Hypersonic missile drones still need targeting and range

How badly do hypersonic missile drones threaten conventional navies?

They are a serious threat, but not magic; targeting, control, range, air defense, electronic warfare, and the carrier platform all matter.

Hypersonic missiles on uncrewed vessels still depend on command links and finding targets. Claims that a weapon will always get through repeat older claims about bombers and missiles, which did not eliminate defensive responses. An unprepared navy could suffer badly, while air-defence missiles, airborne early warning and electronic warfare could help a prepared force survive. Speed also says little about range: one advertisement is recalled as claiming roughly Mach 12 over only ten miles, although the exact figure is uncertain. Such a short reach would bring the launch vessel within helicopter attack range, with rocket-armed Lynx helicopters used as the example. The practical threat depends on the complete engagement, including whether the missile carrier survives long enough to fire.