England is developing hypersonic cruise missiles to compete with the United States, China, and Russia.
According to a report from the British newspaper The Sunday Telegraph, Britain intends to equip its armed forces with domestically produced hypersonic cruise missiles by the end of this decade. These plans are in their initial stages, and the launch platforms for these missiles, whether from land, sea, or air, have not yet been determined.
British military commanders are under pressure to enhance their defensive capabilities against countries such as China, Russia, and the United States by developing weapons capable of flying at speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound.
While ballistic missiles can also reach hypersonic speeds, the difference lies in their maneuverability. Ballistic weapons typically follow fixed trajectories, whereas hypersonic cruise missiles can change course after launch, making their interception more challenging.
The United States, Russia, and China are the main players in the hypersonic arms race, but other countries like North Korea also claim to have tested hypersonic weapons.
