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The A1 Interceptor — The Worst Enemy of ICBMs and Hypersonic Missiles Is Now Their Speed — Part I
As I write these lines I’m reading that Russia attacked Ukraine using a massive wave of missiles including the Kinzhal hypersonic ones.
The hypersonic missiles seem to be the next big thing in the modern warfare.
Their terminal speed above Mach 5 makes them difficult to intercept by the current anti-missile systems. They sit next to the Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) in terms of capability to penetrate the missile defences. There are however differences between the two types of missiles.
Firstly, the ICBMs are designed for strategic strikes, while the hypersonic missiles, significantly lighter and more flexible in terms of deployment, are designed for sub-strategic strikes.
While the Multiple Independently-targeted Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) deployed by the ICBM also fly hypersonically but on a ballistic trajectory, the hypersonic missiles exhibit a guided flight path. This makes them even more difficult to engage with the current missile defence systems. Furthermore the hypersonic missiles are using additional methods of guidance…