US conducts "successful" long range hypersonic weapon tests

WASHINGTON, Oct 22 (KUNA) -- The US military has rendered three tests involving a long range hypersonic weapon "successful," according to the Pentagon on Friday.
The tests, run on Wednesday by Sandia National Laboratory from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, will help "inform the development of the Navy's Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) and the Army's Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) offensive hypersonic strike," read a statement.
Hypersonic weapons fly in the upper atmosphere at more than five times the speed of sound, or roughly 6,200 kilometres per hour.
The tests "demonstrated advanced hypersonic technologies, capabilities, and prototype systems in a realistic operating environment." "The trials took place following reports of hypersonic missile tests from numerous countries with which the United States has had tense relationships," added the Pentagon.
The announcement follows a successful hypersonic missile test, reported by North Korea last month, while Russia reported earlier this month that for the first time it launched a hypersonic missile from the Severodvinsk submarine.
The United States, for its part, has pursued developing hypersonic weapons since the early 2000s as a part of its conventional prompt global strike program.
It is working with defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, to develop the capability, which the Pentagon said is one of its "highest priorities." (end) asj.sd