BEIJING – China is reportedly expected to unveil a nuclear-armed missilethat could reach the United States in just 30 minutes during a paradecelebrating the 70th anniversary of Communist rule in the country, amidheightened political, military and economic tensions with Washington.
According to Chinese media, the military may unveil the missile, dubbedthe Dongfeng 41, during the ceremony on Tuesday, Press TV has reported.
The parade will included 15,000 troops, more than 160 aircraft and 580pieces of military equipment, said a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense,Cai Zhijun.
He said last week that many new weapons “will be shown for the first time,”but declined to clarify whether they would include the Dongfeng 41.
No details of the missile have been released, but according to the Centerfor Strategic and International Studies in Washington, it may have theworld’s longest range at 15,000 kilometers.
The missile with a technology known as multiple independently targetablere-entry vehicles, (MIRV), is capable of flying at 25 times the speed ofsound, according to analysts.
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It also could reach the United States in 30 minutes with up to 10 warheadsfor separate targets, they said.
The current mainstay missile of China is known as the Dongfeng 31, whichhas a range of more than 11,200 kilometers. The missile puts most of thecontinental United States within reach.
Satellite images have shown China increasing the number of launchers forDF-41 and DF-31 missiles from 18 to as many as 36.
