Counterpoint.
No one was stunned.
They have been testing this since early 2014.
Adding the word "Hypersonic" creates hysteria that keeps $$$ flowing to our missile programs.
Articles and lobbyists spreading narratives paint a picture of missile zig zagging through the sky at mach 10.
Nope.
It's a glide weapon that starts out at high speed launched from a same old 60's era launcher at a slightly lower arc until that first course change then it slows way the fuck down.
As a conventional weapon, it will be fine for creating a really awkward situation where everyone is going to think you are launching nukes, potentially triggering a nuclear response to you just trying to blow up hanger. Enjoy your comic book if you think this going to be effective as a conventional weapon tying to hit a moving ship out at sea.
As a nuclear weapon....it's as useful as any other nuclear weapon. A wonderful way to throw money at posturing and nothing else.
What are they going to do? Nuke Taiwan? Nuke Japan? Nuke Guam?
Get to claim first strike 10 minute before the mandatory retaliatory strike that would basically trigger the end China as we know it?
In the old days, you could push a story about USSR or more recently Russia (who tested their own hypersonic balistic Jalopy not too long ago) to light a fire under congress to keep funding out own weapons programs.
Now that Congress is filled with a bunch of religious nutjobs who bank on armageddon scenarios involving china and Israel, the best way to keep the dollar coming is to hype up any weapons program China is working on.
Have no fear.
Anti hypersonic weapons capability already exists and layered approaches are already evolving as needed. The capability to deal with weapons launched from a different ballistic profiles has been part of that.
Summary - Old news on a well worn topic designed for congressional staff consumption and weirdo's who pay attention to defense industry news.
www.reuters.com
