China tests air-to-air missile weapon

Beijing. China said on Saturday it has successfully tested a mid-air missile weapon, indicating progress in its ability to shoot down warheads coming from space. The Defense Ministry said the test was conducted late Friday night inside Chinese territory and achieved the “desired objective of the test”. The ministry said the test was “defensive in nature and not aimed at any country”.

However, China did not give any further details, such as whether it actually hit any target, how many missiles were fired and where they fell. Such systems include multiple ground-launched interceptor missiles and a large number of radar and fire-control systems and are intended to shoot down ballistic missiles, including ICBMs capable of carrying nuclear or other warheads, in mid-air.

China already has the world’s largest arsenal of all types of missiles and is believed to be rapidly expanding it. According to a report released by the US Defense Department Pentagon last year, China now has about 400 nuclear weapons and by 2035 this number could reach 1,500.

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