A U.S. congressional commission has reported China might be able to deploy the DF-ZF experimental hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) as warheads on Chinese ballistic missiles as early as 2020.

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission said China's HGV program was "progressing rapidly." It estimated China could deploy a hypersonic boost and glide missile by 2020 and hypersonic powered missiles by 2025.

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The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission was created by the U.S. Congress in 2000 to monitor, investigate and submit to Congress an annual report on the national security implications of the bilateral trade and economic relationship between the U.S. and China.

Formerly designated WU-14, the DF-ZF is a hypersonic missile delivery vehicle that's been flight-tested by the Chinese seven times from January 2014 to April 2016. Six of these tests are known to have been successful.

The Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China confirmed the first test in 2014 but claimed it was "scientific" in nature. All test launches of the DF-ZF have taken place at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province, the major long-range missile testing center for the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

China seems to prefer using the DF-ZF as a precision-strike weapon on its ballistic missiles to penetrate the sophisticated layered air defenses of U.S. Navy carrier strike groups. DF-ZF, however, can also be nuclear armed.

Reports say the DF-ZF might be capable of speeds between Mach 5 (6,100 km/h) and Mach 10 (12,400 km/h). Experts say the DF-ZF is dangerous since it will almost be impossible to intercept by conventional missile defense systems that track incoming objects using satellite sensors and ground and sea radar.

Instead of plunging on a predictable path, HGVs glide towards their targets, reducing the time they can be detected and destroyed. Gliding makes HGVs more maneuverable and extends their range by almost 50 percent.

This advantage is the major reason the United States is hell bent on developing and deploying laser weapons. Lasers are known to provide an effective defense against HGVs.

China, the U.S. and Russia are engaged in a "hypersonic arms race."

Tagshypersonic glide vehicle, HGV, U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commissio, china, People's Liberation Army