The Kinzhal hypersonic missile is designed to launch from MiG fighter jets.
Russian Defense Ministry officials said Friday the country used a new hypersonic missile in an attack on Ukraine, its first use in war.
According to Bloomberg News, the hypersonic missile, called Kinzal ("Dagger" in Russian), was used in an attack on a large underground warehouse in southwestern Ukraine, which Russia's claim was yet to be confirmed. was not independently verified.
Hypersonic missiles are warheads designed to fly at five times the speed of sound, or more than Mach 5, which is approximately 3,800 mph (6,100 kph). Their speed and ability to maneuver themselves to a target make them extremely difficult to track down and shoot down. The United States, Russia, China and North Korea are developing hypersonic weapons, some of which have been launched into space in pursuit of long-range flight and maneuverability.
According to a Tass report in 2018, Russia's Kinjal hypersonic missile is an air-to-surface weapon on a Russian MiG-31 fighter jet and has a range of 1,240 miles (2,000 km).
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the country is also developing a hypersonic incontinental ballistic missile called the Avangard that will travel at Mach 20 to reach targets around the world.
North Korea claims to have tested its hypersonic missile this year. Last August, China reportedly began hypersonic missile tests on a Long March rocket, with the US military testing hypersonic technology in a series of smaller rocket launches in October.
Aerospace companies are also working on hypersonic technology to develop faster jets for air travel.
Stratolaunch is building a hypersonic research aircraft called the Talon that is designed to fly at Mach 6 and can be launched from the world's largest aircraft rock, which Stratolaunch launched as a mid-air rocket. was made for Talon will serve as a trial run for developing new hypersonic technologies for use in the government and commercial sectors.
Another company, Herms Corp., is developing a hypersonic aircraft called the Quarterhorse to travel at Mach 5 or above for air travel. It unveiled its first full-scale prototype in November.