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Graphic shows U.S. hypersonic missile systems in development.
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MILITARY

U.S. hypersonic missile systems

By Phil Bainbridge

October 29, 2021 - In a race to catch up with China and Russia, the U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy are sharing funding and technology to develop a range of hypersonic missile systems.

Hypersonic missiles fall into two types: boost-glide systems which are launched to high-altitude on a booster and then glide to their target at speeds of up to Mach 20; and hypersonic cruise missiles which are powered during flight by an attached engine.

The U.S. military is pursuing the development of two competing boost-glide vehicles and a number of integrated systems that combine a boost-glide vehicle with a ground-based, submarine or air-launched system:
• Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (mobile ground-launched)
• Intermediate Conventional Prompt Strike (submarine-launched)
• Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon
• Operational Fires (ground-launched)

Sources
PUBLISHED: 29/10/2021; STORY: Graphic News
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