The US Air Force's Secret Hypersonic Bomber Program Conitnues To Advance

Concept art of the system. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.  

Popular Mechanics: Project Mayhem, the Air Force's Secret Hypersonic Bomber, Has Begun Cooking 

* Project Mayhem, the Air Force’s secret hypersonic bomber, would be an air-breathing Mach 10 replacement for the SR-71. 

* The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory recently awarded a $334 million contract to several engineering companies, including Draper, to oversee the designs, prototypes and tests of Project Mayhem. 

* At hypersonic speeds, heat makes building and testing hypersonic planes tricky business. 

The engineering of next-gen weapons and defense systems is a science built around speed. 

In 2018, Russia made headlines when President Vladimir Putin revealed the country’s hypersonic missile system, the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal, in a sizzle reel video showing the missile blowing up Florida, of all places. Although the video wasn’t quite as sleek as a new iPhone reveal, the message was apocalyptically clear: the era of hypersonic weapons was here. 

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Update #1: US' hypersonic missile 'Mayhem' gets a boost from Kratos (Interesting Engineering)  

Update #2: The Incredible Capabilities Of The Air Force's New Hypersonic Bomber, And Why It's So Important (Slash Gear)  

WNU Editor: an air-breathing Mach 10 replacement for the SR-71. If they can accomplish that it will be impressive.

Pentagon Playing Catch-Up In Developing Hypersonic Weapons

Pavel Golovkin  

Defense News: Pentagon racing to restore US superiority in hypersonics 

WASHINGTON — In 1959, the U.S. Air Force and Navy partnered with NASA to fly a piloted hypersonic test aircraft, the X-15, for the first time. 

During that flight, the high-speed vehicle designed to travel at speeds of at least Mach 5 was dropped from under the wing of a B-52 bomber flying over the Mojave Desert in Southern California. Pilot Scott Crossfield carried the aircraft to an altitude of 52,341 feet and reached a peak speed of Mach 2.11. 

The flight kicked off a robust testing effort, and over the next nine years, three X-15 aircraft flew 199 times. The program eventually surpassed performance targets and achieved what is still the nation’s the fastest piloted hypersonic flight at Mach 6.72, or 4,520 miles per hour. Though it ended in 1968, discoveries from the program continue to inform the government’s hypersonic vehicle research.  

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WNU Editor: Currently, Russia is the indisputable leader in the hypersonic weapons race and is gaining valuable operational experience with the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle and the Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM), which is said to have a maximum speed of Mach 10 (link here).

US Military Successfully Tests A New Class Of Hypersonic Weapons

The U.S. Department of Defense launches a sounding rocket from NASA's launch range at Wallops Flight Facility carrying hypersonic weapon experiments, on Wallops Island © Reuters/EVELYN HOCKSTEIN  

Daily Mail: US Army and Navy launch rocket successfully testing hypersonic weapon experiments at NASA facility in Virginia 

* The US Army and Navy successfully launched a rocket at a Virginia NASA facility on Wednesday, the Pentagon confirmed 

* NASA's Wallop Flight Facility in Virginia hosted the launch for testing of a new class of hypersonic weapons 

* The testing of the weapons comes as Russia and China have had more success building the weapons than the US 

The US Army and Navy successfully launched a rocket while testing a new class of hypersonic weapons at a seaside NASA facility, the Pentagon confirmed. 

NASA's Wallop Flight Facility in Virginia hosted the test by Sandia National Laboratories which evaluated hypersonic weapon communications and navigation equipment as well as advanced materials that can withstand the heat in a 'realistic hypersonic environment,' according to a Navy statement. 

The testing comes amid growing concerns Russia and China have had more success developing their own hypersonic weapons than the US. 

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US Military Successfully Tests A New Class Of Hypersonic Weapons  

Pentagon successfully flight tests hypersonic weapon components -- Reuters  

US military conducts hypersonic missile launch experiments at Virginia facility -- FOX News  

US military conducts test launch of hypersonic experiments for weapons development -- CNN  

US military successfully tests components for hypersonic weapons development -- Interesting Engineering

Department of Defense Continues to Advance Hypersonic Capabilities -- Navy.mil

Another U.S. Hypersonic Missile Test Failure

FILE PHOTO. A common hypersonic glide body (C-HGB) test in March 19, 2020. ©Oscar Sosa, US Navy  

Bloomberg: US Hypersonic Missile Fails in Test in Fresh Setback for Program 

(Bloomberg) -- A flight test of a hypersonic missile system in Hawaii ended in failure due to a problem that took place after ignition, the Department of Defense said, delivering a fresh blow to a program that has suffered stumbles.

