While China and Russia surge ahead with hypersonic weapons that fly at five times the speed of sound, America’s once-dominant military advantage is eroding – forcing taxpayers to fund yet another technological catch-up race we shouldn’t need to run.
At a Glance
- The U.S. is playing catch-up in a hypersonic arms race with China and Russia, despite once being the global leader in this technology
- Hypersonic weapons travel at Mach 5+ (3,800+ mph), can evade defense systems, and are virtually impossible to intercept
- Private company Stratolaunch is developing the reusable Talon-A hypersonic aircraft to help America regain its technological edge
- China shocked the defense community with a 2021 test of a hypersonic nuclear-capable weapon, highlighting America’s vulnerability
- No international treaties govern hypersonic weapons, increasing the risk of escalation between global powers
America’s Hypersonic Fall From Grace
Remember when America led the world in cutting-edge military technology? Back in the 1960s, the United States pioneered hypersonic flight with the North American X-15. We were literally decades ahead of everyone else. Then, in a classic case of government short-sightedness, we abandoned our hypersonic advantage to focus on stealth technology. Fast forward to today, and both China and Russia have leapfrogged ahead of us with operational hypersonic missiles while we’re scrambling to catch up in a race we started and then foolishly abandoned.
These aren’t your grandfather’s missiles. Hypersonic weapons travel at speeds of Mach 5 or higher – that’s more than 3,800 mph – and can maneuver unpredictably throughout their flight path. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, which follow predictable arcs, hypersonic weapons can change course, making them virtually impossible to track and intercept with our current defense systems. When China successfully tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile in 2021, it sent shockwaves through America’s defense establishment – literally circling the globe before striking within 24 miles of its intended target.
Private Sector to the Rescue
While our government was asleep at the wheel, American private enterprise is stepping up to fill the gap. Stratolaunch, a private aerospace company, has developed the Talon-A, the first reusable hypersonic aircraft to land since 1968. This isn’t just a test platform – it’s a system designed to help America regain its edge in hypersonic technology through repeated testing and deployment capabilities. The Talon-A is launched from “Roc,” the world’s largest operating airplane, giving it flexibility to operate from various locations.
“These peer adversaries have continued to accelerate and develop hypersonic systems, and now we have that asymmetry. So to get that symmetry in the world balance back so we can deter and make sure there’s across the world order, we need these hypersonic systems.” – Zachary Krevor
After two successful test flights, the Talon-A has demonstrated its ability to fly autonomously at speeds up to Mach 6. That’s six times the speed of sound. Unlike government boondoggles that waste billions before producing anything useful, Stratolaunch has developed this capability by absorbing development costs and risks, ultimately saving taxpayer money. Now, the U.S. government is finally recognizing the value and sponsoring further flights – a rare win for fiscal responsibility in military development.
China’s Growing Hypersonic Advantage
While we’re playing catch-up, China is doubling down on its hypersonic advantage. Their hypersonic weapons program has been advancing at an alarming pace, allowing them to potentially target American carriers and bases throughout the Pacific. Even more concerning is the possibility that China could share this technology with rogue states like North Korea and Iran, creating nightmare scenarios for American security planners. With no international treaties governing hypersonic weapons, we’re in uncharted territory with adversaries who don’t share our values.
“Once, American technological predominance was regarded as all but unassailable, and China tended to be dismissed as a copycat that was unlikely to close the gap.” – Elsa Kania
The strategic implications are dire. China’s hypersonic missiles could potentially neutralize our current missile defense systems, undermining our nuclear deterrence and conventional military advantages. In a conflict scenario, Chinese forces could use these weapons to hit critical targets before we could even respond. The Pentagon recognizes this threat and is now scrambling to catch up, but decades of neglect have left us vulnerable in ways that could have been avoided with proper foresight and consistent investment.
America’s Hypersonic Response
The U.S. Navy has begun testing its own conventional hypersonic missile as part of the Conventional Prompt Strike program, working in partnership with the Army. This system is designed to be deployed aboard the USS Zumwalt destroyer, which can carry up to 12 missiles. Strategic planners envision mobile, dispersed forces armed with these missiles transforming the First Island Chain spanning Okinawa, Taiwan and the Philippines into defensive bastions to contain Chinese power projection in the region.
“We think this has been a win for everyone here in the United States. It’s been a win for the taxpayer, because [we] have developed these vehicles and absorbed all the risk and the cost overrun. It’s a great win for our executive and congressional branches, because now they’re utilizing this capability to accelerate hypersonic development in this country.” – Zachary Krevor
The question remains whether these belated efforts will be enough to close the gap with China and Russia. The hypersonic arms race represents yet another example of America’s chronic problem of technological complacency, where we pioneer revolutionary military technologies only to let them languish until adversaries force us back into competition. Without a consistent, forward-looking strategy to maintain our technological edge, we’ll keep finding ourselves one step behind, spending more to catch up than it would have cost to stay ahead in the first place.
