- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

US to Build Hypersonic Weapons 'Sooner Than Expected' - Official

© Sputnik / Ildus GilyazutdinovHypersonic missile
Hypersonic missile - Sputnik International
Subscribe
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan has pledged that the United States would add hypersonic weapons to its military arsenal faster than was expected.

"We are going to fly [hypersonics] sooner and more often than people have ever expected," the CNBC quoted the official as telling reporters on Wednesday.

The remark was reportedly meant to offset the announcements by Russia and China on the developments in their hypersonic programs.

Two US Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth jet fighters fly near Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. File photo - Sputnik International
US May Scramble F-22 Fighters in Response to S-300 Missiles in Syria – Reports
In August, Beijing said that it had successfully tested its first hypersonic aircraft that could carry nuclear warheads and outperform any anti-missile defense system existing today.

READ MORE: New 'Star Wars' Program? SpaceX Open to Deploying Orbital Weapons for US

In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin unveiled Moscow's new hypersonic missile during his state-of-the-nation address.

Hypersonic weapons travel at the speed of over Mach 5 (3,800 miles per hour), which is at least five times faster than the speed of sound.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала