BEIJING – China said on Sunday that it has successfully tested itswaverider hypersonic aircraft which is capable of flying independently andof carrying nuclear warheads.
State-run Global Times reported that the Xingkong-2 – also called StarrySky-2 – was fired at a target range in north-west China and tested for 10minutes. During its independent flight, Xingkong-2 – designed by ChinaAcademy of Aerospace Aerodynamics reached an altitude of 30 kilometres atMach 5.5.
It is reported that Xingkong-2 is a flight vehicle which flies in theatmosphere and glides at high speeds using shockwaves generated by its ownhypersonic flight with the air. It can reportedly carry nuclear warheadsand break past anti-missile defence systems currently in use the worldover. This is primarily because Xingkong-2 has an unpredictable trajectoryand has a superior in-flight speed to cruise and ballistic missiles.
While there is no word on when it would be officially handed over to thecountry’s military, there are more tests expected in coming months. Thosein the know say that Xingkong-2 can eventually be used for both tacticaland strategic operations.
China has been modernising its military and aims to become a majormanufacturer of weapons systems in the times to come. Numerous reports inthe Chinese media have said that Beijing desires to be at par with theUnited States and Russia when it comes to military might and prowess.