China’s hypersonic missile capabilities pose an unprecedented threat to U.S. naval power, potentially rendering the USS Gerald R. Ford and its fleet obsolete within minutes of conflict. As tensions rise over Taiwan, military analysts warn that Beijing’s advanced missile arsenal could target and eliminate all 10 U.S. aircraft carriers in just 20 minutes during an amphibious assault, expected by 2027.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the most advanced carrier ever built, symbolizes American naval might but faces a grim reality: China has outpaced the U.S. in hypersonic technology. The Pentagon’s December 2024 report confirms that China leads the world in hypersonic missile development, with weapons like the Dongfang 17 capable of speeds exceeding Mach 10 and unpredictable trajectories that challenge current defense systems.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hexith’s stark warning—that China is constructing an army specifically to dismantle U.S. forces—underscores the urgency of the situation. The U.S. Navy is racing to develop laser weapons that could neutralize these hypersonic threats, but progress remains slow. While the Ford is equipped to support emerging technologies, operational laser systems capable of intercepting hypersonic missiles are still years away from deployment.

Past tests of laser weapons, such as those on the USS Portland, have shown promise but also highlighted significant operational hurdles. The Navy’s latest initiative, the High Energy Laser Counter Anti-Ship Cruise Missile Program (HELCAP), aims to accelerate development, yet it still grapples with power limitations that hinder effective defense against advanced missile threats.

As the clock ticks down to a potential crisis in the Taiwan Strait, the pressure mounts on U.S. military leaders to innovate rapidly. The fate of American naval supremacy hangs in the balance, and the stakes could not be higher.