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Graphic toont de kenmerken van China’s waverider-toestel.
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CHINA

China test zijn eerste hypersonische waverider-toestel

August 6, 2018 - China zegt zijn eerste experimentele hypersonische waverider-toestel
succesvol te hebben getest. De Starry Sky-2 kan in potentie gebruikt worden als wapen dat aan huidige luchtafweernetwerken kan ontsnappen.

The vehicle was launched in a target range located in northwest China on August 3, according to the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics in Beijing, part of State-owned space contractor China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

The Chinese waverider reached an altitude of 30km and maintained speeds above Mach 5.5 for more than 400 seconds, reported China Daily.

China has been testing hypersonic glide vehicles since 2014, but the Starry Sky-2 is the first to employ waverider technology, using shock waves generated by its own flight as a lifting force.

If used as a weapon, the vehicle could potentially carry nuclear warheads and evade current anti-missile defence systems due to its high speed and unpredictable trajectory, Chinese experts said.

The United States and Russia are also developing hypersonic weapons.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 07/08/2018; STORY: Graphic News
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