China is mass-producing hypersonic missiles for $99,000

Summary

Bullets:A Chinese company is in production of a hypersonic missile, with a sticker price comparable to that of a luxury sedan.The launchers for the YKJ-1000 resemble common shipping containers, are mobile, and so the platform can be deployed to virtually anywhere.Military analysts admit that this development radically changes the logic of warfare, with massive cost/benefit advantages now on the side of offense.Report:Good morning.A private company in China has developed hypersonic missiles, that cost the same as a Tesla Model X. This missile, the YKJ-1000 is being marketed for sale, at a reported price of $99,000, and it’s in mass production now after successful tests. That is far below what countries will spend to target and shoot down the missile if it’s heading their way.This is the announcement on one of China’s X channels:Besides the low cost, they can be launched from anywhere. The launcher looks like any one of the tens of millions of shipping containers floating around on the ocean, or sitting at ports, or riding along on trucks, or sitting on industrial lots. The launchers for these missiles are hiding in plain sight, in other words.These technologies are new, in human history. Today there is an extreme disparity between low-cost offense and high-cost defense. It’s always been the other way around. To mount successful attacks, armies typically needed at least a 3-to-1 numerical advantage in troops and weapons, because defenders are fighting at home, know the territory, are highly motivated, supply chains are close by. These cheap weapons now enjoy cost advantages of many thousands to one, on the offensive side, and can be launched from anywhere.Naturally this should have our top analysts in a panic, at least those who understand the problem properly. Warrior Maven was on the story the first day and had it figured out. Whatever tactical advantages great-power countries have in ballistics is going away, fast; 1,300 km is 800 miles, and so the range is anythin...