Hypersonic Missiles: The New Arms Race

Hypersonic weapons, traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5, represent the most significant advancement in missile technology since the development of ballistic missiles. These weapons combine extreme speed with maneuverability, making them exceedingly difficult to detect, track, and intercept with existing air defense systems. The hypersonic arms race has intensified among the major powers, with Russia, China, and the United States leading development.

Russia has deployed the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle atop RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles, claiming speeds of Mach 27 with the ability to maneuver unpredictably during reentry. The Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missile, carried by MiG-31K interceptors, achieves Mach 10 and has been employed operationally in Ukraine. The Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic cruise missile is designed for naval anti-ship and land-attack missions at Mach 9.

China has tested the DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle aboard DF-17 medium-range ballistic missiles. The system is designed specifically for anti-access/area-denial operations in the Western Pacific, threatening carrier battle groups with weapons that arrive faster than defensive systems can react. The YJ-21 carrier-killing hypersonic missile represents a direct threat to US naval power projection.

The United States has accelerated hypersonic development through the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) Dark Eagle for the Army, the AGM-183A ARRW for the Air Force, and the Conventional Prompt Strike programme for the Navy. The Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) uses scramjet propulsion for sustained hypersonic flight. Development has faced challenges but programmes continue to advance.

The strategic implications are profound. Hypersonic weapons compress decision timelines for leaders from minutes to seconds, potentially increasing the risk of miscalculation. They challenge the entire architecture of missile defense built over decades. As these weapons proliferate beyond the three major powers to nations like North Korea, India, and others, the global security landscape will be fundamentally altered.