14 DAY TRIAL // The United States may soon become capable of striking any country on the globe within less than an hour, thanks to the successful completion of a new test flight. The maneuver involved a hypersonic aircraft that has been under development for many years.
The original concept was managed by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for the past few years, and the Hypersonic Technology Vehicles 1 and 2 were the first to be launched.
Unfortunately, both flights failed. However, the new one was successful, though it lasted only half an hour. It took place over the Pacific Ocean on November 17, and the test vehicle, called the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon, managed to reach hypersonic speeds (at least 5 times the speed of sound).
The three-stage rocket that carried the tactical bomber launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, at around 6:30 am EST (1130 GMT), Space reports.