Rafale, F-35, Sukhoi Outranged? China’s 1,000-km BVR Missile Surpasses Even BrahMos

Last Updated:August 01, 2025, 11:08 IST

The missile can target top fighter jets like the F-35, F-22 Raptor, and B-21 Raider from 1,000 km away, making it lethal even against 5th or 5+ generation aircraft, experts say

China plans to deploy this missile in potential conflict zones like the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. (Representative/AP)

In a move that could shake up the global military balance, China has reportedly tested a new Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile with a range of 1,000 km, according to the South China Morning Post.

The development signals a major leap in military technology, potentially surpassing the capabilities of India’s BrahMos missile, which gained global attention during Operation Sindoor for its devastating impact.

How This Missile Could Reshape Air Combat?

According to the report, China has successfully tested this missile capable of striking targets 1,000 km away at Mach 5 speed. The most striking feature of this missile system is its ability to strike the world’s most advanced fighter jets, like the F-35, F-22 Raptor, and B-21 Raider, from a distance of 1,000 km, the report stated. Experts suggest that it can even take down fifth or even 5+ generation aircraft from well beyond visual range. This indicates how devastatingly effective it would be against 4th or 4.5 generation jets such as the Rafale and Sukhoi.

China plans to deploy this missile in potential conflict zones like the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, marking it as one of the most advanced weapons globally.

Why Is This Missile So Significant?

While BVR technology is not new, developing a long-range missile based on this technology remains a substantial challenge for scientists and military engineers worldwide. Russia and America possess similar missiles, such as Russia’s R-37M and America’s AIM-174B, but their ranges are limited to 350-400 km.

India is developing the Astra MK-3 BVR missile system, aiming to extend its range to 350–400 km. If China’s claims about its BVR missile are accurate, it could significantly alter the global power balance.

How Dangerous Is This Missile?

The missile’s capability to target the world’s most advanced defence systems, including fifth-generation fighter jets, and AWACS and AEW&C aircraft, before they can launch an attack, underscores its potential danger.

How Big Is The Threat To India?

India, Japan, Taiwan, and the US are particularly at risk from this Chinese missile system. It could severely impact the air defence strategies and combat air patrol ranges of these nations, presenting a new challenge for India to enhance its BVR missile capability.

India has developed the Astra MK-1 and MK-2 missiles based on this technology, but work on the hypersonic speed MK-3 continues, with DRDO and ISRO collaborating on this project. Initiated in 2000, progress on the Astra series has been slow. Currently, India only possesses the MK-1 BVR missile with a range of 80-110 km. Despite this, the Ministry of Defence approved the purchase of these missiles for the Air Force in 2022, installing them in some Sukhoi-30 MKI jets. The AK-2 series is nearing completion, with efforts made to address its shortcomings.

What Is BVR Technology?

BVR is a cutting-edge technology that enables attacks beyond visual range, hence the name Beyond Visual Range. Typically, an Air Force pilot has a range of about 37 km, within which they can target enemy aircraft. BVR technology, however, is equipped with advanced radar, sensors, and navigation systems that enable it to destroy long-range targets not visible to the pilot. India’s Astra missile operates on this system, autonomously seeking and attacking targets beyond the pilot’s control, embodying the fire-and-forget capability.

Location :

China

First Published:

August 01, 2025, 11:08 IST

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