American Military Times:
China continues to advance its military and space programs with a test of their DN-3 long-range missile interceptor. The purpose of the DN-3 is to destroy target missiles in space. China completed a successful test of the system on Feb. 5 with the DN-3 missile hitting and destroying its intended target. This launch was at least the second time China has put a system with this capability to use since 2010.
The 2010 test, likely a similar missile to China’s current DN-3 from earlier this month, destroyed a target high in the exoatmosphere, about 62 miles above the surface of the earth. That test made China just the second nation on earth after the United States to develop and launch hit-to-kill defense missiles capable of destroying targets in the exoatmospere.
The United States tested a system with similar capabilities, named the SM-3, earlier last month, although that launch missed its intended target. The U.S. program has been in development for decades.