It didn’t provide further details of what took place in the Wednesday test, but said in a statement sent by email “the Department remains confident that it is on track to field offensive and defensive hypersonic capabilities on target dates beginning in the early 2020s.” 

“An anomaly occurred following ignition of the test asset,” Pentagon spokesman Navy Lieutenant Commander Tim Gorman said in the statement.  

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Update #1: Setback For US Hypersonic Program As Latest Test Ends In Failure; Navy Sets A Deadline To Field Its Mach 5+ Weapon (Eurasian Times)  

Update #2: US hypersonic missile test fails – Bloomberg (RT)  

WNU Editor: Here is some more US hypersonic news .... Raytheon, Northrop advance in competition to develop hypersonic weapons interceptor (Defense News). More here .... Hypersonic missile defense program moves toward 2 prototypes (Space.com).

U.S. Air Force Delays Hypersonic Missile Program After Disappointing Flight Test

A B-52H Stratofortress takes off from Edwards Air Force Base, California to conduct a hypersonic missile test on Aug. 8, 2020. (Photo: DVIDS/Air Force photo by Matt Williams)  

CNN: Air Force delays hypersonic missile program after flight test ‘anomalies’ 

The Air Force delayed its hypersonic missile program by up to a year after “recent flight test anomalies” pushed back the schedule for the weapon’s completion, according to a statement from the Air Force. 

The AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) was supposed to reach early operational capability, an important milestone in weapon testing and development, before October. 

But following a series of failures in flight tests last year, the Air Force postponed the first test of the complete missile and booster to sometime in the next fiscal year, which begins in October. 

More tests will follow later in the year, the Air Force said. “The ARRW production decision remains event-driven and will occur after operational utility is demonstrated through successful system end-to-end flight tests,” the Air Force said.  

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Update: Hypersonic-Missile Delay Puts U.S. Further Behind Russia and China (Bloomberg)  

WNU Editor: This is a major set-back.

Pentagon Urges CEOs Of Largest Defense Companies To Accelerate Hypersonic Weapons Development

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrives to attend a closed-door hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on Wednesday, February 2. 

CNN: Pentagon urges CEOs of largest defense companies to accelerate hypersonic weapons development as US lags behind China 

(CNN)Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin encouraged CEOs from more than two dozen of America's largest defense companies to accelerate hypersonic weapons development during a high-level meeting Thursday. 

"This is absolutely serious," Austin said, referring to the threat posed by Chinese and Russian hypersonic programs, according to a CEO who participated in the virtual meeting. "We are distracted now by Russia, but China is the real threat." 

During the meeting, multiple CEOs described the need for more wind tunnels to test hypersonic vehicles as a "choke point in testing." The US only has a handful of hypersonic wind tunnels, according to one CEO, while China has about 12 and "they're building about one every six months."  

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Update #1: Private Pentagon Report Shows Hurdles to Hypersonic Weapons (Bloomberg)  

Update #2: Readout of Round Table Meeting with Hypersonics Industry Executives (US Department Of Defense)  

WNU Editor: Money appears to be a major issue .... Budget uncertainty ‘throttles’ MDA’s development of a hypersonic missile interceptor (Defense News).

North Korea Says Second Hypersonic Missile Test Was Successful

CNN: North Korea says it test-fired a hypersonic missile Wednesday, state media reports 

(CNN)North Korea said it successfully test-fired a hypersonic missile on Wednesday, the state-run news agency KCNA reported Thursday. According to the report, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not attend the launch. 

"The successive successful test launches in the hypersonic missile sector have a strategic significance of accelerating the task of modernizing the national strategic force suggested by the 8th Party Congress and completing the most important task among the top five tasks in the strategic weapons sector of the five-year plan," KCNA said. 

The missile was separated after launch, maneuvered 120 kilometers (74.5 miles) from the initial launch, and hit the target set at 700 kilometers (435 miles) without an error, KCNA reported.  

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WNU Editor: I am also skeptical .... North Korea claims to be testing the world's most advanced weapon. Experts are doubtful (CNN). 

