China has showcased its advanced YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile, a weapon that analysts believe could significantly challenge the dominance of U.S. aircraft carriers in the Pacific.

State media footage reportedly shows a Chinese Type 055 destroyer launching the YJ-20, also known as the Eagle Strike-20. The missile is designed to travel at hypersonic speeds, maneuver during flight, and evade interception, making it one of Beijing's most advanced anti-ship weapons.

China Unveils YJ-20 Hypersonic Missile | New Threat to U.S. Aircraft Carriers?

Owned by the US Navy and funded by taxpayers, the $4 billion USS Abraham Lincoln is a floating fortress. But despite its layered defenses, these 7 catastrophic threats could theoretically send it to the bottom.

Who owns It? 7 weapons that could actually sink USS Abraham Lincoln

Ten air-to-air missiles now reach Mach 4 or beyond, reshaping aerial warfare fundamentally. India's Gandiva, Russia's R-37M, and China's PL-15 extend engagement ranges to 300-plus kilometres, making beyond-visual-range combat decisive.

From Astra to Gandiva: 10 air-to-air missiles capable of reaching Mach 4

A missile is considered hypersonic when it travels at Mach 5 or faster, which is more than 6,100 km/h. At these speeds, atmospheric friction generates extreme heat, meaning the weapon must use specialised materials and guidance systems capable of performing under intense pressure.

'Missiles travelling 6,100 km/h': What makes a missile ‘hypersonic’ and which countries already have them?

Over the past decade, India's missile technology has transformed dramatically from cruise missiles to hypersonic weapons. With Agni-5 MIRV, BrahMos-800 km variant, and Dhvani hypersonic capabilities, DRDO has positioned India among elite nations in defence innovation. 

10 years of missile development: How India’s defence tech has evolved

As part of the new AUKUS alliance, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia will jointly start collaborating on hypersonic weapons and electronic warfare capabilities.

As part of the new AUKUS alliance, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia will jointly start collaborating on hypersonic weapons and electronic warfare capabilities. The decision has been taken after a call between the leaders of the new defence alliance. In a joint statement, they informed, "We... committed today to commence new trilateral cooperation on hypersonics and counter-hypersonics, and electronic warfare capabilities, as well as to expand information sharing and to deepen cooperation on defence innovation." "These initiatives will add to our existing efforts to deepen cooperation on cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and additional undersea capabilities," the statement read. "As our work progresses on these and other critical defense and security capabilities, we will seek opportunities to engage allies and close partners," it added. IN PICS | Russia-Ukraine war: Antonov AN-225, world's largest plane, in tatters. See pics AUKUS leaders have agreed to deepen their partnership across defence, technology and information sharing. We are unwavering in our commitment to an international system based on the rule of law and human rights. 🇬🇧🇺🇸🇦🇺 — UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) April 5, 2022 × Meanwhile, the US military said it tested a new hypersonic missile. The US said it completed a free-flight test of an aircraft-launched hypersonic missile that maintained a speed of more than Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound. The three partners of the AUKUS alliance said the joint initiatives will bolster existing efforts to deepen cooperation in numerous areas that they already agreed. The alliance, formed last September, aimed at countering China, The had also prompted Australia to cancel a crucial contract for a conventional French submarine in favour of a nuclear submarine program supported by the United States and Britain. The deal had angered French President Emmanuel Macron and the bilateral ties between France and Australia also appeared to be damaged. Important to note that Russia, China, the United States and North Korea have all test-launched hypersonic missiles. ALSO READ | Angela Merkel rejects Zelensky's criticism, stands by her decision to block Ukraine from NATO WATCH | AUKUS to work on hypersonic weapons × What are Hypersonic missiles? Hypersonic missiles, like traditional ballistic missiles which can deliver nuclear weapons, can fly at more than five times the speed of sound. While ballistic missiles fly high into space in an arc to reach their target, a hypersonic weapon flies on a trajectory low in the atmosphere, potentially reaching a target more quickly. Crucially, a hypersonic missile is manoeuvrable - like the much slower, often subsonic cruise missile - making it much harder to track and defend against. #UPDATE The United States, Britain and Australia said they will begin jointly collaborating on hypersonic weapons and "electronic warfare capabilities", as part of their new AUKUS alliance aimed at countering China https://t.co/9945s5OGyg pic.twitter.com/riSWnWgkS8 — AFP News Agency (@AFP) April 5, 2022 × US tests hypersonic missile On Tuesday (April 5), the US military announced a new successful test of a hypersonic missile, which was done apparently in mid-March but was kept in dark due to the ongoing Russia and Ukraine conflict. CNN report mentioned that the US remained quiet to avoid escalating tensions with Russia as President Joe Biden was about to travel to Europe. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) said it had recently completed a free-flight test of an aircraft-launched hypersonic missile that maintained a speed of more than Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound (at least 3,800 miles per hour, or 6,100 kilometres per hour). The missile flew to an altitude greater than 19,800 meters and soared over 300 nautical miles, said DARPA, the Pentagon's high-tech research body. (With inputs from agencies)

US tests hypersonic missile; Australia, US, UK agree to cooperate on hypersonic weapons

Three members of the AUKUS alliance Britain, United States and Australia have agreed on a new defense pact under a new trilateral cooperation. The three nations will jointly begin collaborating on hypersonic and counter hypersonic weapons as well as electronic warfare capabilities.

