What Is A Maneuverable Hypersonic Weapon?
Let’s get the language down first. You’ll see a lot of publications describe hypersonic missiles without qualifying it with the term “maneuverable” or “guided.” But that’s actually what makes them such a game changer, Dr. Phillip Coyle, the Senior Science Fellow is Senior Science Fellow at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, told me.
“The difference is that ICBMs are ballistic with a relatively predictable trajectory, while maneuvering hypersonic missiles, such as boost-glide vehicles, are more unpredictable and not simply ballistic,” he added.
