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

A documentary broadcast on China’s state television has revealed details of test launches involving the world’s first operational hypersonic glide weapon system, the DF-17, highlighting its flexibility.Monday’s episode of 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.