Get punched in the face by allies! A few days after the United States accused China of "test firing hypersonic weapons," South Korea unveiled a prototype model

According to the Russian Satellite News Agency reported on the 8th, just a few days after US Defense Secretary Austin accused China of the so-called "hypersonic weapons test" to undermine regional stability, South Korea announced its own hypersonic weapon prototype model.

Screenshot of the report

According to Aviation Week, a model of the weapon, called "Hycore," was unveiled on Friday by south Korea's Defense Science Research Institute (ADD). South Korea reportedly plans to test it starting in 2022.

Much like Boeing's X-51 Waverider test aircraft, the weapon is a ground-launched cruise missile similar to the U.S. Army's upcoming long-range hypersonic weapon (LRHW). However, the potential range of the weapon has not been disclosed.

An animated video released by ADD shows the basic structure of the missile, including a secondary solid-fuel rocket and a scramjet engine. According to the Russian Satellite News Agency, it appears to operate in a similar way to Russia's Zircon hypersonic cruise missile.

Hypersonic weapons can exceed Mach 5, or 5 times the speed of sound, and have extremely high speed and maneuverability, almost unaffected by most air defense systems. They can be launched from land, surface ships, submarines or aircraft, often with extremely long ranges.

North Korea announced its first hypersonic test in September, and Russia also has several hypersonic weapons in service, according to the Russian Satellite News Agency. The U.S. is lagging behind in this regard, and while the country has several weapons at different testing stages, multiple failures have delayed their plans, and There are currently no hypersonic weapons available in Washington.

During a visit to South Korea last week and participation in the annual joint military review, U.S. Defense Secretary Austin blamed China's "hypersonic weapons program," saying it "has heightened tensions in the region." It is unclear whether Washington also believes that South Korea's hypersonic weapons development program has also exacerbated regional tensions, the Russian Satellite News Agency noted.

In response to the foreign media speculation that "China tested the launch of hypersonic missiles", Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that it is understood that the test is a routine spacecraft test to verify the reusable technology of spacecraft, which is of great significance for reducing the cost of spacecraft use and can provide a convenient and cheap round-trip way for human beings to use space for peaceful use. Many companies in the world have carried out similar experiments, and the spacecraft is separated before the spacecraft returns, which will burn and disintegrate in the process of falling into the atmosphere and fall into the high seas. China will work with other countries in the world to make joint efforts for the peaceful use of space for the benefit of mankind.

(Editor: WDQ)