In a stark warning for U.S. naval supremacy, analysts are sounding alarms over China’s rapidly advancing hypersonic missile technology, which could render the U.S. Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, vulnerable to annihilation within minutes. Deployed for the first time in October 2022, this $13 billion vessel symbolizes American military power but faces a daunting threat as Beijing’s missile arsenal outpaces U.S. capabilities.

According to a recent Pentagon report, China is poised to leverage its hypersonic missiles in a potential conflict over Taiwan, with experts predicting that all ten U.S. aircraft carriers could be decimated within the first 20 minutes of hostilities. This alarming scenario underscores the urgency of U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hexith’s statement: “China is building an army specifically designed to destroy the U.S.”

The hypersonic Dongfang 17 missile, capable of reaching Mach 10, poses a formidable challenge due to its unpredictable flight path, making interception exceedingly difficult. While the Ford is equipped to support emerging technologies, including laser weapons that could theoretically counter these threats, the U.S. is still years away from deploying a reliable system. Current laser prototypes have demonstrated limited success but lack the necessary power to neutralize hypersonic missiles effectively.

As tensions escalate in the Pacific, the U.S. Navy is pivoting its focus to the High Energy Laser Counter Anti-Ship Cruise Missile Program (HELCAP), aiming to expedite the development of critical technologies to counter this existential threat. However, the clock is ticking, and without significant advancements, the U.S. may find itself at a perilous disadvantage on the high seas. The stakes have never been higher, and the world watches as the balance of naval power hangs in the balance.