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Yes, China unveiled missile that could strike US in 30 minutes

“Doomsday bomb,” declares the headline of an October 2019 article by the Sun, a UK tabloid. “China unveils terrifying Dongfeng-41 nuke that ‘can strike US in 30 minutes with TEN warheads’ at 70th anniversary parade.”

The weapon is an “intercontinental ballistic missile that is said to have the furthest range of any nuclear missile,” it says.

The article was shared on Facebook in Nigeria. The social network’s third-party fact checking programme alert system then flagged it as possibly false, but it’s correct. 



Fast and deadly


A number of credible news organisations reported the unveiling of the Dongfeng-41 and other weapons during a military parade in September 2019. 

Exact details of the weapon have not been released but the Center for Strategic & International Studies, a US think tank, says it has an operational range of 15,000 kilometres and is “MIRV capable” – a technology that allows the missile to carry multiple warheads for separate targets. 

The Dongfeng-41 is also incredibly fast, travelling at 25 times the speed of sound. This would allow it to reach any city in the US within 30 minutes. 

Other weapons unveiled during China’s parade include a supersonic drone and a robot submarine. – Africa Check




 

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