Zircon missile

The Russian built hypersonic Zircon missile is estimated to have reached flight speeds of Mach 9+ (11,000 km/h, 3 km/s or 6,900 mph) and a maximum altitude of 28 km (17 miles, 92,000 ft). The Zircon missile is said to have an operational range greater than 1,000 km (640 mi, 549 nmi) with a solid-fuel booster for the first stage and a scramjet for sustained hypersonic flight. Originally developed as a naval weapon, it now has mobile ground launchers. It can carry either conventional (300-400 kg high-explosive) or a nuclear warhead. It is highly maneuverable throughout its flight path and does not follow a predictable ballistic arc. The high speed reduces defense reaction time; hypersonic speed generates a plasma cloud which absorbs radio waves, for "plasma stealth". It's kinetic energy alone is enormous and can inflict severe damage on targets of all kinds. It costs a little over $5 million compared to the US-built Patriot missile battery that costs $1 billion.