“At a height of 10 feet, the horizon is 4 miles away. Something coming at mach 5 ( 3,805 mph ) will cover that distance in a little over one second.”
3805 / 3600 = 1 mile/sec
Former USAF officer.
There is entirely too much presumption of default US technological superiority. I won’t add to that sentence because any addition will be met with what-about-this or what-about-that from those buried in the fundamental presumption.
At hypersonic velocities, a plasma effect evolves and there has been a great deal of exploration of plasma effect on electromagnetics. You can study the equations or you can just be aware of the words — plasma stealth.
Russia’s intel people are at least as good as the CIA. They do not fear US weapons or capability. I don’t generally care about stuff like 2014 Ukraine coup and Maidan this or that. I do care about capability and who believes what about capability. They do not fear NATO capability. This is somewhat conclusive.