BEIJING: China tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile in August, showing a capability that caught US intelligence by surprise, the Financial Times reported, citing five unnamed sources.

The report late on Saturday said the Chinese military launched a rocket carrying a hypersonic glide vehicle that flew through low-orbit space, circling the globe before cruising towards its target, which it missed by 40 kilometres.

“The test showed that China had made astounding progress on hypersonic weapons and was far more advanced than US officials realised,” the report said, citing people briefed on the intelligence.

The United States and Russia are also developing hypersonic missiles, and last month North Korea said it had test-fired a newly-developed hypersonic missile.

At a 2019 parade, China showcased advancing weaponry, including its hypersonic missile, known as the DF-17.

Ballistic missiles fly into outer space before returning on steep trajectories at high speeds. Hypersonic weapons are difficult to defend against because they fly towards targets at lower altitudes, but can achieve more than five times the speed of sound — or about 6,200 km per hour.