Air-Launched Hypersonic Missiles
Air-Launched Hypersonic Missiles
Why Air-Launched Hypersonics?
The global pursuit of hypersonic weapons – systems capable of sustained flight at speeds exceeding Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound – marks a potentially revolutionary shift in military technology and strategic thinking. While ground-launched and sea-launched variants frequently capture headlines, the prospect of deploying these ultra-fast, maneuverable weapons from aircraft introduces a potent combination of speed, reach, and unpredictability. Launching from the air grants unparalleled flexibility, allowing strikes from unexpected vectors and significantly extending the weapon's effective range. This capability promises to hold distant, time-sensitive, or heavily defended targets at risk in ways previously unattainable. The core question, however, remains grounded in current reality: which nations, if any, actually possess operational jets armed with hypersonic missiles today?
Answering this question definitively requires careful nuance. Russia stands out, having demonstrably fielded and used in combat its Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missile, launched from fighter aircraft and frequently described as hypersonic. Recent evidence strongly suggests China is also deploying advanced air-launched ballistic missiles with hypersonic characteristics from its bomber fleet. The United States, despite decades of research and significant ongoing investment, currently lacks a fielded, operational air-launched hypersonic weapon, having recently cancelled several high-profile programs while focusing on a new air-breathing cruise missile design. Complicating the assessment further is the very definition of a "hypersonic weapon." The term is often applied broadly in public discourse, sometimes encompassing systems that achieve hypersonic speeds but may lack the sustained atmospheric maneuverability considered defining by technical experts. Verifying the precise capabilities and operational status of these highly classified systems remains a significant challenge.
This report aims to provide clarity on the current state of play. It will begin by decoding the terminology surrounding hypersonic flight and weaponry. Subsequently, it will examine the specific programs, launch platforms, and operational status of the key players actively developing or deploying these systems – primarily Russia, China, and the United States. Finally, it will touch upon the efforts of other nations entering the field and explore the broader strategic implications of integrating hypersonic capabilities into airborne arsenals.
What Are Hypersonic Weapons?
The defining characteristic of the hypersonic realm is speed – specifically, velocities exceeding Mach 5, equivalent to roughly 3,800 miles per hour or one mile per second at sea level, although the actual speed of sound varies with altitude and temperature. Achieving and sustaining flight at such speeds within the Earth's atmosphere presents immense physical and engineering challenges. Objects traveling hypersonically experience extreme heat flux due to air friction, with surface temperatures potentially reaching 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This intense heat necessitates advanced thermal protection systems and materials capable of shielding sensitive internal components, including guidance systems and electronics. Furthermore, the air pressure ahead of the vehicle can form a plasma cloud, which absorbs radio waves, complicating communication, navigation (like GPS reception), and terminal sensor functions. Predicting and controlling the complex aerodynamics, including managing shock waves and airflow transitions from smooth to turbulent, is critical for stability and maneuverability but remains exceptionally difficult, requiring extensive modeling and flight testing.
Within this challenging domain, several distinct categories of weapons often grouped under the "hypersonic" label are being developed:
Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs): These systems are typically launched atop a ballistic missile booster rocket to high altitudes, often near the edge of space. Once the booster burns out, the HGV detaches and glides towards its target, using aerodynamic surfaces to execute maneuvers within the upper atmosphere. This unpredictable flight path makes them difficult to track and intercept compared to traditional ballistic missiles following a predictable arc. HGVs are unpowered during their glide phase. Examples include Russia's ground-launched Avangard system and several US developmental efforts like the Navy's Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS), the Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), and the now-cancelled Air Force AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW).
Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCMs): Unlike HGVs, HCMs are powered throughout most of their flight by advanced air-breathing engines, most commonly scramjets (supersonic combustion ramjets). Scramjets scoop oxygen from the atmosphere to combust fuel, enabling sustained hypersonic flight within the atmosphere, often at lower altitudes than HGVs glide. This sustained power allows for continuous maneuvering. Developing reliable scramjet engines that function effectively across a range of hypersonic speeds and altitudes is a major technical hurdle. Examples include Russia's 3M22 Tsirkon (primarily described as ship-launched) and the US Air Force's Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) currently under development.
