China's second hypersonic glider test fails as PLA trials nuclear weapons delivery system

The People's Liberation Army has carried out a second, albeit unsuccessful test of a hypersonic vehicle, two sources close to the military said, as China attempts to find a way to deliver nuclear weapons at immense speed to evade defence systems.

The test was carried out on August 7 at a missile and satellite launching centre in Shanxi province, about 300km from its capital Taiyuan, said the sources, who asked not be named.

The vehicle broke up soon after it was launched. It was the second time the PLA has tested the system, the two sources said.

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