China fired hypersonic missile this year, say leaked US intelligence documents: Reports

China has test-launched a 6500 mph hypersonic missile earlier this year, say multiple media reports citing leaked US intelligence documents. The Sun has also said that the Chinese hypersonic missile even has the capability to penetrate US missile defence system. Media reports say that Beijing fired one of its experimental missiles, the DF-27 hypersonic glide vehicle on February 25.

BBC said that the leaked documents revealed that the hypersonic missile flew 1200 kilometres in 12 minutes.

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Hypersonic missiles have very high speeds (5 to 25 times that of sound) which makeit very hard for conventional missile interception systems to strike them down. Hypersonic missiles can cover up to 8 kilometres per second. The immense speed forms a plasma cloud in front of them while in air and the cloud blocks radio waves thus making interception more difficult. Countries like the US, China, Russia and others are spending huge resources to perfect their hypersonic missiles as they are being seen as weapons that can can offer decisive advantage.

The hypersonic missile China fired reportedly belongs to third generation of its nuclear weapons.As reported by the Chinese media, the missile is capable of carrying 10 nuclear warheads and has a range of more than 14,000 km. This, in theory makes it capable of striking any location on Earth.

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(With inputs from agencies)

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