The targeting problem behind a hypersonic carrier attack

An attacker must first locate the carrier and predict where it will be when the weapon arrives. At current demonstrated technology levels, a hypersonic re-entry vehicle's plasma sheath can interfere with the sensors needed for terminal guidance. Extreme speed also creates a maneuver problem because even a modest turn consumes a large amount of distance. Claims that a system can see through the plasma and correct across a wide search area therefore require proof, not just assertion. The carrier's movement turns surveillance, prediction, guidance, and weapon maneuverability into one linked targeting problem.