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→Development
==Development==
==Development==
Hypersonic missiles are a new arms race and analysts have known for years that [[China]] is way ahead. [[Russia]] and [[Iran]] also have successful hypersonic missile programs. The emphasis in the [[United States Congress]] and the [[Pentagon]] is how to close the gap and catch up and develop American hypersonic systems.
China, Russia and Iran have hypersonic missiles, and lots of them. These missiles cannot be intercepted.
China is the world leader in the development, testing and deployment of hypersonic missiles ahead of Russia. The United States doesn't have any. The [[US Air Force]] and [[US Army]] hoped to have them in
the field a years back, but the Air Force changed its mind on what they wanted and started all over. And the US Army's program has been delayed by years.
In the case of the [[US Navy]], they shut down one of their programs down completely. The Navy's plans were for a hypersonic anti-ship missile, but halted the program because of cost and industrial-based factors. The US does not have the supply chains or the industrial capacity to build them.
Those programs were for offensive hypersonic missiles. The United States and [[NATO]] countries do not have hypersonic missiles, and for [[economic]] reasons can't build them, even if they knew which ones could work. Meanwhile, China has hundreds of them.
Russia also has them. The Russian [[Oreshnik]] is a hypersonic missile which was combat tested for the first time in late 2024 in Ukraine. Russia then announced that the Oreshnik is now being mass produced in serial production. Russia has another class of hypersonic missile called the [[Kinzhal]]. Russian production of missiles of all kinds, ballistics, cruise, hypersonics are far ahead of [[Western alliance|Western countries]] production of interceptor missiles. In June 2025, Russia built 195 strategic missiles. By contrast, [[the West]] for the whole of 2024 to July 2025 [[Lockheed Martin]] built 600 interceptor missiles, Japan built 30, and [[Germany]] built none. At least two interceptors are needed to engage a single inbound.
The [[Iranian]]s have three hypersonic missile platforms which pose big problems for [[Israel]] and
for [[American]] and allied forces in the [[Middle East]]. They enhance Iran's ability to project power across the region and shift the balance of power there. Iran has a [[Deterrance|credible deterrent]] against [[military]] [[intervention]]. Iran used hypersonic munitions against Israel in the [[12 Day War]]. Interception was impossible by the [[IDF]]. forces.
There is no defense against these weapons.
==Combat testing==
==Combat testing==