Hypersonic missiles need usable targeting information and an appropriate target. Limited carriage encourages commanders to reserve them for especially important targets. Searching for a target worthy of the missile can itself distract from the force's assigned job. Faster missiles continue an established direction of development, although sustaining hypersonic speed adds a new capability. This assessment treats that improvement as evolutionary and asks how it will support actual missions.
Notable Point · 32:30-33:58
The target problem behind hypersonic missiles
Limited missile loads and demanding targeting requirements raise a practical question: which targets justify using a hypersonic weapon?