China in August this year tested a hypersonic missile capable of carrying nuclear weapons, which surprised US intelligence, writes the Financial Times, citing sources familiar with intelligence.
It is reported that the PRC has shown “advanced space capabilities that caught US intelligence by surprise.” According to the source, although the missile did not reach its intended target, its launch demonstrated China’s “amazing progress” in the development of hypersonic weapons.
“We have no idea how they did it,” RIA Novosti quoted the newspaper’s source as saying.
According to the interlocutors of the Financial Times, the Chinese missile could fly over the South Pole, which will pose a problem for the US military. American missile defense systems are located mainly in the northern polar direction.
The Pentagon expressed concern about China’s actions, but did not comment on the message about the missile test.
“We have clearly expressed our concern about the military capabilities that China continues to develop and which only increase tensions in the region and beyond,” the agency quoted Pentagon spokesman John Kirby as saying.
Earlier, the military expert told Sputnik radio about the joint naval exercises of Russia and China.