Thread by @Defense785

What are Hypersonic Weapons?

A hypersonic missile is a missile that travels at least five times the speed of sound (Mach 5).

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https://twitter.com/Defense785/status/1449577994457161732

Most traditional ballistic missiles fly at hypersonic speeds, whereas most traditional cruise missiles fly at subsonic (less than Mach 1) and supersonic (Mach 1 to 5) speeds. For example, the Minuteman III, the United States 'nuclear - armed intercontinental

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ballistic missile ( ICBM ) , can hit Mach 23 at burnout and would reach Russia from silos housed in the western United States within about 30 minutes after launching.

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In practice , the term " hypersonic weapons " has generally come to mean missiles that fly at lower altitudes than ICBMs and greater altitudes than traditional cruise missiles and that are largely intended for regional rather than intercontinental use.

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Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) are launched by a rocket before gliding to a target, fly at lower altitudes than ballistic missiles, and feature significant maneuverability.

Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCMs) are powered by high-speed engines, called scramjets,

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during flight and are intended to fly at both greater
speed and greater altitudes than traditional cruise
missiles.

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Both types can carry conventional or nuclear payloads. Conventional variants may be able to rely on the kinetic energy, or the energy derived from their high speed, to destroy their intended targets.

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Via @KingstonAReif & Shannon Baggos

@threadreaderapp unroll plz