Air-Launched Ballistic Missiles (ALBMs) with Hypersonic Speed: This category includes weapons like Russia's Kh-47M2 Kinzhal. Launched from an aircraft, these missiles are propelled by a rocket motor and follow a primarily ballistic (arching) trajectory toward the target, albeit one that occurs largely within the atmosphere after air launch. While they achieve hypersonic speeds (Mach 5+) during their flight and possess maneuvering capabilities, their flight profile differs significantly from the sustained atmospheric glide of an HGV or the continuously powered, air-breathing flight of an HCM. Some analysts argue that lacking the ability to perform significant maneuvers while traveling at sustained hypersonic speeds distinguishes them from "true" hypersonic weapons.
These distinctions are crucial. Hypersonic weapons, broadly defined, aim to combine the speed approaching that of ballistic missiles with the maneuverability and atmospheric flight path of cruise missiles. This combination poses unique challenges for existing defense architectures. Traditional ballistic missile defenses are optimized for intercepting threats on predictable trajectories, often during the midcourse phase outside the atmosphere. Cruise missile defenses typically focus on detecting low-flying, slower targets. Hypersonic weapons, maneuvering at high speeds within the atmosphere, can potentially evade both types of defenses, significantly compressing detection and engagement timelines for defenders. Terrestrial radar systems, for instance, may only detect incoming hypersonic weapons very late in their flight due to altitude and the curvature of the Earth. The technical differences between HGVs, HCMs, and high-speed ALBMs, however, influence their specific flight characteristics, target suitability, and potential vulnerabilities. The frequent blurring of these lines in public and strategic discourse, often driven by the potent image the "hypersonic" label conveys, can obscure the actual technical capabilities and limitations of fielded systems. Understanding these nuances is vital for accurately assessing the threat landscape. The significant technical hurdles involved in mastering hypersonic flight also explain the protracted development timelines and recent setbacks observed in some national programs, indicating that fielding reliable and effective operational systems is considerably more difficult than early projections suggested.
Russia's Kinzhal Missile
Russia's Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (NATO reporting name: AS-24 Killjoy) stands as the most prominent example of an air-launched missile system frequently categorized as hypersonic that has seen operational deployment and combat use. Technically described as an air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM), the Kinzhal is widely believed to be derived from Russia's ground-launched 9K720 Iskander short-range ballistic missile, adapted for carriage and launch from aircraft.
Key characteristics attributed to the Kinzhal include a staggering top speed reportedly reaching up to Mach 10 (approximately 12,350 km/h or 7,670 mph). Its operational range is often cited as between 1,500 and 2,000 kilometers (about 930 to 1,240 miles) when launched from its primary carrier, the MiG-31K; this figure typically incorporates the substantial combat radius of the launch aircraft itself. Some Russian sources suggest the range could extend to 3,000 km if launched from the Tu-22M3 bomber. The missile is approximately 8 meters long, 1 meter in diameter, and has an estimated launch weight of around 4,300 kg. It is designed to carry either a conventional high-explosive warhead weighing approximately 480-500 kg or potentially a low-yield tactical nuclear warhead, although currently deployed versions are believed to be conventionally armed. Guidance is thought to rely on an inertial navigation system (INS) potentially augmented by satellite updates (like GLONASS) and possibly a terminal seeker for final targeting adjustments, with Russian reports claiming an ability to hit both static and mobile targets, including warships. Claims of mid-flight retargeting capability have also surfaced.
