Beijing: China has tested a new space capability with a hypersonic missile, according to the Financial Times (FT).
The report, citing multiple sources familiar with the test, said on Saturday that Beijing launched the nuclear-capable missile in August.
The missile circled the Earth at low orbit before speeding towards its target, according to the sources, “demonstrating an advanced space capability that caught US intelligence by surprise”.
Three people briefed on the intelligence told the FT that the missile missed its target by more than 20 miles (32 kilometres).
However, two said the “test showed that China had made astounding progress on hypersonic weapons and was far more advanced than US officials realised”.
The FT’s sources said the hypersonic glide vehicle was carried by a Long March rocket, launches of which China usually announces, though the August test was kept under wraps.