It seems to me that the big whoop about hypersonic missiles is their high speed maneuverability. Therefore, they can’t be defended against as they are coming in. This really matters if you’re trying to defend against an incoming nuclear warhead.
However, if they’re only carrying a conventional explosive warhead, I don’t see why it matters, other than as a vehicle field test. The hypersonic speed simply converts some of the initial fuel into higher than usual kinetic energy, which is added to the warhead’s explosive energy on impact.
“However, if they’re only carrying a conventional explosive warhead, I don’t see why it matters, other than as a vehicle field test.”
I think the ‘proper’ term would be “demonstration.” Not test.
These were not used in this instance to further any goal for the Russians in Ukraine. This was a message and demonstration of how “effective” they might be against a European capital.
If they start using these things all over the place, you never know when on of them has a nuclear tip. I think that is the purpose here—to get us guessing.
“The hypersonic speed simply converts some of the initial fuel into higher than usual kinetic energy, which is added to the warhead’s explosive energy on impact.”
Useful against a hardened, subterranean target if it is very accurate.
Most nukes are set to detonate above the surface for maximum destruction.