The primary launch platform for the Kinzhal is the specially modified Mikoyan MiG-31K 'Foxhound' heavy interceptor. The high speed and altitude capabilities of the MiG-31 make it well-suited for boosting the missile to its optimal launch conditions. However, Russia has actively pursued integrating the Kinzhal onto other platforms to increase flexibility and compensate for the limited number of aging MiG-31s. Integration efforts have been reported or planned for the Tupolev Tu-22M3M 'Backfire' bomber (potentially carrying up to three missiles), the Sukhoi Su-34 'Fullback' fighter-bomber, and possibly the Tupolev Tu-160 'Blackjack' strategic bomber and the Sukhoi Su-57 'Felon' stealth fighter. The key advantage of air-launching a ballistic missile like Kinzhal lies in the significantly increased effective range, the flexibility to launch from unpredictable locations and directions (complicating defensive efforts, particularly against radars with limited fields of view), and the potential for faster response times compared to deploying ground-based systems.
The Kinzhal reportedly entered service around December 2017, with initial experimental combat duty declared shortly after. It was publicly unveiled by President Vladimir Putin in March 2018 as one of Russia's new "invincible" strategic weapons. Prior to the invasion of Ukraine, Kinzhal-equipped MiG-31Ks conducted numerous patrol flights, including over the Black and Caspian Seas, and participated in tests, including a launch in the Arctic region in late 2019.
The missile saw its first widely acknowledged combat use in March 2022 during the conflict in Ukraine, reportedly destroying an underground ammunition depot in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. Russia has subsequently employed the Kinzhal on multiple occasions against various targets, including infrastructure and military sites, sometimes in large salvos.
Despite initial Russian claims of the Kinzhal's invulnerability to existing air defenses, its performance in Ukraine has generated considerable debate. Beginning in May 2023, Ukrainian forces, employing US-supplied Patriot PAC-3 air defense systems, reported successfully intercepting multiple Kinzhal missiles, including shooting down several in a single night. These claims, while sometimes contested by Russia, suggest the missile is not unstoppable. Analysis indicates the Kinzhal likely follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory and may slow down significantly during its terminal descent phase, making it potentially vulnerable to advanced terminal air defense systems like the Patriot. One Ukrainian Patriot operator even claimed an intercepted Kinzhal was traveling at only Mach 3.6, far below its advertised maximum speed. Furthermore, some external military analysts, including those in China reviewing its performance, have questioned its accuracy and its ability to perform significant evasive maneuvers at hypersonic speeds, arguing it behaves more like a conventional, albeit very fast, ballistic missile rather than a true maneuvering hypersonic weapon.
The combat deployment of the Kinzhal undeniably grants Russia a perceived first-mover advantage, marking the first combat use of an air-launched weapon system widely labeled as hypersonic. This status carries significant political and psychological weight. However, the real-world performance data emerging from the Ukraine conflict suggests its capabilities may have been overstated, particularly regarding its invulnerability to state-of-the-art air defenses. Nevertheless, Russia's continued investment in adapting multiple aircraft types to carry the Kinzhal underscores the strategic value Moscow places on this air-launched standoff capability. Even if not possessing the extreme maneuverability of an HGV or HCM, the Kinzhal's combination of long range and high speed still dramatically shortens warning and reaction times for defenders compared to conventional cruise missiles, making it a potent threat that forces adversaries to adapt their defensive postures.
China's H-6 Bomber and Missiles
China's rapid military modernization includes significant advancements in long-range strike capabilities, prominently featuring its evolving fleet of Xian H-6 bombers and sophisticated new missile systems. Originally derived from the Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-16 'Badger', the H-6 platform has undergone substantial upgrades over decades. Modern variants like the H-6K feature updated engines, avionics, and weapon systems. A further specialized version, the H-6N, incorporates critical modifications specifically designed for carrying large, advanced payloads. These include an aerial refueling probe, significantly extending its operational radius beyond the First Island Chain, and a semi-recessed mounting point under the fuselage, allowing it to carry oversized munitions like air-launched ballistic missiles (ALBMs) without severely degrading aerodynamic performance.
