Posted on 01/06/2002 10:51:34 AM PST by super175
China tested a new re-entry vehicle for its Dongfeng-31 long-range missile, but the test failed when the rocket carrying it exploded, US officials were quoted as saying. A re-entry vehicle carries a missile's warhead or warheads.
The Chinese military carried out the test of the re-entry vehicle for the Dongfeng-31, its newest long-range missile, on Wednesday, the officials told the Washington Times.
The test was monitored from the missile and space launch centre in central China to its planned impact at the remote Lop Nur test range in northwestern China. The launch took place at night-time on Wednesday, the paper said.
Chinese authorities were not available for comment.
It is not known what data the Chinese military obtained from the test of the new re-entry vehicle because the booster blew up in mid-flight, the officials said.
"It got off the ground, but there was a mid-flight explosion," one official said. "They were testing a re-entry vehicle and used a space launcher [as the booster]. Obviously, this was a setback for them."
The DF-31 is a mobile intercontinental ballistic missile in the late stages of development. The weapon is believed to contain US missile technology and warhead secrets obtained through illegal technology transfer and espionage.
The Justice Department is still investigating two US satellite- makers - Loral and Hughes - on suspicion of providing sensitive US missile technology illegally for China's Long March space launcher. It is not known whether the booster used to launch the re-entry vehicle was a Long March rocket.
The DF-31 has been successfully flight-tested several times and is part of China's aggressive strategic nuclear modernisation programme. The missile has a range of up to 9,600km and a longer-range variant, the DF-41, is also being developed.
The missile test comes at a time of heightened tension between India and Pakistan, China's ally. In the past, Beijing has used missile tests to send political signals to foes.
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