Russia’s fast-diving ballistic missiles give Ukraine’s air defenses only seconds or minutes to respond. Kyiv says the US-made Patriot system is the only one that can stop some of them, but it lacks enough batteries and interceptors.
Taiwan has completed the design of its Ching Tien hypersonic cruise missile, with mass production slated for next year. This two-stage missile, with an estimated range of 1,250km, aims to significantly enhance Taiwan's deterrence capabilities by enabling strikes on strategic targets deep within China.
Chinese researchers create tantalum-based alloy retaining strength at 2,400°C, surpassing 2,000°C limit of most metals, with potential for aerospace, hypersonic vehicles, and nuclear reactors.
Russia launched one of its largest ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, killing at least six and injuring dozens. The five-hour assault involved Iskander-M and Zircon missiles, causing fires and damage across the capital and other regions, including a Turkish-owned grain ship.
China's Navy launched a ballistic missile from a submarine during a joint exercise with Russia. The missile traveled approximately 6,000 km, falling short of its potential range. This test is part of a series of missile tests conducted by China.
Castelion, a startup founded by former SpaceX employees, is building a large manufacturing facility in New Mexico for hypersonic missiles. The company aims to apply SpaceX's efficient, high-volume production model to defense contracting, using private capital and firm-fixed-price contracts to speed up development and delivery.
Researchers from Northwestern Polytechnical University and the Beijing Power Machinery Institute have developed a solution for a longstanding engine design problem using graphite, enabling a combustion chamber component to adjust in 1/3 of a second at high temperatures.
An article in Ordnance Science and Technology suggests Iranian missiles with biconic manoeuvring re-entry vehicles (MRVs) could achieve penetration effects similar to hypersonic projectiles. It references Iranian claims of these MRVs penetrating US missile defense systems in the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
China's CCTV aired footage of the DF-17 hypersonic missile launch, designed to deliver vehicles above Mach 5. Analysts suggest this strengthens Beijing's deterrent posture, potentially impacting regional missile balance and US strategies.
China's military has broadcast footage of a DF-17 missile launch for the first time, showing a live-fire exercise. The missile, first seen in 2019, was featured in a military news program ahead of the PLA Rocket Force's 60th anniversary.
China's Academy of Sciences has launched a new research program focused on low-altitude hypersonic flight technology, potentially leading to new weapons that could challenge the US Navy. The program aims to overcome challenges like extreme heating and electromagnetic disturbances.
India and Russia are developing smaller and hypersonic versions of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. These new variants aim to enhance the Indian armed forces' strike capabilities, with a focus on lighter designs, increased speed, and advanced targeting systems.
A Lowy Institute report indicates China's missile capabilities pose a growing threat to Australia, with new long-range and hypersonic weapons increasing Beijing's capacity for direct strikes. The report assesses China's military build-up, not its intentions, highlighting the need for informed public discussion.
Ukraine faces a threat of Russian Zircon hypersonic missile strikes on the night of June 13, according to monitoring resources cited by the "Zerkalo Nedeli" Telegram channel. These missiles are designed for large surface and land targets, launched from ships, submarines, and frigates, boasting hypersonic speeds and a range of up to 1,000 km, making them difficult to intercept.
Hypersonic weapons, traveling over Mach 5, are nearly unstoppable with current tech, posing a new arms race and reshaping military deterrence globally.
Russia's Defense Ministry reported a massive overnight strike on Ukrainian military-industrial sites and airfields, retaliating for a drone attack on Starobelsk that killed 21 students. The strikes targeted enterprises producing UAVs, military recruitment centers, and aircraft engine factories across multiple Ukrainian regions.
European companies developing hypersonic missiles face significant technological and strategic hurdles, including a lack of testing infrastructure and concerns over revealing classified information to foreign intelligence agencies. The high cost and bureaucratic red tape further complicate efforts.
Ukraine's President Zelenskyy appealed to Donald Trump for Patriot missiles following a massive Russian missile and drone attack that killed at least 14 and injured dozens. The strikes targeted Kyiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, and Kharkiv, causing widespread damage and casualties.
India is rapidly advancing its indigenous defense manufacturing capabilities, driven by global conflicts and a desire for self-reliance. The nation is developing advanced technologies like the Agni-5 missile, nuclear submarines, and AI-driven systems, aiming to reduce import dependence and enhance its strategic autonomy.
Russia launched its Oreshnik missile at Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, two days after 18 Russian students died in a Ukrainian drone strike on Moscow. The Oreshnik, an IRBM capable of Mach 10 speeds and MIRV warheads, is seen as a retaliatory strike.
Ukraine's President Zelensky called for increased pressure on Russia after a hypersonic missile attack on Kyiv killed at least four and injured over 80. Russia claimed retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on civilian facilities.
Europe is discussing potential envoys for future peace talks with Russia, including Angela Merkel, Mario Draghi, and Sauli Niinistö. This discussion, though premature, highlights Europe's increasing leverage in the Ukraine war as US support wanes and Ukraine's domestic defense industry grows.
Russia launched a massive aerial assault on Kyiv using hundreds of drones and advanced missiles, including the nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile. This strike highlights Moscow's increasing reliance on next-generation weapons amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Kyiv was struck by a hypersonic ballistic missile, resulting in at least four fatalities. Allies condemned the attack as a "reckless escalation" of the conflict.
