Graphic shows details of hypersonic weapon flight and China’s DF-17 hypersonic missile.
GN41917EN

CHINA

China tested hypersonic weapons twice

October 21, 2021 - China tested hypersonic weapons twice during the summer, the Financial Times newspaper has reported, raising concerns in the United States that Beijing is gaining ground in the race to develop a new generation of arms.

Beijing launched a rocket that employed a “fractional orbital bombardment” system to propel a nuclear-capable “hypersonic glide vehicle” around the Earth for the first time on July 27, the London-based Financial Times reported on Thursday.

China conducted a second hypersonic test on August 13, the FT said.

The newspaper initially reported that the first test was done in August, instead of the end of July.

The latest report said that the missile test “stunned” American military and intelligence officials about the Chinese military advance.

It further said that U.S. scientists “were struggling to understand” the hypersonic weapon’s capability, “which the U.S. does not currently possess”.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 21/10/2021; STORY: Graphic News
Advertisement