The Opaque Hypersonics Arms Race.

• Author: Magnuson, Stew
• Position: Editor's Notes

For decades, the United States didn't show a sense of urgency for developing missiles and aircraft that could reach hypersonic speeds--defined as Mach 5 and higher.

But no longer. The U.S. military's research-and-development community is going full bore on hypersonics, it's considered a top R&D priority and contracts to the defense industry are flowing.

Thanks for the kick in the pants, Vladimir Putin!

In March, the Russian president claimed to have developed a weapon that could reach Mach 10 and fly 2,000 miles.

There are two methods of reaching hypersonic speeds and Putin said during his annual televised call-in show June 8 that Russia had mastered them both. A hypersonic boost-glide vehicle called the Avangard--which he said was "absolutely invulnerable for any missile defense system"--is in the process of industrial production with plans to deliver it to the military in 2019.

Boost-glide employs a rocket to lift a hypersonic vehicle and releases it once it reaches a certain altitude. Hypersonic speed is achieved via gravity as the vehicle descends. The ability to maneuver makes it more survivable.

The second method is basically an air-launched missile that can use various approaches to achieve hypersonic speeds on its own. The United States has tested both approaches, but doesn't have a working system.

Putin said the Kinzhal hypersonic missile system was already deployed to Russian armed forces.

Putin's comments caught the public's attention both here and in Russia and presumably China, the other main competitor in the hypersonics arms race. For those who doubt him, watch the videos, he said on the June 8 broadcast.

Reporters traveling with Defense Secretary James Mattis shortly after the March announcement asked him whether Russia had truly developed such a weapon. Russia may or may not be ahead of the United States in hypersonics, but they are ahead in one field: disinformation campaigns. They are currently hands down, best-in-class--no one is even a close second --in information warfare. Putin could be fibbing, of course. Videos can be faked.

Mattis cast doubt, but didn't come right out and say that the Russians didn't truly have a hypersonic weapon capable of reaching U.S. soil.

But it was a legitimate question worth further examination. For those in the public and media who don't possess top secret security clearances, the answers are opaque.

National Defense put the question to Gen. John Hyteenn, Strategic Command commander, in...