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China tests hypersonic missile vehicle | China tests hypersonic missile vehicle |
(about 3 hours later) | |
China has for the first time tested a hypersonic missile vehicle designed to travel several times the speed of sound, according to the Pentagon. | |
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 around the world. | 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 around the world. |
"We're aware of the test of the hypersonic vehicle but we are not commenting on it," said Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Pool, a Pentagon spokesman. | "We're aware of the test of the hypersonic vehicle but we are not commenting on it," said Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Pool, a Pentagon spokesman. |
The flight was conducted on 9 January and the Chinese vehicle, dubbed the WU-14, is supposed to travel at Mach 10, or 10 times the speed of sound, according to a report in the Washington Free Beacon, an online publication. | The flight was conducted on 9 January and the Chinese vehicle, dubbed the WU-14, is supposed to travel at Mach 10, or 10 times the speed of sound, according to a report in the Washington Free Beacon, an online publication. |
The Chinese state-run broadcaster China Radio International quoted the defence ministry information office as saying: "China's planned domestic scientific research and experiments are normal and are not aimed at any country or target." | The Chinese state-run broadcaster China Radio International quoted the defence ministry information office as saying: "China's planned domestic scientific research and experiments are normal and are not aimed at any country or target." |
It did not explicitly confirm or deny the test. | It did not explicitly confirm or deny the test. |
In its annual report on China's military the Pentagon made no mention of hypersonic test flights but did say the Chinese had built a hypersonic wind tunnel for experiments. | In its annual report on China's military the Pentagon made no mention of hypersonic test flights but did say the Chinese had built a hypersonic wind tunnel for experiments. |
China's surging economic power has been matched by increasing military might, including investments in an aircraft carrier, anti-ship ballistic missiles, satellites and other hardware. | China's surging economic power has been matched by increasing military might, including investments in an aircraft carrier, anti-ship ballistic missiles, satellites and other hardware. |
Three Republican lawmakers including the House armed services committee chairman, Howard "Buck" McKeon, expressed concern over the test of what they called a "Chinese hypersonic cruise missile" and said the US military was falling behind. | Three Republican lawmakers including the House armed services committee chairman, Howard "Buck" McKeon, expressed concern over the test of what they called a "Chinese hypersonic cruise missile" and said the US military was falling behind. |
"While round after round of defence cuts have knocked America's technological advantage on its back, the Chinese and other competitor nations push toward military parity with the United States; in some cases, as in this one, they appear to be leaping ahead of us," they said. | "While round after round of defence cuts have knocked America's technological advantage on its back, the Chinese and other competitor nations push toward military parity with the United States; in some cases, as in this one, they appear to be leaping ahead of us," they said. |
"This situation does nothing to support peaceful coexistence in the Pacific," added the statement, also signed by representatives Randy Forbes and Mike Rogers. | "This situation does nothing to support peaceful coexistence in the Pacific," added the statement, also signed by representatives Randy Forbes and Mike Rogers. |
The US has placed a high priority on hypersonic projects, spending $200m in the 2013 fiscal year on three programmes while conducting a number of test flights. | The US has placed a high priority on hypersonic projects, spending $200m in the 2013 fiscal year on three programmes while conducting a number of test flights. |
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