By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA (Reuters), – Washington is worried about hypersonic technology and potential military applications by Russia and China. This was after a media report that Beijing had successfully tested a hypersonic glide missile capable of carrying nuclear fuel.

Hypersonic weapons refer to missiles capable of traveling at more than five times sound speed. The race for next-generation long-range weapons is underway that will be harder to find and intercept.

Five people who are familiar with the subject were quoted by the Financial Times as saying that China tested an aircraft in August. It flew through space, circled the earth, and then cruised down to a target it missed.

According to the Chinese foreign ministry, it denied that report. According to the Chinese foreign ministry, they denied that it carried out routine tests in July. However, they added, “It wasn’t a missile. It was a space vessel.”

Although Russia and the United States have tested hypersonic weapons, Robert Wood (the United States’ disarmament ambassador) said Washington was concerned about their potential use.

According to him, Hypersonic technology has been a concern, as well as the possible military uses of it. He told a few reporters that they had stopped from seeking military applications.

We have witnessed Russia and China actively pursue the use of, the militarisation, this technology. So we’re just trying to be kind.

Wood was talking about how difficult it is for missile defence systems, to track high-speed weaponry that can maneuver and dodge shields designed to keep them out of territory.

Wood stated that the Russians possess a hypersonic glide car called Avangard. It is one of their heavy ICBMs, or inter-continental ballistic missiles. That was something we knew. The New START Agreement (on Nuclear Arms Reduction) has it. But it’s still not fully developed.

He said, “But this kind of technology is worrisome because we haven’t faced it before.”

Russia and China didn’t immediately reply to his remarks.

CONCERN MATCHED WITH HOPE

Wood is the U.S. ambassador to the U.N.-sponsored Conference on Disarmament, Geneva. He expressed hope that this new technology would be dealt with or “captured”, in accordance with an internationally recognized principle or legal system in the near future.

Lloyd Austin, U.S. Defence Secretary, said that Washington closely monitors China’s progress in developing advanced weapons systems. He declined to comment on Financial Times’ report.

Austin stated that China’s development in arms and advanced capability and systems will only add tensions to the region.

He assured Washington that it would continue to be focused on Beijing’s challenge.