Enlarge image
Carrier rocket of the type »Long March« (here manned space flight, archive picture)
Photo: Liu Lei / picture alliance / Xinhua News Agency
According to a media report, China has made great strides in the development of so-called hypersonic missiles and thus apparently surprised the United States.
As the "Financial Times" reported, citing informed circles, China tested a new high-speed sliding body in August.
Hypersonic missiles can reach more than five times the speed of sound, i.e. around 6200 kilometers per hour.
So they should be able to break through missile defense systems.
This type of weapon is also difficult to intercept by defense systems.
Missed target by 30 kilometers
According to the report, China sent the missile into space with a "Long March" missile, where it orbited the earth in low orbit before heading for its target.
According to three different sources, the bullet missed its target by around 30 kilometers, the newspaper reported.
It was said that US intelligence agencies were surprised by China's new military capabilities.
Defense Department spokesman John Kirby initially refused to comment on the details.
He said, however, "We have made clear our 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."
The Chinese Defense Ministry initially did not respond to a request for comment on Saturday's newspaper report on Sunday.
In addition to China, the USA and Russia are also working on hypersonic technology.
North Korea announced just last month that it had tested such a missile.
kry / AFP / Reuters