Sunday, October 17, 2021

America is surprised and concerned
China successfully tests hypersonic missile

Hypersonic missiles orbit the Earth at high speed in low orbit. Therefore, defense systems have difficulty intercepting them. The United States is investigating it, Russia and, surprisingly, China too: “We have no idea how they did it,” says a concerned American insider.

China is making great strides in developing hypersonic missiles, according to a media report. As the “Financial Times” reported, citing informed circles, the People’s Republic tested a new high-speed sliding body in August. China is apparently further ahead with this technology than the United States expected.

According to the report, China sent the nuclear weapons missile into space with a “Long March” missile, where it orbited Earth in a low orbit before heading toward its target. However, according to three different sources, the projectile missed its target for more than 30 kilometers. However, according to the report, US intelligence services should be surprised by China’s new military capabilities. “We have no idea how they did it,” said one of the informants.

The Chinese Defense Ministry initially declined to comment on the report. A spokesman simply said that China is pursuing an “inherently defensive military strategy” that is not directed against any country.

“Difficult to capture and intercept”

Defense Department spokesman John Kirby also declined to comment on the details of the report. However, he said “concerns have been expressed about China’s military capabilities, which only increase tensions in the region and beyond.” This is one of the reasons why “we see China as our greatest challenge.”

In addition to China, the United States and Russia are also developing hypersonic military missiles. North Korea also announced last month that it had tested such a missile. At least four other countries are also investigating hypersonic technology.

Such missiles, like ballistic missiles, can carry nuclear weapons. However, while ballistic missiles fly in a high arc on a clearly defined course through space, hypersonic missiles can orbit the Earth at more than five times the speed of sound, around 6200 kilometers per hour, in a low orbit. . They are also remotely controlled and therefore difficult to detect and intercept by defense systems.