China surprises US with hypersonic missile test: report

BEIJING, 18 October 2021, (TON): China tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile in August, showing a capability that caught US intelligence by surprise, the Financial Times reported, citing five unnamed sources.

The report late said “the Chinese military launched a rocket carrying a hypersonic glide vehicle that flew through low-orbit space, circling the globe before cruising towards its target, which it missed by about two dozen miles.”

The report said, citing people briefed on the intelligence "the test showed that China had made astounding progress on hypersonic weapons and was far more advanced than US officials realized."

China's ministry of defence did not immediately respond to a faxed request for comment from media sources.

The United States and Russia are also developing hypersonic missiles, and last month North Korea said it had test-fired a newly-developed hypersonic missile.

At a 2019 parade, China showcased advancing weaponry including its hypersonic missile, known as the DF-17.

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