Bullets:

• China is the world leader in the development and deployment of hypersonic missile systems.
• Russia and Iran also have successfully built and recently used hypersonic platforms in conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
• The United States is racing to close the gap, and hopes to build systems for some Army units next year.
• But the problem is that no air defense platforms can intercept inbound hypersonic munitions.
• This is the reality that confronts career politicians and military officers in Western countries: an armed conflict against any country with hypersonic missiles invites catastrophic losses to ground bases and naval fleet assets.
• Those risks will be deemed unacceptably high, and in the event of potential conflict in the Western Pacific or Persian Gulf will likely result in disengagement and withdrawal of American naval forces.