strength, outlined plans for Ukraine’s counterattack in the spring, and disclosed intelligence gathered about American allies.
