China FOBS off US as it intensifies nuclear race
China unveiled its DF-17 missile with hypersonic glide vehicle in 2019. (Gordon Arthur)
An advanced Chinese missile test occurred on 27 August, where a space rocket boosted a hypersonic glide vehicle into low orbit before it impacted back on Earth, according to a 17 October report in the Financial Times.
China failed to divulge this 78th launch of a Long March 2C rocket, which occurred sometime between other launches on 19 July and 24 August, but this test bears all the hallmarks of a fractional orbital bombardment system (FOBS).
This project is led by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, a subdivision of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
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