China, the U.S., and Russia have the most advanced capabilities, and several other countries are investigating the technology, including India, Japan, Australia, France, Germany and North Korea, which claims to have tested a hypersonic missile.
Russia | Avangard – HGV, intercontinental ballistic missile, nuclear warhead Tsirkon (Zircon) – Ship-launched cruise missile |
China | DF-17 – a medium-range ballistic missile designed to launch hypersonic glide vehicles, DF-41 – intercontinental ballistic missile, could be modified to carry a conventional or nuclear glide vehicle. Two hypersonic weapons tests conducted |
US | U.S. is “at least several years behind” China in hypersonic technology despite significant investment |