Over the course of six weeks, a joint team from the United Kingdom and the United States recently carried out 233 test runs of an advanced missile model that travels at several thousand kilometres per hour.
This team completed hundreds of "static tests" on a propulsion system that will power a "cutting edge" hypersonic cruise missile to be released before the end of the decade, the UK government announced on Sunday.
"We are living in a more dangerous world and it has never been more important for us to innovate and stay ahead of our adversaries, equipping our forces with the technologies of the future," John Healy, the UK’s defence secretary, said in a statement.
However, the UK is not alone among European nations in pursuing advanced weaponry; the European Union has recognized hypersonic weapons As one of its "key and fundamental technologies" in air and missile defense, which will be crucial for the rearming of Europe, as mentioned in a March white paper focused on enhancing defense preparedness.
Therefore, what exactly are these weapons and what capabilities do they possess?
What are hypersonic weapons?
Hypersonic weapons can reach velocities exceeding Mach-5 (over 6,100 km/h), which is five times the speed of sound, and they retain the ability to maneuver during their flight.
Such armaments might consist of long-range cruise missiles capable of being deployed from land, sea, or air bases. These typically travel at altitudes lower than those of ballistic missiles, making them potentially more difficult to detect over great distances.
According to the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, hypersonic missiles can re-enter the atmosphere at higher velocities compared to conventional ballistic missiles, which typically follow a curved path before being directed precisely toward their targets.
Hypersonic missiles can serve multiple purposes, including targeting critical assets, conducting far-reaching precise attacks, and bolstering nuclear deterrence.
The two primary categories of hypersonic missiles include hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs)—a kind of payload deployed from ballistic missiles—and hypersonic cruise missiles (HCMs), which utilize air-breathing propulsion systems to achieve their high velocities.
Aircrafts and guns that fire projectiles can also have hypersonic capacities.
A 2023 UK government briefing note said that the manoeuvrability, altitude and speed of hypersonic missiles "may pose challenges" for missile defence systems that are supposed to counter ballistics.
"These could include later detection and less time for the target to make decisions and respond," the note says. "Existing missile defence systems would need to be adapted to better counter hypersonic missiles, which would likely require significant investment".
Which countries already have hypersonic missiles?
The first time the world saw a hypersonic weapon was China’s DF-17, unveiled during a military parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic in 2019.
Chinese media reports at the time described the DF-17 as a short to medium-range missile that had the South China Sea, the Taiwan Straits and Northeast Asia within striking range.
In March 2022, Euronews Next reported that the Russian Ministry of Defence allegedly launched a Kinzhal hypersonic weapon at a munitions factory and a fuel storage depot, marking the first time it was used in active combat.
In December, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on Russian TV about the use of a hypersonic weapon called 'Oreshnik' which travels at Mach-10, or 10 times the speed of sound (over 12,300 km/h).
According to reports from The Associated Press, Russian forces believe the Oreshnik missile has the range to reach any European target.
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said on March 10 that they will support a possible $200 million (€182.6 million) deal with Japan to support its own "hyper velocity gliding projectiles" (HVGP) programme.
These weapons are seen as high-speed, cost-effective guided missiles that can fired from a range of gun systems, and in the case of Japan, will contribute specifically to the defence of remote islands of the archipelago.
In Europe, the EU Commission noted in a white paper earlier this month that hypersonic missiles would be part of an "integrated, multi-layer air and missile defence system that protects against a full spectrum of air threats".
Euronews Next reached out to the EU Commission to get an estimate for how many hypersonic weapons would be needed for the continent’s rearmament but did not receive an immediate reply.
The Commission has already directed at least €80 million through the EU Defence Fund (EDF) to the Hypersonic Defence Interceptor System programme. It is studying and will eventually select an interceptor to counter hypersonic threats.
