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China tests hypersonic military missile: US worried - "our greatest challenge"

2021-10-17T16:46:46.179Z


China has made advances in nuclear-capable high-speed missiles. A test was probably carried out at the end of August. The US is concerned.


China has made advances in nuclear-capable high-speed missiles.

A test was probably carried out at the end of August.

The US is concerned.

Beijing - China has made great strides in developing hypersonic missiles, according to a media report.

As the

Financial Times

reported, citing informed circles, China tested a new high-speed sliding body in August.

According to this, China sent the nuclear-weapon-capable missile into space with a missile of the "Long March" type, where it circled the earth in a low orbit before heading for its target.

The US Pentagon has expressed concern.

Hypersonic missile test in China: missile missed target by more than 30 kilometers

Two of those familiar with the Chinese test told the

Financial Times

the weapon could theoretically fly over the South Pole. That would be a major challenge for the US military as their missile defense systems are geared towards the north polar route. According to three different sources, however, the projectile missed its target by more than 30 kilometers. As the newspaper reports, another person said of the advancement of technology: "We have no idea how they did it."

Defense Department spokesman John Kirby declined to comment on the details of the report.

However, he said, "We have expressed concern about China's military capabilities, which are only adding to tensions in the region and beyond."

This is one of the reasons "why we see China as our greatest challenge".

Test of hypersonic weapons: China surprises USA with progress

According to Professor Fravel from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the great advantage of high-speed glide bodies is that they can fly on lower trajectories and thus maneuver in flight. This makes it difficult to track and destroy, Fravel told the

Financial Times

. Fravel added that it would be "destabilizing" for China to fully develop and use such a weapon. But he also pointed out that a test does not necessarily mean that Beijing would use the weapon.

The Chinese embassy declined to comment on the test, the report said.

However, Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the embassy, ​​said it had no global strategy or plans for military operations like the US.

"And we are not at all interested in waging an arms race with other countries," said the spokesman.

"In contrast, the US has been making excuses such as 'the threat from China' in recent years to justify its arms expansion and hypersonic weapon development."

In addition to China, the USA, Russia, North Korea and at least four other countries are also working on hypersonic technology.

Like ballistic missiles, these can carry nuclear weapons and can travel more than five times the speed of sound.

(tkip / AFP)

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-10-17

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