China showcases latest missiles in military parade

The People’s Republic of China touted new missile technology in its National Day parade Tuesday celebrating the 70th anniversary of its founding, according to The Associated Press.

The technology displayed included the vehicle-mounted Dong Feng 17 (DF-17), as well as the Dong Feng 41 (DF-41), which has a range of 9,300 miles, making it the nation’s longest-range weapon and, according to the Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington, possibly the longest ranged in the world.

{mosads}Estimates say the DF-41 could reach the U.S. in about 30 minutes.

The nation also showed off updates to the Dong Feng 31 missile, which has a range of nearly 7,000 miles.

Little information has been released about the DF-17 but analysts believe its hyper-glide vehicle can be launched from a missile and, upon separation from the missile, reach over five times the speed of sound, according to the AP.

The parade also displayed JL-2 submarine-launched strategic missiles that are believed to be the standard weapons systems for the country’s nuclear subs, capable of deploying 12 missiles with one warhead each, according to the AP.

The Chinese government has said all the weapons were developed domestically.

While Beijing is believed to have taken advantage of industrial spying and technological imports, it has also benefited from the size of its economy and military research and development programs, according to the news service.

“The overall combat ability of China’s missile force has been enhanced significantly,” Song Zhongping, a military commentator for Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing Phoenix TV, said of the weapons, according to the AP.