Two distinct air-launched missile systems associated with hypersonic capabilities have recently emerged in connection with China's H-6 fleet:
CH-AS-X-13: This NATO designation refers to a large ALBM observed being carried by the H-6N bomber. It is widely assessed to be an air-launched derivative of China's well-established DF-21 medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), potentially designated KF-21 within China. Key estimated characteristics include an operational range of approximately 3,000 km (around 1,860 miles), propelled by a two-stage solid-fuel rocket motor. It is believed to be capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads. Reports suggest it could achieve speeds exceeding Mach 6 during its trajectory. Crucially, it is thought to incorporate features designed to overcome missile defenses, potentially including a maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) or possibly even a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) payload similar to that carried by the ground-launched DF-17 missile. A primary role often attributed to the CH-AS-X-13 is anti-ship warfare, specifically targeting high-value maritime assets like aircraft carriers, earning it the moniker "carrier killer" in some analyses. Its combination of hypersonic speed, potentially depressed trajectory, and mid-course maneuverability makes it a formidable threat to naval forces.
Regarding its operational status, while official confirmation from Beijing is typically absent for such systems, compelling visual evidence has emerged. High-resolution imagery, reportedly shared in April 2025 (though potentially captured earlier), clearly depicts an H-6N bomber in flight carrying the CH-AS-X-13 missile. This strongly suggests the system has moved beyond early development and testing and is likely either operationally deployed or undergoing advanced operational trials with frontline units. Previous reports had indicated a Chinese goal of achieving operational capability for this weapon by 2025.KD-21: This appears to be a separate, smaller ALBM system carried externally under the wings of the more numerous H-6K bomber variant, typically observed in pairs. Its designation, KD (potentially KongDi, meaning air-to-ground), suggests a primary land-attack role, distinguishing it from the YJ (YingJi, meaning Eagle Strike) series typically associated with anti-ship missiles. Some analysts suggest the KD-21 may be derived from the CM-401 missile, a system marketed for export that can be launched from ground or naval platforms and is capable of striking both ships and static land targets. The surface-launched CM-401 is reported to have a range over 180 miles and achieve terminal speeds between Mach 4 and Mach 6; air-launching would likely extend this range significantly.
Evidence points towards the KD-21 also achieving operational status. Imagery from 2024 and 2025 shows H-6K bombers belonging to established operational units, such as the 10th Bomber Division, carrying KD-21 missiles during what appear to be exercises or routine operations. This follows its public debut in an inert form at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2022 and video footage emerging in May 2024 apparently showing a test launch from an H-6K.
The concurrent emergence and apparent operationalization of these two distinct ALBM systems – the strategic, long-range CH-AS-X-13 on the specialized H-6N and the potentially more tactical KD-21 on the H-6K – suggest a deliberate, layered approach by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). This strategy likely aims to equip different elements of its bomber force with capabilities suited for various ranges and target sets, enhancing overall strike flexibility. The larger CH-AS-X-13, with its extended reach and anti-ship focus, significantly bolsters China's Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) posture. By holding adversary naval forces, particularly US aircraft carrier strike groups, at risk from mobile aerial platforms launching from unpredictable vectors far out into the Pacific, China complicates power projection and forces potential opponents to operate further from its shores and invest more heavily in advanced missile defenses. The fielding of these air-launched systems represents a major step forward in China's ability to project power and conduct long-range precision warfare.
US Hypersonic Programs
The United States has a long history of research into hypersonic flight, dating back to experimental aircraft like the North American X-15 in the 1960s. Renewed and focused military interest surged in the early 2000s under the Conventional Prompt Global Strike (CPGS) initiative. CPGS sought the capability to strike high-value targets anywhere on Earth with conventional weapons in under an hour, driving the development of various high-speed delivery systems, including hypersonic missiles. However, translating this long-standing ambition into fielded, operational air-launched hypersonic weapons has proven challenging.
