U.S. aims to have hypersonic weapons systems by 2023

The United States Air Force is looking to have an unmanned aircraft that can go five times the speed of sound in the skies by 2023. The so-called hypersonic aircraft could potentially transform the nature of modern warfare.

An aircraft is considered hypersonic if it can travel at least 3,791 miles per hour. This is five times the speed of sound and is also referred to as mach 5.

Hypersonic weapons will allow the military to strike targets far more quickly. Currently, the time lag between ordering a missile strike and the actual impact allows targets to get away, and conditions on the ground to change.

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