Hypersonic weapon development is growing popular in America and among her allies and adversaries.
A United States Navy warship recently tested the Aegis Combat System to detect, track, and even engage a maneuvering hypersonic missile in a simulated flight. The Flight Test Other 40 (FTX-40), known as Stellar Banshee, was carried out from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney and tracked a live advanced hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM).
While an actual MRBM wasn’t employed, the Flight IIA Ageis destroyer test was carried out utilizing a “simulated SM-6 Block IAU,” Lockheed Martin announced.
It marked the first successful use of upgraded Aegis software in a ballistic missile defense (BMD) flight test mission.
The Hypersonic Missile Threat
America’s potential near-peer adversaries have also been investing heavily in hypersonic weapons in recent years, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that such weapons are impossible to counter.
Other nations, including India, North Korea, and even Iran, are now reported to be investing in the technology.
Proponents of hypersonic weapons have noted that countering them can be incredibly challenging.
“Part of the problem is the flight trajectory of the hypersonic missile,” wrote Harrison Kass for The National Interest last August.
“A ballistic missile takes a predictable flight path, which allows air defense systems to identify and track inbound sensors with radar and computer calculations. The hypersonic missile is different.”
Hypersonic weapons have been a serious threat, as they can fly over Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound, and can maneuver in flight with computerized precision, which could make them difficult to counter.
Additionally, a hypersonic missile’s speed and force are so significant that the weapon could inflict considerable damage from its “kinetic” impact and wouldn’t even need explosives.
At the same time, the missiles could still be fitted with nuclear warheads, making them a perilous threat.
According to a January 2025 report from Barndon J. Weichert for The National Interest, “[The] Kinzhal’s design allows it to follow a ballistic trajectory with the ability to maneuver, enhancing its penetration capabilities against existing air defense systems. A Kinzhal weapon can carry either a conventional or nuclear warhead, offering key dual-role capacity in combat situations.”
Tracking these as early as possible would be crucial in stopping the missiles from hitting a target.
The Kremlin’s Hypersonic Capabilities Are Not Unstoppable
Despite the capabilities that Russia has claimed about its hypersonic weapons, the armed forces of Ukraine have reportedly destroyed numerous Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, which are reported to be capable of reaching speeds of more than 11,000 kilometers per hour.
Moscow boasted that current air defense systems could not counter the Kinzhal. Yet, those missiles were believed to have been shot down by the American-made MIM-104 Patriot air defense system.
The Stellar Banshee could now counter the Kinzhal and other hypersonic threats. The United States may have the lead in anti-hypersonic missile capabilities, which could be as critical as developing the platforms.
“Our Aegis Combat System successfully defended against a simulated hypersonic threat,” stated Chandra Marshall, vice president of Multi-Domain Combat Solutions at Lockheed Martin.
“Aegis Baseline 9’s hypersonic defense advantage against an MRBM target brings incredible capability that allows our warfighter to see the unseen sooner, ensuring our sailors get in front of threats quickly.”
Lockheed Martin further touted the capabilities of its proven Aegis Combat System and the platform’s ability to “adapt to the constantly evolving defense environment,” where it could remain “a key pillar of missile defense” on both land and at sea.
Stellar Banshee was the third test of the Capability Package 24 Ballistic Missile Defense 5.1.5 system. It followed the FTX-23 or Stellar Sisyphus, demonstrating a two-part developmental test of sensor-tracking and communications-link capabilities. Lockheed Martin added that an MRBM target was successfully intercepted using an “SM-6 Dual II Software Upgrade interceptor missile in FTM-32.”
The community-based Americans praised the successful tests for a Stronger Navy, writing, “This test shows that the United States is not standing still. Our Navy is preparing for tomorrow’s battles today. The Aegis Combat System’s evolving capabilities protect American service members at sea, allies abroad, and Americans at home.”
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites, with over 3,200 published pieces and over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author at [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock/ U.S. Army.
