The test flight of a U.S. hypersonic missile came to a sudden halt earlier this month when controllers paused the launch at Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The Federal Aviation Administration closed the air space to pilots around the Cape between March 2 and March 6, but did not specify what prompted the restrictions. However, Marco Langbroek, an expert in optical space situational awareness, wrote on his blog that the closure indicated a “forked” flight path over the north Atlantic, meaning it was likely a hypersonic missile test.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense told Florida Today that, “as a result of pre-flight checks, the test did not occur. Delivering hypersonic weapons remains a top priority for the Department of Defense.”

SuperFast Missiles

A hypersonic glider is an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) that travels at extremely high speeds, typically exceeding Mach 5. These vehicles can maneuver at high altitudes and be used for military surveillance, reconnaissance, and missile defense. The glider is usually launched into the atmosphere by a rocket booster and then glides back to Earth, using its aerodynamic shape to maintain its high speed and altitude. Due to their high speed, the missiles can defeat many conventional air defense systems.

Langbroek speculated that the aborted launch was a test of the LRHW, the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon under development by the U.S. Army. The Army ecently said it’s seeking $944 million for research and development of the LRHW.

The Navy, meanwhile, is also seeking to use hypersonic missiles on its Zumwalt-class destroyers. Manufacturer Lockheed Martin was recently awarded a $1.1 billion contract to integrate the ship’s Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic weapon system.

Combat-Proven

Hypersonic missiles are already proving their value in combat. Russia recently bombarded Ukraine with its Kinzhal missiles, cutting power to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal is a nuclear-capable hypersonic air-launched ballistic missile with a reported range of 1,900 miles and a top speed of Mach 12 speed.

China is also seeking to boost its arsenal of hypersonic missiles. The country’s stockpiles include the DF-17, a medium-range ballistic missile with a hypersonic glide vehicle that has a range of about 1,000 miles. Additionally, China has the DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missile, which also carries a hypersonic glide vehicle. Of particular concern to the U.S. Navy is the Chinese hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile YJ-21, which is reportedly capable of engaging surface warships. The YJ-12 could play a role in keeping U.S. ships at bay if China decides to invade Taiwan.

“Over the past two decades, China has dramatically advanced its development of conventional and nuclear-armed hypersonic missile technologies and capabilities through intense and focused investment, development, testing, and deployment,” the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Paul Freisthler recently told the House Armed Services Committee.

Science and Technology Journalist

Sascha Brodsky, a freelance journalist based in New York City and a graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs, writes about many aspects of technology including personal technology, AI, and virtual reality. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Guardian, and many other publications. In his spare time, he enjoys cycling and hiking.