Can You Stop a Hypersonic Missile?

# Summary True hypersonic weapons—those that sustain hypersonic speeds over thousands of kilometers, maneuver in flight, and operate at low altitudes—have never been used in combat against defended targets, despite recent press reports claiming successful interceptions. Only three weapon systems meet the strict definition of hypersonic: Russia's Avangard, China's DF-17, and the U.S. Dark Eagle, and the defensive systems designed to counter them have not been tested against actual threats. The article clarifies that reported "hypersonic intercepts" were actually air-launched missiles, quasi-ballistic weapons, or other systems mischaracterized by the media.