China claims to have successfully tested its first hypersonic aircraft
China claims to have successfully tested its first hypersonic aircraft, a big step forward in aerospace technology that could intensify pressure on the US military. The China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA), based in Beijing and part of the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, conducted the first test of the "Starry Sky-2" aircraft last Friday.
Hypersonic vehicles are not simply high-speed -- they travel at least at five times the speed of sound. That's fast enough to travel across the US in around 30 minutes. According to a CAAA statement released Monday, the Starry Sky-2 reached a top speed of Mach 6 -- six times the speed of sound, or 4,563 miles (7,344 kilometers) per hour.
The test was a "complete success," claimed CAAA, which posted photos of the test launch on social media platform WeChat. "The Starry Sky-2 flight test project was strongly innovative and technically difficult, confronting a number of cutting-edge international technical challenges." The CAAA did not indicate what the new aircraft or technology would be used for, other than to say they hoped to continue contributing to China's aerospace industry.
Also at Quartz and NextBigFuture.
Related: General: U.S. Has No Defense Against "Hypersonic Weapons"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 09 2018, @12:44AM (1 child)
The U.S. military is doing its best to manage the size of the islamist population relative to the available resources, you insensitive clod. If you would increase their budget they could get the job done faster.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 09 2018, @01:00PM
some argue that only china can deal with islam in the future because they are not as ham-strung with a basic tenant called "human rights".
adhering to a rule to not punch below the waist line is stupid if your opponent has a different rule set?
fortunately one rule eclipses all other rules: Profit!
^_^