[PHOTOS] A Glimpse Of China's Wicked, New Hypersonic Missile Could Make Your Palms Sweaty
China has tested a "hypersonic" aircraft that is so fast it could render the defence systems of every nation on Earth obsolete and reset the global calculations of nuclear diplomacy.
By Sadho Ram — 16 Jan 2014, 02:52 PM — Updated almost 11 years ago
According To The Pentagon, China Has For The First Time Tested A Hypersonic Missile Vehicle Designed To Travel Several Times The Speed Of Sound
The test makes China the second country after the United States to conduct experimental flights with hypersonic vehicles, a technology that could allow armies to rapidly strike distant targets anywhere on the globe.
China’s Communist Party-affiliated Global Times newspaper on Tuesday published a graphic showing the potential flight of China’s recent test of a hypersonic glide vehicle, following disclosure of the report in Free Beacon
Image via freebeacon.com"We're aware of the test of the hypersonic vehicle but we are not commenting on it," said Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Pool.
The 9 January Test Involved The WU-14 Which Is Supposed To Be Capable Of Travelling Up To Mach 10
The move is purely scientific and not targeted at any country, said the Defense Ministry.
theguardian.com
"Our planned scientific research tests conducted in our territory are normal," said the Beijing Defense Ministry as cited by Reuters on Wednesday. "These tests are not targeted at any country and at any specific goals."
rt.com
The HGV Was Reportedly Designed To Be Launched As The Final Stage Of China’s Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
Its hypersonic speed range reportedly lies between Mach 5 and Mach 10, or 6,180 to 12,360 km/h.
The DARPA Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle (HTV)-2. Credit: DARPA artist's concept
Image via regmedia.co.uk“The beauty of the HGV is that it can perform hypersonic precision strikes while maintaining a relatively low altitude and flat trajectory, making it far less vulnerable to missile defenses,” Rick Fisher, an analyst at the International Assessment and Strategy Center, told the Washington Free Beacon.
stripes.comThe Chinese are “actively seeking global military power to challenge the United States, and it is not yet in any mood to talk, or engage in arms control, about it,” Fisher said.
rt.com
A hypersonic aircraft plunges towards the Pacific during a failed US test. China has conducted the first flight of its own version, the Pentagon has confirmed.
Image via guim.co.ukHypersonic vehicles, which are also being designed by the US, India and Russia, are developed for precise targeting, rapid delivery of weapons, and are being tested to outmaneuver hostile missiles and space defenses.
rt.com
The DARPA Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle (HTV)-2. Credit: DARPA artist's concept
Image via spacenews.comAnnual increases in China’s military spending have allowed Beijing to boost the quality and performance of domestic weapons and military hardware. According to Chinese technical reports from December 2012 and April 2013 the country is developing precision guidance systems designed to be directed via satellite.
US Congress Voiced Concerns On Tuesday Fearing The Country Is Falling Behind In The International Hypersonic Arms Race
Republican House Armed Services Committee members Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, Rep. Randy Forbes and Rep. Mike Rogers issued a joint statement last Tuesday calling for a redoubling of American efforts to maintain pace with the rate of Chinese military developments.
"While round after round of defense cuts have knocked America’s technological advantage on its back, the Chinese and other competitor nations push towards military parity with the United States; in some cases, as in this one, they appear to be leaping ahead of us"
voanews.com