Two major air-launched hypersonic programs initiated by the US military have recently been curtailed:
AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW): This was the US Air Force's flagship program for an air-launched hypersonic boost-glide vehicle (HGV). Designed to be launched from strategic bombers like the B-52H Stratofortress, ARRW consisted of a large rocket booster accelerating an unpowered glide vehicle payload to hypersonic speeds. Despite significant investment (estimated unit costs potentially reaching $15-18 million) and designation as a rapid prototyping effort, the program was plagued by multiple test failures early on. While some successful flight tests were eventually conducted later in the program, Air Force leadership ultimately concluded the system was not reliable enough to proceed into production and procurement. The final test flight of an ARRW prototype occurred in March 2024. The FY2025 budget request included no funding for ARRW procurement or further research and development, effectively signaling the program's cancellation. Data gathered from the tests is expected to inform future hypersonic efforts, but ARRW itself will not enter the US arsenal.
Hypersonic Air-Launched Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (HALO): This was a US Navy program, also known as Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare Increment 2 (OASuW Inc 2), aimed at developing an air-launched, air-breathing hypersonic cruise missile specifically for anti-ship missions. Contracts were awarded in 2023 to Raytheon and Lockheed Martin to develop competing designs, likely incorporating ramjet or scramjet propulsion. However, in late 2024, the Navy cancelled the solicitation for HALO's main development phase, citing budgetary constraints, concerns about fielding the capability within the planned timeline, and shifting strategic priorities. The Navy indicated it would reassess its requirements with a greater focus on affordability, potentially prioritizing upgrades to existing subsonic missiles like the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) or fielding air-launched variants of other existing systems like the SM-6.
With the cancellation of ARRW and HALO, the primary focus of US air-launched hypersonic development now rests on the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) program. HACM is an Air Force effort to field an operational air-breathing hypersonic cruise missile powered by a scramjet engine. This program leverages technology developed under previous research initiatives, notably DARPA's Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) and the joint US-Australian Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment (SCIFiRE). Raytheon (now RTX), partnered with Northrop Grumman for the scramjet engine, was selected in September 2022 to lead HACM's development. The Air Force envisions HACM as being smaller than ARRW and offering greater tactical flexibility due to its air-breathing nature, allowing for different flight profiles compared to boost-glide systems.
HACM is currently in the development phase, with significant funding allocated ($382 million enacted in FY2024, $517 million requested for FY2025). The program aims to achieve an operational capability around fiscal year 2027. Testing is planned to utilize facilities in Australia, involving launches from Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 aircraft. Within the US Air Force, the F-15E Strike Eagle has been identified as a primary future carrier for HACM, although integration on other fighter or bomber platforms may also be explored.
This shift in US focus—abandoning a near-term air-launched boost-glide weapon (ARRW) in favor of developing an air-breathing cruise missile (HACM)—is significant. It may reflect greater confidence in the maturation of scramjet technology after successful HAWC tests, or perhaps a strategic judgment that the unique capabilities of HCMs (like sustained powered flight and potentially different target suitability) are more desirable for the Air Force's future needs compared to HGVs. This pathway contrasts notably with the apparent initial emphasis by Russia and China on fielding very high-speed ALBMs and potentially HGVs. Despite substantial overall investment in hypersonic research across the Department of Defense (with $6.9 billion requested for hypersonic R&D in FY2025), the cancellations and the HACM timeline mean the United States currently lags behind both Russia and China in terms of having operational air-launched hypersonic-speed weapons deployed on its aircraft. This gap underscores the profound technical difficulties in reliably translating advanced research into fielded military capability and may reflect different national approaches to risk tolerance, testing rigor, or perceived strategic urgency.
Other Nations Developing Hypersonics
While Russia, China, and the United States represent the leading edge of hypersonic weapons development, the technology and ambition are gradually proliferating to other nations. Several countries are actively pursuing their own programs or collaborating with established players.
