Source: Asia Times
By Emanuele Scimia
A lot of hype is surrounding Russia’s deployment of the Kinzhal hypersonic missile and Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, which can travel at more than five times the speed of sound (Mach 5).
Some observers say they are asymmetric game-changers because no current or prospective air and missile defense system deployed by the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization can intercept them.
Others claim their use has no immediate strategic implications for Washington and its allies in the short term, as there are no existing US and NATO counter-measures to defeat a barrage of Russian nuclear or conventional missiles already in Moscow’s strategic arsenal.
Read more at: http://www.atimes.com/article/strategic-impact-of-russias-hypersonic-missiles-questioned/