At a military parade this month marking the end of World War II in the Pacific, China showcased its growing line of hypersonic missiles, sending an implicit warning that in a future conflict, US aircraft carriers worth billions could be at risk, per Foreign Policy staff writer Sam Skove.

China has been steadily investing in hypersonic weapons, which travel at more than five times the speed of sound and can maneuver mid-flight, making them difficult to intercept. Skove states that such weapons are designed to strike high-value, heavily defended targets like warships or command centers.

Beijing displayed designs such as the YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20, in addition to its DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle, which reportedly entered service in 2020. 

The Foreign Policy writer states that, to show its seriousness in these developments, China has also conducted extensive testing of these missiles. By 2018, US officials estimated that Beijing had conducted 20 times more hypersonic tests than the United States over the prior decade.

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Russia’s hypersonic weapons programs

Russia has also invested heavily in its hypersonic missile arsenal. Skove states that the nation's key projects include the Avangard glide vehicle and the Zircon cruise missile, both declared operational. Moscow also deployed the Kinzhal, a missile derived from older ballistic technology but marketed as hypersonic.

According to Skove, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim that the Kinzhal is “invincible,” Ukraine has reported intercepting dozens of such missiles since 2022, including some Zircons.

Still, the Foreign Policy staff writer says that Russia has at least fielded hypersonic systems, giving it a capability the US military is still developing.

United States faces delays in military arsenal

The United States remains behind in hypersonic missile deployment, though it is working to close the gap. The army’s Dark Eagle program has faced repeated delays but is expected to be fielded soon. The Air Force’s two major projects, the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) and the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM), are still years away from deployment.

The ARRW is scheduled for production by 2026, and HACM by 2027, according to US budget documents. Technical challenges, especially related to managing heat at high speeds, continue to slow progress.

Why hypersonic missiles matter in modern warfare

Skove states that the advantage of hypersonic weapons lies in their ability to evade missile defenses and strike critical targets quickly. Both cruise missiles and glide vehicles can change course mid-flight, making them more difficult to track. For adversaries, the most attractive targets include aircraft carriers, military bases, or senior leadership.

He writes that analysts note that China and Russia may not hold as decisive an advantage as they claim. Beijing has fewer high-value naval targets than Washington, and the United States maintains technological superiority in stealth aircraft and other parts of its military arsenal, giving it alternative ways to penetrate enemy defenses.

Closing the gap: the future of US hypersonic development

US defense officials have emphasized that hypersonics are “essential” for national security. While critics say Washington was too focused on counterterrorism over the past two decades, the Pentagon is now increasing investment in the field.

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Skove notes that experts caution, however, that significant progress will take time. “They have had a lead, but we’re catching up,” said Tom Karako of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Others argue that for the United States, hypersonic missiles will remain a niche capability rather than the centerpiece of its weapons strategy.