Hyper-glide Delivery Systems and the Implications for Strategic Stability and Arms Reductions
Abstract
The United States, Russia, and China are all developing advanced conventional weapons often
referred to as “hyper-glide” or “boost-glide” systems. Hypersonic glide vehicles (HGV) are those
that travel at more than five times the speed of sound. “Glide” in this context refers to the
behavior of the system as it reenters the earth’s atmosphere. Reentry is an extremely demanding
environment, but the possibility of systems that can accurately deliver conventional payloads
promptly over great distances or evade missile defenses presents obvious military advantages.
Description
PASCC Report