Hypersonic complex or spacecraft. New details of tests in China
The Changzheng-2C launch vehicle is the alleged carrier of the Chinese hypersonic weapons... Photo CALT
In parallel with other leading powers, China is developing hypersonic weapons. A few days ago it became known that one of the samples of this kind, with special capabilities, was brought to flight tests. New information soon arrived. Now the foreign press reports on several test launches in the past months. At the same time, China denies testing weapons and talks about a peace program.
News and denial
The first to report on the hypersonic tests on October 16 was the American newspaper Financial Times. She learned of these events from several unnamed individuals associated with the US intelligence community. Information from these sources as a whole formed an approximate picture, but they interpreted the information received in different ways.
According to the FT and its sources, at the end of August, China launched the Changzheng-2C launch vehicle with an experienced hypersonic aircraft on board. The prototype ascended to a predetermined altitude outside the atmosphere, circled the Earth, and then headed towards its designated target. It was not possible to hit her - the device missed by 20 miles.
In the wake of the publication in FT, new materials began to appear on specialized resources. In particular, several videos were published in Chinese social networks, allegedly with the flight of an unknown device. They showed how, against the background of the dark evening sky, a bright trail is formed from a certain high-speed object. It is curious that one of these videos was dated at the beginning of September, which does not correspond to foreign data on the test date.
The flight of an unknown device in early September. Frame from video from Weibo / ChDambiev
At first, the official Beijing remained silent and did not comment on foreign news... But on October 18, the first official statement was made. Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian confirmed during a press conference that new technology was indeed tested in August. However, it was not a rocket, but a spaceship. It is built with new technology needed to reduce the cost of space travel. The Foreign Ministry spokesman did not give any details.
According to new data
Meanwhile, the Financial Times contacted other "knowledgeable sources" and received even more interesting information. It was published on October 20 in the article "China conducted two hypersonic weapons tests this summer."
China has reportedly tested new hypersonic missile systems twice this summer. The first test launch took place on July 27, and not in August, as stated in a previous publication. It was an experimental Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS) capable of carrying nuclear weapons. The news of this test allegedly made a strong impression on the US military and political leadership.
The second launch took place on 13 August. Details of this event are unknown. FT sources do not know its class, type and characteristics. It could be the same complex that was tested in July - or a completely different system, incl. a different class.
Visualization of the flight of a hypersonic warhead from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
No official comments have yet been received from the Chinese Foreign Ministry or the Chinese Defense Ministry on this matter. This topic can be raised at the next press conferences. It is highly likely that officials will again deny reports of weapons testing and talk about a scientific and civilian project.
In addition, the latest news does not in any way clarify the situation with the videos, allegedly filmed in early September. According to all reports of the Financial Times and statements by a foreign ministry spokesman, tests of new equipment took place in July and August - but not in the first days of autumn. There may have been other tests in the recent past that have not yet made it into the news.
Two versions
Recent reports do not add up to a single consistent picture. The foreign press and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs agree only that a certain launch actually took place in August, and a prototype of a new class was present on board the launch vehicle. The rest of the news and official statements contradict each other.
It can be noted that both versions, the Chinese American, do not generally contradict the known information about the promising developments of China. However, it will not be possible to establish which of them is more true due to the lack of information and Beijing's unwillingness to share details.
The layout of the reusable spaceplane "Shenlong" is being tested. Photo Bmpd.livejournal.com
It is well known that Chinese science and industry has been studying hypersonic technology for many years. As a result, the appearance of an experimental aircraft and the beginning of its flight tests were only a matter of time. All this can indirectly confirm the latest reports from the FT.
It is curious that now the American newspaper writes about two tests, and we can talk about hypersonic complexes of different types. Such messages do not in principle contradict the available information on ongoing developments. It is quite possible that China is simultaneously working on several directions in the hypersonic region. For example, a FOBS class complex and a system with a planning warhead could be put into testing.
However, one should not forget the statements of the Foreign Ministry, which also look realistic. It is argued that a certain spacecraft was tested on the basis of new technologies that reduce the cost of the flight. Obviously, we are talking about a promising reusable system - and this explanation of the recent launches also has a right to life.
In recent years, the Chinese rocket and space industry has been focusing on reusable ships and is already showing its first successes. So, in September last year, the first flight of the apparatus known as CSSHQ took place. For two days, he remained in orbit, after which he landed. No technical details were disclosed; the second flight of the reusable system has not yet been reported.
Launch of the Changzheng-2F rocket. Photo by Xinhua
It should be noted that the launch of CSSHQ was carried out using the Changzheng-2F launch vehicle, and the alleged ship mod. 2021 flew on a Changzheng-2C rocket. These carriers belong to the same family, but the CZ-2F is significantly larger and heavier, and also carries a greater load. From this it follows that the ship that flew in August is smaller and lighter than last year's CSSHQ, as a result of which it received a lighter rocket.
In all directions
Thus, the news of recent days clearly indicates that China is testing promising missile technology. At the same time, they do not allow us to understand what kind of samples are being discussed. Unofficial foreign sources report military developments and give some details - while Beijing talks about the scientific nature of the project, but does not go into details.
However, some details of the current situation and the current state of affairs are clear and understandable. It is obvious that China is not concentrating efforts in one area and seeks to simultaneously develop several directions. Hypersonic and rocket-space systems for various purposes are being developed, and now these projects are being tested.
All this means that in the medium term, China will receive a whole range of new military and civilian capabilities. The army will be armed with rocket and space complexes with fundamentally different capabilities, and civilian astronautics will master fundamentally new ships. When this will happen is unknown. But all the necessary efforts will be made, and this will definitely happen. And then China will not make a secret of its achievements.
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