What is a hypersonic missile? Everything you need to know about

HYPERSONIC weaponry travel faster than the speed of sound and can move at speeds ranging from one to five miles per second.

On Friday, March 18, Russian military officials declared that the nation has launched an attack against Ukraine using a hypersonic missile.

What is a hypersonic missile?

A hypersonic missile is one that can travel at speeds ranging from five to twenty-five times the speed of sound.

Because of their high speed (Mach 5), the missiles are extremely difficult to operate, track, and aim.

The United States, North Korea, Russia, and China are reportedly developing hypersonic missiles.

Hypersonic missiles are more deadly than subsonic or supersonic warheads since no missile defence system is known to be capable of intercepting them.

Current hypersonic missile designs are reported to be capable of travelling at Mach 10 speeds across lengths of up to 1200 miles.

Hypersonic missiles are classified into two types: cruise missiles and glide vehicles.

What is a cruise missile?

A hypersonic cruise missile is a non-ballistic weapon powered by a high-speed jet engine capable of exceeding Mach 5.

Missiles are typically ballistic and employ gravity force to reach their targets.

What is a glide vehicle?

To move through the atmosphere, a hypersonic glide vehicle employs re-entry vehicles.

The missile is propelled into space on an arch, with warheads attached to hypersonic glide vehicles.

Did the Russian military use a hypersonic missile?

The Russian military assertion has yet to be validated, according to the publication.