GRAPHICS

Explaining the Hype Around Hypersonic Weapons

Jan 6, 2018 | 14:57 GMT

Hypersonic missiles travel Mach 5 or faster.

Hard to follow and hard to neutralize, hypersonic missiles will trigger a new arms race for offensive superiority.

Stratfor 2018)

Editor's Note

Countries around the world are in the process of developing hypersonic weapons technology, and the United States and China are leading the pack. With the technology needed for hypersonic missiles growing ever more feasible and accessible, we anticipate that both countries will have mature designs in the near future. The new missiles will be much faster than any current cruise missiles, and they will be extremely hard to detect. As the world adjusts to this evolving weaponry, the way countries approach offensive arms development and preemptive strikes is set to change dramatically.