It gained the capability to intercept ICBMs in 2020 – the USA generally upgrades extends the service life of their advanced weapons through upgrades and new versions with enhanced capabilities. It’s absolutely a last-ditch weapon in that capacity at this stage, with extremely limited utility and high probability of failure.
Making an accurate, useful hyper-sonic missile is incredibly difficult, but the USA or an advanced ally are the most likely to be the first to pull it off. We’ve seen the offerings of other powers’ “hyper-sonic missiles”: the approach of cutting the top stage off an ICBM and launching it sideways doesn’t work. They can hardly hit a large, stationary, undefended building.
It gained the capability to intercept ICBMs in 2020 – the USA generally upgrades extends the service life of their advanced weapons through upgrades and new versions with enhanced capabilities. It’s absolutely a last-ditch weapon in that capacity at this stage, with extremely limited utility and high probability of failure.
Making an accurate, useful hyper-sonic missile is incredibly difficult, but the USA or an advanced ally are the most likely to be the first to pull it off. We’ve seen the offerings of other powers’ “hyper-sonic missiles”: the approach of cutting the top stage off an ICBM and launching it sideways doesn’t work. They can hardly hit a large, stationary, undefended building.