MOSCOW, Oct 21 - RIA Novosti. The Chinese military conducted two tests of hypersonic weapons in the summer of 2021, the Financial Times newspaper writes, citing informed sources.
Earlier in October, the newspaper, citing sources, reported that China had tested a hypersonic missile capable of carrying nuclear weapons, and that it "caught the American intelligence service by surprise." According to the sources of the publication, the missile did not reach the target, but the test showed that China has made "amazing progress in the development of hypersonic weapons" and has moved much further in this than the Americans believed. The Pentagon expressed concern about China's actions, but did not comment on the report about the hypersonic missile test. Later, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that China had tested a spacecraft, not a hypersonic missile, in August of this year.
Now the newspaper has learned that China has conducted tests twice. The first of them took place, according to sources, not in August, but on July 27. According to four people familiar with US intelligence assessments, then the Chinese military launched a rocket with a "partially-orbital bombing" system to launch a "hypersonic gliding aircraft" capable of carrying nuclear weapons around the Earth.
Then, on August 13, China conducted a second test of hypersonic weapons, informed sources told the newspaper. What kind of weapon it was, is not stated in the message.
However, three people who are aware of the July test told the publication that the launch stunned the US Department of Defense and American intelligence, as China demonstrated a new weapons capability.
Now scientists working for the American government are trying to realize what military potential the PRC has and what the United States does not have, a source told the newspaper. According to them, China's achievements "defy the laws of physics."