Hypersonic weapons deal: New defence pact by US, UK, Australia; China warns against fuelling crisis

USA's hypersonic weapons program suffered a setback as a booster rocket carrying a hypersonic weapon failed during the test. US was testing its hypersonic weapons just days after a similar test by China.

USA's test The test was intended to validate aspects of one of the Pentagon's hypersonic glide vehicles in development, two of the people said.

Hypersonic glide vehicles are launched from a rocket in the upper atmosphere before gliding to a target at speeds of more than five times the speed of sound, or about 3,853 miles (6,200 kilometers) per hour.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boyfriend-wanted-in-murder-of-us-blogger-gabby-petito-found-dead-422920">Boyfriend wanted in murder of US blogger Gabby Petito found dead</a>

The United States and its global rivals have quickened their pace to build hypersonic weapons - the next generation of arms that rob adversaries of reaction time and traditional defeat mechanisms.

US President Joe Biden has already expressed concern over Chinese hypersonic missiles.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-compromise-on-sovereignty-act-with-caution-over-taiwan-china-warns-us-422916">'No compromise on sovereignty, act with caution over Taiwan': China warns US</a>

Glide bodies are different from their air-breathing hypersonic weapon cousins which use scramjet engine technology and the vehicle's high speed to forcibly compress incoming air before combustion to enable sustained flight at hypersonic speeds. An air-breathing hypersonic weapon was successfully tested in September.

Companies such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies are working to develop the hypersonic weapon capability for the United States.

(With inputs from agencies)

USA's hypersonic weapons program suffered a setback as a booster rocket carrying a hypersonic weapon failed during the test. US was testing its hypersonic weapons just days after a similar test by China.

USA's hypersonic weapons program suffered a setback as a booster rocket carrying a hypersonic weapon failed during the test. US was testing its hypersonic weapons just days after a similar test by China. USA's test The test was intended to validate aspects of one of the Pentagon's hypersonic glide vehicles in development, two of the people said. Hypersonic glide vehicles are launched from a rocket in the upper atmosphere before gliding to a target at speeds of more than five times the speed of sound, or about 3,853 miles (6,200 kilometers) per hour. Also Read | Boyfriend wanted in murder of US blogger Gabby Petito found dead The United States and its global rivals have quickened their pace to build hypersonic weapons - the next generation of arms that rob adversaries of reaction time and traditional defeat mechanisms. US President Joe Biden has already expressed concern over Chinese hypersonic missiles. Also Read | 'No compromise on sovereignty, act with caution over Taiwan': China warns US Glide bodies are different from their air-breathing hypersonic weapon cousins which use scramjet engine technology and the vehicle's high speed to forcibly compress incoming air before combustion to enable sustained flight at hypersonic speeds. An air-breathing hypersonic weapon was successfully tested in September. Companies such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies are working to develop the hypersonic weapon capability for the United States. (With inputs from agencies)

US hypersonic weapons test suffers setback due to rocket failure

Russia will soon be in a position to counter hypersonic arms deployed by other countries, President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday, adding that Moscow was ahead of the United States in developing new types of weapons.

Hypersonic glide vehicles can steer an unpredictable course and manoeuvre sharply as they approach impact. They also follow a much flatter and lower trajectory than ballistic missiles.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-marks-national-day-amid-surge-in-coronavirus-cases-begins-to-ease-lockdown-305711">Also watch:&nbsp;Russia marks National day amid surge in coronavirus cases, begins to ease lockdown</a>

Washington and Moscow have been expanding their defence capabilities as some Cold War-era arms control agreements collapsed during worsening of Russia`s ties with the West.

Last year Russia deployed its first hypersonic nuclear-capable missiles, while the Pentagon has a goal of fielding hypersonic capabilities in the early to mid-2020s.

"It's very likely that we will have means to combat hypersonic weapons by the time the world`s leading countries have such weapons," Putin was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency.

While Russia and the United States had broadly the same number of nuclear weapons, Putin said Moscow was ahead in advanced arms development.

Russia will soon be in a position to counter hypersonic arms deployed by other countries, President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday, adding that Moscow was ahead of the United States in developing new types of weapons.

Russia will soon be in a position to counter hypersonic arms deployed by other countries, President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday, adding that Moscow was ahead of the United States in developing new types of weapons. Hypersonic glide vehicles can steer an unpredictable course and manoeuvre sharply as they approach impact. They also follow a much flatter and lower trajectory than ballistic missiles. Also watch: Russia marks National day amid surge in coronavirus cases, begins to ease lockdown Washington and Moscow have been expanding their defence capabilities as some Cold War-era arms control agreements collapsed during worsening of Russia`s ties with the West. Last year Russia deployed its first hypersonic nuclear-capable missiles, while the Pentagon has a goal of fielding hypersonic capabilities in the early to mid-2020s. "It's very likely that we will have means to combat hypersonic weapons by the time the world`s leading countries have such weapons," Putin was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency. While Russia and the United States had broadly the same number of nuclear weapons, Putin said Moscow was ahead in advanced arms development.

Putin says Russia will be able to counter hypersonic weapons

Russia's new Hypersonic missile can travel 27 times faster than the speed of sound. U.S. military is investing in a new weapon to defeat the new Russian missiles. China too is ramping up its defence prowess. This report takes you inside the race for Hypersonic weapons.

Gravitas: The Race for Hypersonic Weapons

hypersonic-weapons

Hypersonic Weapons, News on Hypersonic Weapons, stories on Hypersonic Weapons, articles on Hypersonic Weapons, Hypersonic Weapons stories at Wion, Hypersonic Weapons news, Hypersonic Weapons latest news