Cruise missiles have become an integral part of modern warfare due to their precision and effectiveness. These missiles are designed to fly at low altitudes and follow a predetermined flight path, making them difficult to detect and intercept.
One of the key factors that determine the potency of a cruise missile is its speed. In this article, we will take a look at some of the fastest cruise missiles in the world.
What is a Cruise Missile?
Before we dive into the details, let’s first understand what a cruise missile is. A cruise missile is an unmanned, self-propelled weapon that can be guided to its Target over long distances using various guidance systems such as GPS or infrared sensors. It can carry conventional or nuclear warheads and can be launched from various platforms such as ships, submarines, aircraft or ground-based launchers.
The Top 5 Fastest Cruise Missiles in the World
-
BrahMos-II (India/Russia)
BrahMos-II is currently under development by India and Russia. It is expected to have a top speed of around Mach 7 (8600 km/h), which would make it one of the fastest cruise missiles in the world.
-
X-51A Waverider (USA)
The X-51A Waverider is an experimental hypersonic missile being developed by the United States. It has a top speed of Mach 6 (7400 km/h) and has already undergone successful test flights.
-
Zircon (Russia)
Zircon is another hypersonic missile being developed by Russia. It has a top speed of around Mach 8 (9800 km/h) and has been described as “unstoppable” by Russian officials.
-
DF-ZF (China)
The DF-ZF is a hypersonic glide vehicle being developed by China. It is believed to have a top speed of around Mach 10 (12,359 km/h) and is designed to be launched from an intercontinental ballistic missile.
-
P-270 Moskit (Russia)
The P-270 Moskit, also known as the SS-N-22 Sunburn missile, is a supersonic anti-ship missile developed by Russia. It has a top speed of Mach 2.5 (3100 km/h) and can carry a conventional or nuclear warhead.
Conclusion
Cruise missiles have become a crucial component of modern warfare due to their precision and effectiveness. The speed of a cruise missile plays a vital role in its success in hitting the Target while avoiding detection and interception.
Countries around the world are investing heavily in developing faster and more advanced cruise missiles to gain an edge over their adversaries. These were some of the fastest cruise missiles in the world, but with rapid advancements in technology, we can expect even faster missiles to be developed in the future.