Australia: Stands out due to its deep and long-standing collaboration with the United States. The joint SCIFiRE program (Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment), building on the earlier HIFiRE collaboration dating back to 2007, is directly contributing technology and testing experience to the US Air Force's HACM program. Australia plans to utilize its extensive test range facilities for HACM trials and is considering acquiring HACM as its first operational air-launched hypersonic weapon. Potential launch platforms in Australian service include the F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, F-35A Lightning II, and P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. This partnership exemplifies a model for allied cooperation in developing and potentially fielding these complex systems, sharing costs and leveraging unique national assets.
India: Is pursuing hypersonic capabilities through multiple indigenous efforts. BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture with Russia, is developing the BrahMos-II, intended as a hypersonic cruise missile successor to the widely deployed supersonic BrahMos. Fashioned after Russia's Tsirkon, BrahMos-II aims for speeds exceeding Mach 5, though the project has faced delays, with potential deployment now projected around 2028. Separately, India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been working on the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) since 2008. This program utilizes scramjet propulsion and has achieved successful flight tests, demonstrating speeds up to Mach 6 at altitudes up to 30 km. These successes make India the fourth nation (after the US, Russia, and China) to demonstrate indigenous hypersonic vehicle technology. While current demonstrations focus on the vehicle technology itself, the potential for developing an air-launched hypersonic weapon based on these efforts exists for the future.
Japan: Is also engaged in foundational research and planning for hypersonic capabilities, both offensive and potentially defensive, likely looking towards deployment in the 2025-2035 timeframe. Specific details on air-launched programs are less clear from available sources.
France and Germany: Are mentioned among the nations actively developing hypersonic weapon technology, although specific air-launched programs are not detailed in the provided research. European collaborative efforts may also be underway.
North Korea: Has made claims regarding successful tests of what it termed a "hypersonic missile". Analysis suggests this likely involved a maneuverable reentry vehicle (potentially an HGV) launched by a traditional ballistic missile booster. While contributing to regional tensions, there is no indication from the available information that North Korea possesses or is close to developing an air-launched hypersonic capability.
The growing number of countries involved highlights the perceived strategic importance of hypersonic technology. While the "big three" maintain a significant lead, particularly in fielding systems, the technological know-how is disseminating. Motivations vary, ranging from maintaining strategic deterrence and projecting power to simply keeping pace technologically with potential adversaries. This trend suggests a future where hypersonic capabilities are more widespread, potentially altering regional military balances and increasing the complexity of global security dynamics.
Strategic Importance
The intense global focus on developing and fielding air-launched hypersonic and high-speed weapons stems from their perceived ability to fundamentally alter the strategic landscape. Their significance lies in several key areas:
Enhanced Offensive Strike Capabilities: These weapons offer the potential to strike targets with unprecedented speed over long distances. When launched from aircraft, their effective range is dramatically increased by the launch platform's own reach and altitude. This combination allows air forces to hold high-value, time-critical, or heavily defended targets—such as mobile missile launchers, leadership nodes, advanced air defense systems, or major warships—at risk from standoff distances, often with significantly reduced warning times for the defender. The flexibility afforded by air launch, allowing strikes from unpredictable altitudes and azimuths, further compounds the offensive advantage compared to fixed ground-based launchers. This fundamentally enhances the offensive power projection capabilities of aircraft carrying these munitions.
Overcoming Advanced Defenses: A primary driver for hypersonic development is the challenge they pose to existing air and missile defense systems. Their sheer speed drastically reduces the time available for detection, tracking, targeting, and interception. Combined with their ability to maneuver unpredictably within the atmosphere (particularly HGVs and HCMs), they can potentially evade interceptors designed for the predictable trajectories of ballistic missiles or the slower speeds of traditional cruise missiles. Hypersonic cruise missiles flying at lower altitudes further challenge ground-based radar detection due to line-of-sight limitations. Air-launched variants are particularly effective at stressing defenses that are optimized to counter threats from specific directions (sectored defenses), such as some configurations of the Patriot system.
Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) Implications: Hypersonic weapons are seen as critical tools in the context of A2/AD strategies, employed both to establish and to penetrate contested zones. For nations like China, air-launched anti-ship ballistic missiles like the CH-AS-X-13 serve to create vast A2/AD bubbles, holding adversary naval forces (especially aircraft carriers) at risk far from shore. Conversely, for powers like the United States, hypersonic weapons like the planned HACM are viewed as essential for penetrating sophisticated A2/AD environments early in a conflict to neutralize key defensive systems and enable follow-on operations.
Deterrence and Strategic Stability Concerns: The advent of hypersonic weapons introduces new complexities into strategic deterrence calculations. If systems are dual-capable (able to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads), as is suspected for some Russian and Chinese systems, it creates ambiguity during an attack. An adversary under hypersonic assault may not be able to quickly determine if the incoming weapon is conventional or nuclear, potentially leading to catastrophic miscalculation and escalation. The extremely short flight times inherent to hypersonic weapons compress decision-making timelines during crises, potentially increasing instability and the temptation for preemptive action or launch-on-warning postures. The ongoing development race itself fuels strategic competition and arms race dynamics, prompting significant investment not only in offensive systems but also in dedicated hypersonic defenses, including advanced space-based sensors and novel interceptor concepts. This action-reaction cycle represents a new, costly, and potentially destabilizing layer of military competition among major powers.
Conclusion
Returning to the central query – "Does any country currently have jets that carry hypersonic missiles?" – the answer, grounded in available evidence and acknowledging definitional complexities, is multifaceted:
Russia: Yes. Russia operates the MiG-31K interceptor carrying the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal, an air-launched ballistic missile achieving hypersonic speeds (up to Mach 10 reported). The Kinzhal has been used in combat operations in Ukraine since March 2022, though its claimed invulnerability has been challenged by reported interceptions via Patriot systems. Integration onto other platforms like the Tu-22M3M and Su-34 is also reported.
China: Almost certainly yes. Recent imagery strongly indicates the operational deployment or advanced operational testing of two distinct ALBM systems with hypersonic characteristics: the large CH-AS-X-13 (potentially Mach 6+, ~3,000 km range) carried by the specialized H-6N bomber, and the smaller KD-21 (potentially Mach 4-6, shorter range) carried by the H-6K bomber.
United States: No. The US currently does not have an operational air-launched hypersonic weapon fielded on its aircraft. The AGM-183A ARRW (boost-glide) program was cancelled after testing difficulties, and the Navy's HALO (hypersonic cruise anti-ship) program was also terminated. The current focus is on developing the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM), an air-breathing system intended for launch from fighters (primarily F-15E), with operational capability hoped for around 2027.
Other Nations: Several other countries, including India (developing BrahMos-II and HSTDV) and Australia (collaborating closely with the US on HACM), are actively pursuing hypersonic technology, with potential air-launched applications in the future. Japan, France, and Germany are also involved in research and development.
The current landscape reveals several key trends. Firstly, the term "hypersonic" continues to be applied broadly, often encompassing very high-speed ballistic missiles alongside "true" hypersonic glide vehicles and cruise missiles, sometimes obscuring important technical distinctions in capability and vulnerability. Secondly, while the US, Russia, and China remain the dominant players, the technology is proliferating, with allies and other powers investing significantly. Thirdly, the profound technical challenges of sustained hypersonic flight continue to impact development timelines and program viability across the board. Finally, a clear action-reaction dynamic is unfolding, with offensive advancements driving urgent efforts to develop effective hypersonic defenses.
The following table provides a concise overview of the key air-launched programs discussed:
Table 1: Overview of Key Air-Launched Hypersonic and High-Speed Missile Programs
Note: Integration reported/planned.
Sources: Based on publicly available information and defense analyses.
