What Is a Hypersonic Missile? Speed, Types and Who Has Them
What is a hypersonic missile? Mach 5+ glide vehicles and cruise missiles explained, plus U.S., Russian and Chinese programs and why they are hard to stop.
Short answer: A hypersonic missile is a weapon that flies at Mach 5 or faster (at least five times the speed of sound) and can maneuver during flight, unlike a ballistic missile that follows a predictable arc. There are two main types: hypersonic glide vehicles, which are boosted by a rocket and then glide to the target, and hypersonic cruise missiles, which are powered by air-breathing scramjet engines. Russia and China have likely fielded hypersonic glide vehicles, according to the Congressional Research Service, and the U.S. Army deployed its Dark Eagle hypersonic weapon overseas for the first time in July 2025.
Last updated: October 28, 2026
- Speed: Mach 5 or faster, by definition
- Two types: Hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) and hypersonic cruise missiles (HCMs)
- Why they matter: They combine speed with maneuvering, which complicates tracking and interception
- Russia and China: Avangard, Tsirkon and Kinzhal; DF-17 with the DF-ZF glide vehicle
- U.S. programs: Army Dark Eagle (LRHW), Navy Conventional Prompt Strike, Air Force ARRW and HACM
- Dark Eagle range: a reported 1,725 miles (CRS)
What makes a missile hypersonic
Speed alone is not the full definition. Many ballistic missiles already exceed Mach 5 as their warheads fall back to Earth. The Congressional Research Service report on hypersonic weapons defines hypersonic weapons as “maneuvering weapons that fly at speeds of at least Mach 5.” It adds that, “unlike ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons do not follow a ballistic trajectory and can maneuver en route to their destination.”
That combination matters for defenders. A ballistic missile’s path can be calculated once it is tracked. A hypersonic weapon can change direction, so defenders have less time to predict where it is going. For background on the ballistic and cruise categories, see our guide to ballistic missiles vs cruise missiles.
Glide vehicles vs hypersonic cruise missiles
CRS describes two main categories:
- Hypersonic glide vehicles “are launched from a rocket before gliding to a target,” maneuvering as they go.
- Hypersonic cruise missiles “are powered by high-speed, air-breathing engines, or ‘scramjets,'” after a booster brings them up to speed.
| Feature | Hypersonic glide vehicle | Hypersonic cruise missile | Ballistic missile (for comparison) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Propulsion | Rocket booster, then unpowered glide | Scramjet engine after boost | Rocket booster, then unpowered fall |
| Flight path | Maneuvering glide | Powered, maneuvering flight in the atmosphere | Predictable arc |
| Speed | Mach 5+ | Mach 5+ | Often Mach 5+ on reentry |
| Examples | Avangard, DF-ZF, Dark Eagle’s glide body | Tsirkon, HACM (in development) | Minuteman III, Trident II D5 |
Which countries have hypersonic weapons
CRS says Russia and China “have likely fielded operational hypersonic glide vehicles—potentially armed with nuclear warheads.”
Russia. Russian news sources claim the Avangard glide vehicle entered combat duty in December 2019, according to CRS. Russia is also developing the Tsirkon, a ship-launched hypersonic cruise missile that CRS says can travel at between Mach 6 and Mach 8. Russia has fired the Kinzhal, an air-launched missile, in Ukraine. CRS notes that Kinzhal is technically “a maneuvering air-launched ballistic missile” and that Russian claims about its performance, including a reported top speed of Mach 10, “have not been publicly verified.”
China. CRS says China has tested the DF-17, a medium-range ballistic missile “specifically designed to launch hypersonic glide vehicles,” and has tested the DF-ZF glide vehicle at least nine times since 2014. U.S. officials have reportedly put the DF-ZF’s range at about 1,200 miles, and China reportedly fielded it in 2020. Our report on China’s nuclear arsenal covers its wider missile forces.
U.S. hypersonic programs
The U.S. took longer to field a system. GAO found that the Pentagon had 70 hypersonic-related efforts expected to cost almost $15 billion from fiscal 2015 through 2024.
Army: Dark Eagle (LRHW). The CRS In Focus on the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon says the system, formally named Dark Eagle on April 24, 2025, has “a reported range of 1,725 miles.” A battery has one battery operations center, four transporter erector launchers and up to eight missiles in canisters. The missile uses a two-stage booster shared with the Navy and a Common Hypersonic Glide Body.
The Army reported the activation of a new Dark Eagle battery at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and said the system was deployed for the first time in July 2025. Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said the deployment to Australia “validates the Army’s ability to deploy, position, and exercise command and control” of the system in a forward environment.
Navy: Conventional Prompt Strike. The Navy version uses the same booster and glide body and is meant to be fired from surface ships and submarines, according to CRS.
Air Force: ARRW and HACM. CRS says the AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon was designed to fly at average speeds of Mach 6.5 to Mach 8 over about 1,000 miles. Our report on ARRW entering production covers the latest contract. The Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) is the Air Force’s air-breathing program.
Can hypersonic missiles be shot down?
It is harder, but not impossible. CRS quotes a former Pentagon research chief saying “hypersonic targets are 10 to 20 times dimmer” than what U.S. sensors normally track, and notes that defense officials have called current ground and space sensors insufficient.
The Missile Defense Agency is developing the Glide Phase Interceptor with Japan to hit glide vehicles in mid-flight. CRS says Congress directed initial capability by the end of 2029, but MDA’s fiscal 2025 budget documents list delivery in fiscal 2035. See our explainer on THAAD missile defense for another layer of U.S. defenses.
Peter’s World’s view
The phrase “hypersonic missile” is often used loosely for anything fast. The useful test is whether the weapon can both fly above Mach 5 and maneuver during its flight. By that test, the race is now about production and defenses, not just demonstrations. The U.S. has a fielded Army battery and a shared Army-Navy missile. The bigger gap in the official sources is on defense: sensors and interceptors able to track and catch a maneuvering glide vehicle are still years away.
Frequently asked questions
How fast is a hypersonic missile?
At least Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound. Some systems, such as Russia’s Tsirkon, are reported to reach Mach 6 to Mach 8.
What is the difference between a hypersonic missile and a ballistic missile?
Both can exceed Mach 5, but a ballistic missile follows a predictable arc, while a hypersonic weapon can maneuver during its flight.
Does the U.S. have hypersonic missiles?
Yes. The Army’s Dark Eagle (LRHW) has been fielded and deployed overseas, and the Navy and Air Force have their own programs, including Conventional Prompt Strike, ARRW and HACM.
Which countries have hypersonic weapons?
According to the Congressional Research Service, Russia and China have likely fielded operational hypersonic glide vehicles. The U.S. has fielded the Army’s Dark Eagle.
Can hypersonic missiles be intercepted?
It is difficult because they are dim to sensors and can maneuver. The Missile Defense Agency is developing the Glide Phase Interceptor with Japan for this mission.
What is a scramjet?
A scramjet is an air-breathing engine designed to work at hypersonic speeds. It powers hypersonic cruise missiles after a booster brings them up to speed.
This article was written by Peter with AI assistance and checked against the sources linked. See our AI use disclosure.
Sources
- Congressional Research Service: Hypersonic Weapons: Background and Issues for Congress (R45811)
- GAO: Hypersonic Weapons (GAO-21-378)
- Congressional Research Service: The U.S. Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (IF11991)
- U.S. Army: Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon battery activates at JBLM
