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Report: Hypersonic, Dual-Capable Missiles Pose Huge Global Threat

Henry Ridgwell

   LONDON - New missile technologies, including so-called hypersonic
   systems capable of traveling at more than 25 times the speed of sound,
   are fueling a new global arms race, according to a new report from
   analyst group the [1]European Leadership Network.

   The research warns that the collapse this month of the Intermediate
   Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty between the United States and Russia
   is just the latest example of the growing pressure on the global
   security architecture. The researchers say new treaties are urgently
   needed to counter the threat of emerging technologies.

   Russia conducted the latest test flight of its "Avangard" hypersonic
   missile system in December of last year. Moscow says the Avangard is
   able to evade all current defense systems.

   The Avangard system involves attaching a regular intercontinental
   ballistic missile to a "glide vehicle" that travels at more than 11,000
   kilometers per hour on the edge of the atmosphere, then releases the
   weapon once over its target. It would be able to carry nuclear and
   conventional payloads.

References

   1. file://localhost/tmp/lynxXXXX--amaa/www.europeanleadershipnetwork.org/policy-brief/missile-control-its-not-rocket-science/

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