Ultrasonic weapons are so fast that their speed can change the air molecules surrounding them. They can carry nuclear heads, fly at low height and are difficult to detect.

Due to their ability to transform the modern war, these weapons have become significantly in the growing struggle for military superiority between the US on the one hand and Russia and China on the other.

The two main US opponents have already developed ultrasonic missiles. At the Chinese military parade in September, a “Carrier Killer” ultrasonic ballistic missile was built to attack high -value naval targets. Ukraine claimed that Russia used an ultrasonic rocket to attack Kiev in early 2024.

The US, under political and strategic pressure to keep up, has difficulty developing an ultrasonic weapon. The US Army told Bloomberg News in early October that it plans to develop Pentagon’s first ultrasonic weapon by the end of the year. However, the Defense Ministry’s test office said the gun has not yet proved its effectiveness in real battle conditions.

What are ultrasonic weapons

They are usually defined as rapid drive weapons, low flight and high flexibility, designed to be very fast and agile, so that traditional anti -missile defense systems cannot detect them in time.

Unlike ballistic missiles, ultrasonic weapons do not follow a predetermined, arched orbit and can be maneuvered on their way to their destination, according to the Congress Research Service.

The term “ultrasonic” describes any speed greater than five times the speed of sound, which is about 760 miles (1,220 kilometers) per hour, which means that these weapons can travel at a speed of at least 3,800 miles per hour. At ultrasonic speeds, the air molecules around the flight vehicle begin to change, dissolve or get a load in a process called ionization. This submits the ultrasonic vehicle to “huge” pressure as it moves into the atmosphere, according to a 2018 US Army document.

What are the different types of ultrasonic weapons

There are two main types of ultrasonic weapons: sliding vehicles and Cruise missiles. Due to the challenges presented by the achievement of ultrasound of the rockets, most of the attention is focused on the first, which are launched by a rocket before slipping towards their goal. The rockets have engines called scramjets, which use air oxygen and produce push during their flight, allowing them to travel at a constant speed and at a constant altitude.

Which ultrasonic weapons have been used in battles

Ukraine said Russia attacked Kiev in February 2024 with the Tsirkon rocket, an ultrasonic rocket launched by a ship and can travel at between six and eight times the speed of sound. Tsirkon is rumored to be capable of hitting both terrestrial and nautical targets.

The US Congress Research Service, citing Russian news sources, said it has a maximum range of about 625 miles and can be launched by the vertical launch systems mounted on cruisers, corvettes and submarines.

Russia had previously claimed to have used ultrasonic weapons, the so -called Kinzhal missiles, in war. Although Kinzhal or otherwise Dagger, he travels at ultrasonic speeds, it is not what experts mean when talking about ultrasonic weapons. Kinzhal is a ballistic rocket and, although he reaches ultrasound speeds, this applies to almost all ballistic missiles at some point in their course.

The Houthi rebels, who control the northwest Yemen, said the rocket used to hit central Israel in 2024 was young and ultrasonic. They didn’t give more details. Most of the long -range rebel attacks on Israel have been intercepted over the Red Sea.

The attack, which caused minor damage, has marked the largest rocket scope launched by Yemen, which is about 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) from Israel. Since then, Houthi has been responsible for several other ultrasonic missile attacks, including the attack on Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, but Israel disputes that Houtha had any success.

Who have ultrasonic weapons

China, the US and Russia have the most advanced potential. Other countries investigating this technology are India, Japan, Australia, France, Germany and North Korea, which claims to have tasted an ultrasound rocket. Iran, which supports Houthi, announced publicly in June 2023 what it described as the first domestic domestic rocket.

Russia

In addition to Tsirkon, Russia has Avangard, a slip vehicle launched by a intercontinental ballistic missile and is said to carry nuclear heads. Russian sources of news claim to have been in service in December 2019.

China

China has successfully carried out a flight test of a mid-range ballistic missile, equipped with a slip-soluble vehicle, in 2023. The rocket, called DF-27, is said to have flew 2,100 km in 12 minutes. The Financial Times said for the first time that the China army carried out two tests of ultrasonic weapons during the summer of 2021, including a launch of an ultrasonic orbit, capable of transporting nuclear load. China has questioned testing reports, saying that it simply launched a reusable space vehicle.

Earlier, China has carried out a series of successful tests of the DF-17, a medium-range ballistic missile designed to launch ultrasonic vehicles. American intelligence analysts estimate that it may have already been put into service.

China has also tried the DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missile, which could be modified to carry conventional or nuclear missiles.

In September, China presented its newest ultrasonic achievement: YJ-21. The rocket is capable of developing ultrasonic speeds and probably has a range of more than 600 km. platforms.

USA

The US Army plans to develop Pentagon’s first ultrasonic weapon by the end of 2025. The Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon program, also known as Dark Eagle, is expected to have a range of over 1,725 ​​miles. The first battery will cost about $ 2.7 billion, according to Government Accountability Office (GAO).

However, the army has not repeatedly managed to prove the success of the Dark Eagle system in real tests. The army carried out four tests in 2023 and 2024, which had problems with the launcher, the launch and the quality of the rocket construction, according to a GAO report in June 2025. In August 2024, the system completed its first successful “end-to-end”.

UK and Australia

The two countries, in a joint statement with the US in 2022, cooperate in the field of “ultrasonic and anti -anti -seizure” in the context of the then recently signed defense agreement between the three countries, known as Aukus.

What is the importance of ultrasonic weapons

In an appearance on Bloomberg TV in October 2021, US General Mark Milley, then president of Joint Chiefs of Staff, likened suspicions of testing a supersonic weapons system from China, with Sputnik, “referring to the pioneering launch of a 1957 An early lead in the space struggle with the US.

Ultrasonic weapons are very difficult to deal with with existing defense systems. US officials say US ultrasonic weapons, unlike those in China and Russia, are designed to carry conventional weapons rather than nuclear weapons. However, this does not particularly reassure the possible enemies of the US, who will have no way of knowing whether such a weapon is actually carrying a nuclear head during its flight.

Monitoring US systems by China and Russia reflects concern that US ultrasonic weapons could allow America to carry out a preventive attack on their nuclear arsenals and supporting infrastructure. The development of US anti -missile defense systems could also limit China and Russia’s ability to retaliate against the US.