China on Wednesday successfully test-fired an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM). A fake warhead was installed in this missile. According to the BBC, this is the first time since the 1980s that China has tested an ICBM missile in the Pacific Ocean.
The missile was launched at 8.44 am. China's Defense Ministry said the missile fell into the sea where it was expected. This is part of China's annual training. However, no information has come out about the features of this missile and its launch location.
China has tested a missile in the Pacific Ocean for the first time since 1980. (file)
China claims that information about the test was given to neighboring countries
China's state-run media Xinhua said the missile test had already been reported to surrounding countries before it was launched. However, Japan has denied this. Until now, China has always tested its ICB missiles domestically. Until now this was done in the Taklamakan desert of Xinjiang region.
After the test, China has said that it was not targeted at any country. However, the test is considered important amid tensions with Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan.
China last tested an ICBM in international waters in May 1980. It then traveled 9,070 km and hit the target in the Pacific Ocean. 18 naval ships of China participated in this test. It is considered one of China's largest naval missions ever.
China has ICBM with a range of 15 thousand km
The information about the missile that China has tested has not been revealed. However, in 2019, the DF-41 ICBM was shown during a parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China. It is one of China's newest ICBMs. The range of this missile is 12 thousand to 15 thousand km.
Earlier in August 2021, China test-fired a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile. However, this Chinese test missile failed to hit its target. The missile fell about 32 kilometers away from the target. China kept the test completely confidential.
America's missile defense system could not detect the missile because it was hypersonic. Despite the test's failure, it raised American concerns.
This image is of China's DF-41 ballistic missile, which has a range of up to 15 thousand km.
By 2030 Dragon will have 1 thousand nuclear warheads
ICBM is capable of striking at long range (12 to 15 thousand km). They are also not easy to track on radar. According to May 2023 data, China currently has 500 nuclear weapons, which may increase to 1 thousand by 2030.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
