Nations Rush Ahead With Hypersonic Weapons Amid Arms Race Fear

The X-51A Waverider was a prototype hypersonic missile capable of flying at Mach 5.1 for hundreds of miles. The Air Force is stepping up its development of similar weapons

Mike Cassidy / U.S. Air Force photo

President Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, is in Moscow for a second day Tuesday, to discuss the U.S. intent to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The end of the 31-year old treaty is a sign that world powers may be returning to an arms race mentality.

But it’s not the only one.

Over the past year, the U.S., China and Russia have all stepped up efforts to develop a new kind of missile, a weapon that can fly faster and farther than almost anything in existence.