 

North Korea Says Second Hypersonic Missile Test Was Successful  

North Korea announces second hypersonic missile test was successful -- FOX News/AP  

North Korea successfully tested hypersonic missile, says report -- BBC

North Korea Claims It Successfully Tested A New 'Hypersonic Gliding Warhead' -- Warzone/The Drive 

North Korea claims second successful test of 'hypersonic' missile -- France 24  

N.Korea launches second hypersonic missile in fiery test -- Reuters 

North Korea claims successful hypersonic weapon test -- DW  

Wednesday's DPRK Launch Was Second Test of Hwasong-8 Hypersonic Missile, Ruling Workers Party Says -- Sputnik

China Years Ahead of U.S. On Hypersonic Missiles With Heat-Seeking Technology

Legal Insurrection: China Reportedly Years Ahead of U.S. On Hypersonic Missiles With Heat-Seeking Technology  

"Warfare could be transformed by hypersonic missiles able to search for, identify and lock on to targets based on heat signature.” 

China claims to have achieved a major breakthrough in hypersonic weaponry by adding heat-seeking capabilities to its missiles, the Hong Kong daily South China Morning Post reported Friday. “Warfare could be transformed by hypersonic missiles able to search for, identify and lock on to targets based on heat signature,” the newspaper added. 

The U.S. military is yet to develop heat-seeking technology for its hypersonic missiles, news reports suggest. “Heat sensing at hypersonic speed is difficult because the pace of the missile itself generates heat that interferes with detection systems,” the British newspaper Telegraph explained. 

The news comes as the Russian state media also announced the successful testing of its hypersonic missiles. “Russia test-fired around 10 new Tsirkon (Zircon) hypersonic cruise missiles from a frigate and two more from a submarine, Interfax news agency said on Friday citing northern fleet,” the Reuters reported on Friday.  

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WNU Editor: The question that Americans should be asking is .... "why"? 

Hat tip to Instapundit.

Investing Billions Into Hypersonic Research And Development Has Become A Top Priority For Washington

 

CNBC: Defense spending act makes hypersonic a top priority, calling for billions in investment 

* Hypersonic air travel, for both military and commercial use, could be here within the decade. 

* China, Russia and now North Korea all claim to have developed and successfully tested hypersonic missiles. 

Hypersonic air travel, for both military and commercial use, could be here within the decade. 

The $770 billion National Defense Authorization Act signed into law Tuesday calls for investing billions into hypersonic research and development, making them a top priority for Washington. The next step is congressional approval to allocate the money for the technology to the Pentagon. 

 “If you are traveling at hypersonic speeds, you’re, you’re going more than a mile per second,” said Mark Lewis, executive director of the National Defense Industrial Association’s Emerging Technologies Institute. “That’s important for military applications. It could have commercial applications. It could also open up new, new ways of reaching space.” 

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WNU Editor: It looks like a new arms race is underway .... Mach 5 Missiles Spur New Arms Race as U.S. Seeks to Match China (Bloomberg).

How The U.S. Fell Behind In Hypersonic Technology (Video)

 

WNU editor: From CNBC .... 

.... Hypersonic air travel is anything that travels at Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound. The U.S. was once a leader in developing supersonic and hypersonic technology, but has taken "our foot off the gas," according to Mark Lewis, executive director of the National Defense Industrial Association's Emerging Technologies Institute. 

Watch the video to find out more about how the U.S. fell behind Russia, China and possibly North Korea, and how we're spending billions to catch up.

Chinese Scientists Hail Success Of New Hypersonic Engine

The Star: Chinese scientists hail success of new hypersonic engine that military ‘did not think would work’  

A new engine for hypersonic weapons, built using technology that the military did not believe would work, has successfully completed its first test flights in China, the team behind it has said. 

The scientists believe it will help China speed up large-scale production of hypersonic weapons at relatively low cost while maintaining high quality and performance. 

They said a new manufacturing method allowed them to make titanium alloy components that laboratory and real-world tests had found to perform far better than those made using traditional methods, allowing them to go straight from the furnace to the engine assembly line without further processing.  

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Update: Big Boost To China’s Hypersonic Technology; Engineers ‘Crack Codes’ Of A Highly Innovative, ‘Miracle’ Engine? (Eurasian Times) 

WNU Editor: The Chinese are definitely serious in developing this tech .... A New Hypersonic Wind Tunnel Will Put China '20 to 30 Years Ahead' of the West (Interesting Engineering).

