China and Russia Are Winning the Hypersonic Missile Race

But the United States is catching up, with new weapons set to come online soon.

Several hypersonic missiles with "YJ-19" printed on their sides sit atop a green Chinese military vehicle. A person in a Chinese military uniform stands in the foreground. September 11, 2025, 3:14 PM Comment icon View Comments ( )

At China’s massive military parade this month celebrating the end of World War II in the Pacific, Beijing showcased its line of anti-ship hypersonic missiles—an implicit warning that in a future conflict, the United States could see its $13 billion aircraft carriers at the bottom of the sea.

China is not the only U.S. adversary investing in the weapons. Russia has also made strides in fielding hypersonic missiles,

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