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                China Confirms Hypersonic Missile Delivery Test

   by VOA News

   China has conducted an experimental flight of a hypersonic missile
   delivery vehicle designed to travel several times faster than the speed
   of sound.
   Beijing's Defense Ministry did not comment on the outcome of the test,
   which it called scientific in nature and not targeted at any particular
   country.
   The Pentagon confirmed the test but would not comment on it. The test
   comes as some in the U.S. worry about China's rapid military growth.
   If perfected, hypersonic technology could allow countries to strike
   targets anywhere in the world within minutes, going undetected by
   missile defense systems.
   The test was first reported by the Washington Free Beacon, which quoted
   U.S. officials who said the vehicle flew at Mach 10, or 10 times the
   speed of sound.
   The U.S. is also developing, and has tested, hypersonic vehicles. One
   of the vehicles, the Falcon HTV-2 is made by Lockheed Martin, which
   claims it can travel at a speed of Mach 20.
   Experts said it is extremely difficult to master the technology needed
   to control the hypersonic vehicles, making it unclear how soon they
   will be ready for use.
   Admiral Samuel Locklear, the head of U.S. Pacific Command, said on
   Wednesday that he was not particularly concerned about the Chinese
   test, but did acknowledge that it is representative of China's ability
   to develop new technologies.
   China has steadily increased its military expenditures as its economy
   expanded in recent decades, though it remains far outpaced by the
   United States in defense spending.
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   ivery-test/1831194.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/china-confirms-hypersonic-missile-delivery-test/1831194.html