Putin Hails Multiple Launch Test of Hypersonic Missile

Putin speaks at a government meeting via video conference on Dec. 24. Alexey Nikolsky / Sputnik / AFP 

TASS: Putin lauds successful test-launch of Tsirkon hypersonic missile 

"This is a big event in the country’s life and a considerable step towards enhancing Russia’s security and its defense capability," the Russian leader said 

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. Russia’s Tsirkon hypersonic missile system was successfully test-launched on December 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Friday.

"Last night or, to be more exact, this morning, the Tsirkon hypersonic system was salvo-launched. This is our latest missile that can strike both naval and ground targets. 

The tests were successful and impeccable. 

This is a big event in the country’s life and a considerable step towards enhancing Russia’s security and its defense capability," the Russian leader said at a joint meeting of the State Council and the Council on Science and Education. 

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Update #1:  Russia Carried Out Successful Test Launch of Zircon Hypersonic Missile on Friday, Putin Announces -- Sputnik  

Update #2: Putin Hails Multiple Launch Test of Hypersonic Missile -- Moscow Times/AFP  

WNU Editor: This follows a Russian submarine missile test a few days before .... Russia fires cruise missile from Sea of Japan in test exercise (Express Tribune/Reuters).

US Air Force Hypersonic Weapon Test Fails Third Time In A Row

FILE PHOTO. A B-52H Stratofortress is pictured carrying an AGM-183A missile. © US Air Force / Giancarlo Casem  

The Drive/Warzone: Third Test Of The Air Force's Hypersonic Weapon Has Failed Like The Ones Before It 

The Air Force had hoped to conduct three successful tests of the AGM-183 this year so it could enter service in 2022. 

The U.S. Air Force has failed for a third time to conduct a successful test of the rocket booster on a prototype AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon hypersonic missile, or ARRW. This can only add to the palatable frustration within the service, as well as elsewhere in the U.S. military and in Congress, about the progress, or lack thereof, in the testing of various new hypersonic weapons. 

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Command's Armament Directorate confirmed to The War Zone today that another attempted ARRW flight test had failed on Dec. 15, 2021. The Air Force says that it has not yet determined the cause of the issue that led to the test being aborted. The prototype missile never left the wing of the B-52H bomber carrying it. 

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Update: US hypersonic weapon test fails third time in a row (RT)  

WNU Editor: This contrasts with Russia that is now mass producing its hypersonic missiles .... Russia begins mass production of the Zircon hypersonic missile (PHOTO) (Russia Beyond).

US Air Force Chief Says US-China Hypersonic Weapons ‘Arms Race’ Is Underway

The United States and China are engaged in an arms race to develop the most lethal hypersonic weapons, U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall (left) told Reuters Tuesday  

Daily Mail: US and China are in a new 'arms race' to develop the most 'lethal' hypersonic missiles, Air Force Secretary says - while Space Force commander confirms Beijing has rocket that can STAY in orbit 

* The United States and China are engaged in an arms race to develop the most lethal hypersonic weapons, the U.S. Air Force secretary said Tuesday 

* 'There is an arms race, not necessarily for increased numbers, but for increased quality,' Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told Reuters 

* In October, the top U.S. military officer, General Mark Milley, confirmed a Chinese hypersonic weapons test 

* And on Monday, Space Force Lieutenant General Chance Saltzman said that China's new hypersonic weapon system might be able to stay in space 

* This year the Pentagon has held several hypersonic weapons tests with mixed success 

* In October, the Navy successfully tested a booster rocket motor that would be used to power a launch vehicle carrying a hypersonic weapon aloft 

* Hypersonic weapons travel in the upper atmosphere at speeds of more than five times the speed of sound, or about 3,853 miles per hour 

The United States and China are engaged in an arms race to develop the most lethal hypersonic weapons, the U.S. Air Force secretary said on Tuesday, as Beijing and Washington build and test more and more of the high-speed next-generation arms. 

'There is an arms race, not necessarily for increased numbers, but for increased quality,' Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told Reuters during an interview in his Pentagon offices. 

'It's an arms race that has been going on for quite some time. The Chinese have been at it very aggressively.'  

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Update #1: US in Hypersonic Weapon 'Arms Race' With China -Air Force Secretary (Newsmax/Reuters)  

Update #2: US-China hypersonic weapons ‘arms race’ is underway, Air Force chief says (FOX News)  

WNU Editor: A race that this Space Force general is saying the US is losing .... U.S. ‘not as advanced’ as China and Russia on hypersonic tech, Space Force general warns (Politico).

