Are Hypersonic Missiles Over-Hyped?

Photo-illustration: IEEE Spectrum 

Cameron L. Tracy and David Wright, IEEE Spetrum: Don't Believe the Hype About Hypersonic Missiles 

Hypersonic tech represents merely evolutionary change that isn't worth the price Hypersonic weapons are one of the hottest trends in military hardware. These missiles, which fly through the atmosphere at more than five times the speed of sound, are commonly depicted as a revolutionary new tool of war: ostensibly faster, less detectable, and harder to intercept than currently-deployed long-range ballistic missiles. The major military powers—China, Russia, and the United States—have bought into this belief, with each investing vast sums in a hypersonic arms race. 

But there is a glaring problem with this narrative: Many claims regarding the purported advantages of hypersonic weapons are false. These missiles are, in reality, an old technology with a massive price tag and few meaningful advantages over existing ballistic missiles. 

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WNU Editor: The above authors make the case on why hypersonic missiles may not provide the military benefits that its advocates are claiming.

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