hypersonic weapons
Mach-five-plus armaments
Hypersonic weapons are missiles or other projectiles that travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5—five times the speed of sound.
Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons can maneuver during flight, making them harder to track and intercept.
The technology represents a major focus of military competition among the United States, China, and Russia: The Pentagon is accelerating hypersonic weapons development.
- speed of soundAcoustic wave velocity
- shock wavesAbrupt pressure disturbances
- Mach numberRatio to sonic velocity
- arms raceEscalating weapons accumulation between nations
- missile defenseSystem intercepting hostile projectiles
first strike · precision strike · kinetic energy · heat shielding · thermal stress · wind tunnel · fluid dynamics · propulsion systems · reentry vehicle · nuclear triad · cruise missiles · geopolitical tensions · stealth technology · tactical advantage · asymmetric warfare · avionics · defense budgets · military alliances
- defense researchDARPA, defense research, weapons labs, military research, weapons testing
- Munitionsbombs, missiles, bullets, ordnance, warheads
- DARPAARPANET, TCP/IP, hypersonics, stealth technology, cybersecurity
- space policymilitarization, liability limits, international law, space weapons, satellite weapons
- Chinese MilitaryPeople's Liberation Army, ground force, military bases, military leaders, generals
hypersonic weaponsballistic missiles
Self-propelled guided munitions
ICBMs · intercontinental ballistic missiles · artillery shells · dumb bombs
hypersonic weaponsconventional weapons
Non-WMD military equipment
dumb bombs · catapults · spears · rocks · trebuchets
hypersonic, weapon, hyper, sonic, supersonic, subsonic, ultrasonic, sonics, weaponry