China developing hypersonic weapons that could strike US in 14 minutes as it tests them in ‘world’s fastest’ wind tunnel

Researchers want the facility to be operational by 2020

China's J-10 fighter jets from the People's Liberation Army Air Force August 1st Aerobatics Team perform during a media demonstration at the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, November 24, 2015 (REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha)

China is building the world’s fastest wind tunnel to test hypersonic weapons that could reach the US in less than 14 minutes, it has been reported.

The facility could be up and running within three years.

Researchers say it will help speed up the development of hypersonic weapons in the country and reduce the risk of failure when test flights of hypersonic aircraft begin.

The tunnel will feature a test chamber with room for aircraft models with a wing-span of almost three metres, according to the South China Morning Post.

It will be used to test hypersonic flight at speeds of up to 12 kilometres per second.

A weapon flying at this speed from China could would be capable of reaching the west coast of the US within 14 minutes, the South China Morning Post reports.

Zhao Wei, a senior scientist working on the project, says researchers will detonate several tubes containing a mixture of oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen gases to create shock waves that will be channelled into the test chamber via metal tubes.

This reaction will generate high-speed airflows and extreme heat. The test aircraft will be have to withstand temperatures of 7,727 degrees Celsius.

For protection, it will be covered in “special materials” that should prevent it from veering off-course or disintegrating.

“It will boost the engineering application of hypersonic technology, mostly in military sectors, by duplicating the environment of extreme hypersonic flights, so problems can be discovered and solved on the ground,” Mr Wei told the South China Morning Post.

The tunnel, which researchers hope to be operational by 2020, is also set be used to test a new jet engine designed specifically for hypersonic flights.