**Headline: Hypersonic Threats: China’s Missile Arsenal Poses Existential Risk to U.S. Naval Power**

In a chilling revelation for American military might, analysts warn that China’s advanced hypersonic missile technology could obliterate U.S. aircraft carriers within minutes, significantly altering the balance of power in the Pacific. As the USS Gerald R. Ford, the most expensive aircraft carrier ever built, embarks on its maiden deployment, it faces a daunting reality: a rapidly evolving adversary with the world’s foremost hypersonic arsenal.

According to a recent Pentagon report, China’s hypersonic capabilities have surged over the past two decades, raising alarms that a potential conflict over Taiwan could see all ten U.S. aircraft carriers neutralized in the first 20 minutes of battle. With Secretary of Defense Pete Hexith asserting that China is crafting an army specifically to dismantle U.S. forces, the stakes have never been higher.

The Ford, a floating fortress boasting cutting-edge technology and a $13 billion price tag, is designed to project naval superiority. However, experts highlight its vulnerability against hypersonic threats like the Dongfang 17 missile, capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 10 and executing unpredictable maneuvers that make interception nearly impossible.

In response, the U.S. Navy is racing against time to develop high-powered laser weapon systems that could counter these threats. Theoretically, these lasers could fire at the speed of light, offering a cost-effective solution to intercept hypersonic missiles—costing as little as $10 per shot compared to millions for traditional missile interceptors. Yet, despite progress, the Navy remains years away from deploying a reliable system.

As the clock ticks toward an anticipated conflict, the urgency for innovative defense technologies has never been clearer. With tensions escalating and technological gaps widening, the U.S. must urgently enhance its naval defenses or risk losing its long-standing dominance on the high seas. The world watches as the balance of military power teeters, with the fate of U.S. naval supremacy hanging in the balance.