Thread by @sumrkhan1

#China SURPRISES US WITH HYPERSONIC MISSILE TEST,
@FT reports...

THIS launch of nuclear-capable rocket that circled the globe took #USA intelligence by surprise.

Month ago, Frank Kendall, USAF secy, hinted that Beijing was developing a 'new' weapon and had made huge advances.

He declined to provide details, but suggested that China was developing something akin to the “Fractional Orbital Bombardment System” that the USSR deployed for part of the Cold War, before abandoning it. “If you use that approach, u don’t have to use traditional ICBM trajectory.

"It’s a way to avoid defences and missile warning systems,” said Kendall.

In August, General Glen VanHerck, head of N.American Aerospace Defense Command, told a conference that China had “recently demonstrated very advanced hypersonic glide vehicle capabilities”.

He warned that the Chinese capability would “provide significant challenges to my Norad capability to provide threat warning and attack assessment”. People familiar with Chinese test said 'the weapon could, fly over the South Pole. That would pose a big challenge for the US'

-military because its missiles defence systems are focused on the northern polar route. The revelation comes as the Biden administration undertakes the Nuclear Posture Review. The Pentagon did not comment on the report but expressed concern about China.

“We have made clear our concerns about the military capabilities China continues to pursue, capabilities that only increase tensions in the region and beyond,” said John Kirby, spokesperson. “That is one reason why we hold China as our number one pacing challenge.”

The 🇨🇳embassy didn't comment on test, but spox Liu Pengyu said China always pursued a military policy that was “defensive in nature” its military dvlpmnt didn't target any country. “We don’t have a global military strategy and ops like US. We arent interested in an arms race"

The missile missed its target by about two-dozen miles, according to three people briefed on the intelligence. But two said the test showed that China had made astounding progress on hypersonic weapons and was far more advanced than US officials realised.

China generally announces the launch of Long March rockets — the type used to launch the hypersonic glide vehicle into orbit — but it conspicuously concealed the August launch.

Ref: ft.com/content/ba0a3c…