China surprised US officials by testing a new hypersonic missile in August that went around the globe before it made its way toward the intended target, The Financial Times reported on Saturday.

Two sources quoted in the report said that China made "astounding progress on hypersonic weapons and was far more advanced than US officials realized."

China has tested 79 Long March 2C rockets that carry the missiles so far, according to the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. Five people with knowledge of the launch told the outlet that the missile flew in low orbit before going down toward its target, which it missed by 24 miles.

John Kirby, the press secretary for the Department of Defense, said the United States sees China as the No. 1 "pacing challenge" as the two countries work toward developing hypersonic weapons that travel at five times the speed of sound.... Read More: Arutz-7