Top Space Force General Says China's Hypersonic Weapon Can Stay In Orbit For A Prolonged Period Of Time

China’s DF-17 missile can reach Low Earth Orbit (Chinese Ministry of Defense)  

Warzone/The Drive: China's Mysterious Hypersonic Weapon Can Stay In Orbit According To Space Force General 

The ability to keep a nuclear-armed hypersonic glide vehicle in orbit for a prolonged period of time makes for a far more unpredictable threat. 

A senior U.S. Space Force officer has stressed that China's new hypersonic weapon system is indeed orbital in nature and could be able to stay in space for an extended period of time. This is the latest piece of official information about this novel system that reportedly uses some kind of hypersonic glider, which may be capable of launching its own projectiles to actually execute a strike. 

Space Force Lieutenant General Chance Saltzman, the Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear, responded to questions about this new Chinese strategic weapon during an online event hosted by the Air Force Association's Mitchell Institute earlier today. Saltzman, who transitioned from the Air Force to the Space Force last year, "has overall responsibility for Operations, Intelligence, Sustainment, Cyber, and Nuclear Operations of the United States Space Force," according to the service's website.  

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WNU Editor: Space Force Lieutenant General Chance Saltzman​ appears to be adding details to this intel report .... China’s Missile Program Far Exceeds The Capability Demonstrated By US, Russia So Far – US Intelligence Report (EurAsian Times). 

Update: China views this focus on its hypersonic missile program as overblown .... China says its an 'imaginary enemy' of US, claims hypersonic missile test was 'routine' (FOX News).

 Top Space Force General Says China's Hypersonic Weapon Can Stay In Orbit For A Prolonged Period Of Time  

China's Hypersonic Vehicle Can 'Park' In Orbit, Warns a Space Force Official -- Interesting Engineering  

US Space Force Raises Alarm Over China's 'Orbital Hypersonic Weapons America Can't Combat' -- Sputnik 

It’s a FOBS, Space Force’s Saltzman confirms amid Chinese weapons test confusion -- Breaking Defense

Russia Carries Out Another Successful Hypersonic Missile Test

 

Daily Mail: Russia reveals 'successful' test of its 6,670mph hypersonic Zircon missile from warship - as Belarus dictator Lukashenko vows to join forces with Moscow in the event of war in Europe 

* The missile was launched from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate in the White Sea 

* Described as 'unstoppable', it was able to hit a target some 250 miles away 

* Test came after Russia announced it had started serial production of the missile Russia has revealed a 'successful' test of its 6,670mph hypersonic Zircon missile fired from a warship in the White Sea. 

The 'unstoppable' weapon hit a target some 250 miles away from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate, the Moscow defence ministry said on Monday. 

At the weekend Russia announced it has started serial production of the deadly missile amid acute tensions with the West.  

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WNU Editor: Russian President Putin is now claiming that new hypersonic missiles are in the pipeline .... Russia set to unveil new hypersonic weapons – Putin (RT). More here .... Russia to have sea-based hypersonic weapons as of 2022 — Putin (TASS). 

Russia Carries Out Another Successful Hypersonic Missile Test  

Russian Navy warship test-launches Tsirkon hypersonic missile to over 400 km range -- TASS  

Russia announces successful test of hypersonic missile (VIDEO) -- RT  

Russian navy test-fires hypersonic missile in the White Sea -- AP  

Russia says Zircon hypersonic missile hit target in latest test -- Reuters 

Russia Says Latest Zircon Hypersonic Missile Test Successful -- VOA/AFP  

Russia says Zircon hypersonic missile hit target in latest test -- CNN  

Russian military says it test-fired hypersonic missile -- The Hill

Russia To Start Full-Scale Production Of Its 'Unstoppable' 6,670mph Zircon Hypersonic Missile

 

Daily Mail: Russia starts full-scale production of its 'unstoppable' 6,670mph Zircon hypersonic missile as Moscow boasts it has capability to evade all Western defences 

* Serial production of Russia's Zircon hypersonic missile was today announced 

* The 'unstoppable' deadly 6,670 mph weapon is being rushed into manufacture 

* Production plans at a top-secret plant in Reutovo follow recent 'successful' tests 

Russia today announced it has started serial production of its deadly 6,670 mph Zircon - or Tsirkon - hypersonic missile amid acute tensions with the West. 

