A missile that can strike aircraft carriers, cross the entire Pacific, and hit the American mainland within minutes. This is a weapon intended not for show, but to change the balance of power on the planet. The DF-27, China's new conventional intercontinental ballistic missile, is not just another addition to Beijing's arsenal. It is a clear warning to the United States and NATO that the era of their absolute naval dominance is coming to an end. According to the Pentagon's Annual Report for 2025, the People's Liberation Army of China has now placed the DF-27 into operational readiness. This unique conventional ICBM is capable of striking both land and naval targets at distances ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 kilometers. For the first time in history, a country possesses an ICBM with anti-ship strike capability.
Screenshot from the Pentagon report showing the coverage of the DF-27
A weapon designed to strike where it hurts most
The DF-27 is not just powerful; it is designed to bypass defenses. According to the Pentagon, it can be equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle, allowing it to change course during flight, making interception extremely difficult. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles that follow a predictable trajectory, the DF-27 maneuvers, accelerates, and descends in ways that baffle even the most modern American air defense systems. Its range allows it to hit targets in Hawaii, Alaska, Australia, and even the mainland United States. Simultaneously, it can be used as an anti-ship weapon, making it a direct threat to American aircraft carriers and strike groups in the Pacific.
A potential image of the DF-27 ICBM - China Arms
The nightmare of the US Navy
The development of the DF-27 radically changes naval doctrine. Until today, American aircraft carriers formed the backbone of US power globally. With the DF-27, however, China gains the ability to strike them from distances where they cannot immediately retaliate. According to Pentagon analysts, this missile can render large warships practically inert in the event of a conflict, especially in a scenario involving Taiwan. The combination of the DF-27 with other Chinese missiles, such as the DF-21D and DF-26, creates a dense web of access denial, known as A2/AD, which could exclude the US from the entire Western Pacific region.
The message to Washington and Taiwan at the center
The emergence of the DF-27 is no accident. It comes at a time when Washington is openly concerned about a possible Chinese operation against Taiwan by 2027. The missile serves as a tool for deterrence as well as a strategic lever of pressure. If conflict breaks out, the DF-27 could be used to hit supply bases, airfields, ports, and ships before they even approach the combat zone. This is exactly what military analysts fear: that China now possesses the capability to "close" the Pacific within minutes.
The new era of hypersonic weapons
As stated by Professor Andrew Erickson of the US Naval War College, the development of the DF-27 constitutes "one of the most significant developments in modern military history." According to him, China is now the first power to combine intercontinental range, hypersonic speed, and anti-ship capability in a single system. This means that the balance of power in the Pacific is changing radically. The US still holds a technological advantage in many areas, but the appearance of the DF-27 severely restricts their freedom of movement.
A weapon that changes the world
The DF-27 is not just a new missile. It is the symbol of the transition to a new era of warfare, where aircraft carriers are no longer invulnerable and where the geopolitical balance shifts toward Asia. China is clearly showing that it is no longer satisfied with the role of a regional power. With the DF-27, it declares that it is ready to openly challenge American sovereignty, not with words, but with technology that can change the outcome of a war before it even begins.
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