CHINA claims it has developed a new HYPERSONIC engine which could make its missiles invisible to existing defence systems.

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has announced the successful development of a hypersonic ramjet engine after a series of eight test flights.

2 The hypersonic long-range missiles could change the face of modern warfare

A report in the Global Times outlet of the state-owned People’s Daily states the revolutionary engine is now ready to be combined with a new generation of air-to-air missiles.

To qualify as ‘hypersonic’, the engine would have to move at more than 3853mph which is five times faster than the speed of sound.

And any missile moving at such speeds is likely to be impervious to modern rocket defence shields and could change the face of modern warfare.

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China has reportedly chosen to focus on solid fuels as they are more stable and don’t require complicated and time consuming fuelling processes.

This means such weapons would be ‘on call’ for rapid deployment.

Ramjet engines have the ability to produce more energy from any given payload of fuel through sucking oxygen out of the atmosphere to burn, instead of carrying its own oxidisers.

The rate of this oxygen supply can be controlled through the ramjet’s air intakes.

A similar ramjet research project by the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) appears to have stalled after a series of test flights ended in 2015.

2 Shared on Chinese social media this image is believed to show a J-16 fighter carrying a prototype hypervelocity missile

Efforts have now focused on a new, Small Advanced Capabilities Missile which is not likely to appear before the 2030s.

China has reportedly been working on developing its reliable solid-fuel ramjets since 2000.

Such hypervelocity engines, when mated to existing missiles, could potentially triple their range.

Existing 100km weapons could have their range extended to 320km.

Up to six of these can be carried in the weapons bay of China’s new J-20 and J-31 stealth fighters.

In March, it emerged that Russia has developed hypersonic cruise missiles which could destroy the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers in a single strike.

Deadly Zircon missiles can travel up to SIX times the speed of sound at 4,600 mph and reportedly more than 600 miles.

A version of this story originally appeared on News.com.au.

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