The 'unstoppable' weapon is being rushed into manufacture even before the end of state trials, reported TASS. 

The go-ahead for full-scale production at a top-secret plant at Reutovo, near Moscow, follows recent 'successful' tests of the Mach-9 capable missile which Russia boasts will evade all Western defences.  

Read more .... 

More News On Russia Starting Full-Scale Production Of Its 'Unstoppable' 6,670mph Zircon Hypersonic Missile  

Russia begins serial production of Tsirkon hypersonic missiles for Navy - source -- TASS  

Putin sparks war fears as Russia begins production of nuke missile ‘too fast to block’ -- Express  

Russia begins mass production of 6670mph Zircon hypersonic nuke missile ‘too fast to block’ as tensions with West rise -- The SUN  

Russia says it launches mass production of Zircon hypersonic missiles -- Defence Blog

Chinese Hypersonic Missile Test Launched Another Mssile During Its Flight (Update)

 

Warzone/The Drive: China’s Hypersonic Mystery Weapon Released Its Own Payload And Nobody Knows Why (Updated) 

The mystery surrounding China's hypersonic vehicle test last summer has deepened after the craft reportedly launched its own projectile. A new report says that China’s apparent nuclear-capable hypersonic glide vehicle ejected some kind of payload while barreling through the atmosphere, in its much-discussed test this past summer. If true, this would indicate an intriguing new capability for this already novel weapon, albeit one the function of which is not entirely clear. You can read our original reporting on this ostensible milestone test here. 

The Financial Times yesterday reported that China’s puzzling weapon test on July 27 included the presumed hypersonic glide vehicle launching some kind of payload over the South China Sea “as it approached its target traveling at least five times the speed of sound.”  

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Chinese Hypersonic Missile Test Launched Another Mssile During Its Flight (Update)  

Chinese hypersonic test included pathbreaking 2nd missile launch: reports -- AFP 

A Chinese hypersonic weapon that alarmed top US military leaders fired something off as it sped toward its target -- Business Insider  

China’s test-fired mid-flight missile traveled 5 times speed of sound -- NYPoat

China's hypersonic glider didn't just orbit Earth, it 'fired a missile' while at Mach 5 -- The Register 

China Has Fired a New and Unknown Missile From a Hypersonic Glide -- Interesting Engineering

U.S. Navy In A Rush To Field Hypersonic Missiles On Its Submarines

Military Times: Navy looks to get back on schedule for fielding hypersonic missiles on submarines 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy hopes it can more quickly deploy hypersonic weapons on submarines by leveraging testing by the U.S. Army and onboard a Navy destroyer, as well as prioritizing funding for an underwater launch test facility, the admiral overseeing the Navy’s hypersonics work said. 

Vice Adm. Johnny Wolfe, the head of the strategic systems programs, said Nov. 18 at the Naval Submarine League’s annual conference the Navy delayed the fielding of a sub-launched hypersonic missile capability from fiscal 2025 to 2028 in part due to funding issues related to the underwater test facility. But because of China’s increasing hypersonics capabilities, Wolfe said the Navy wants to get the missile on a submarine as fast as possible.

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WNU Editor: The Pentagon is using China's and Russia's advancements in fielding their hypersonic arsenal to get the funds needed to develop and deploy a US version of this missile.

White House Ordered The Pentagon To Delay A Hypersonic Missile Test Before Biden-Putin Summit

Reuters 

Politico: White House had Pentagon delay a hypersonic missile test before Biden-Putin summit 

With less than a week to go before President Biden met Russian President Putin for a June summit in Switzerland, the White House ordered the Pentagon to delay a long-planned hypersonic missile test so as not to raise tensions with Moscow. 

According to three people who spoke to Alex and LARA SELIGMAN, including a defense official and a senior congressional aide, a high-level White House staffer contacted the office of the secretary of Defense to request that the test be postponed. Biden at the time was preparing for a tough discussion with his Russian counterpart, and officials worried that launching such a provocative weapon right before it could send the wrong signal or sabotage the meeting altogether.  

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WNU Editor: When you have the White House actively interfering in a weapons program, no one should be surprised if this becomes the outcome .... ‘Hundreds’ Of China Hypersonic Tests Vs. 9 US; Hyten Says US Moves Too Slowly (Breaking Defense).