China Tests First Hypersonic Aircraft Capable of Firing Nuclear Warheads

Beijing: In a “technological breakthrough,” China has successfully tested its first wave rider hypersonic aircraft that can carry nuclear warheads and break through any current generation anti-missile defense system due to its high speed and “unpredictable trajectory”. The test of the Xingkong-2, or Starry Sky-2, was conducted in a target range located in northwest China on Friday, China’s state media reported. It flew independently, made large-angle turning maneuvers and landed in the targeted area as planned,

Launched in a rocket, the wave rider (hypersonic aircraft) was released in the air after about 10 minutes. The flight vehicle reached 30 km in altitude at Mach 5.5-6, a statement by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA) under China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp said. Wave rider is a flight vehicle that flies in the atmosphere and uses shockwaves generated by its own hypersonic flight with the air to glide at high speed, Song Zhongping, a military expert, told the Global Times. (IANS)