The U.S. Air Force intends to have its first operational warhead-armed hypersonic missiles by the 2020s and reconnaissance hypersonic missiles 20 years later.

Current developments affirm U.S. leadership in the development of hypersonic missiles against challenges posed by Russia and China.

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Dr. Greg Zacharias, Chief Scientist of the U.S. Air Force, said development of unmanned hypersonic surveillance hypersonic drones is on track for the 2030s. Launching recoverable hypersonic drones, however should be possible until the 2040s, he noted.

Hypersonic intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance (ISR) drones will become operational by the 2040s. A recoverable hypersonic drone able to travel at high altitudes and fly faster than Mach 5 (6,000 km/h) will likely to be operational in the mid-2020s.

By the 2040s, the air force plans to have a hypersonic "strike" ISR platform able to both conduct surveillance and delivery weapons, said Dr. Zacharias.

A weapon traveling at hypersonic speeds has a far better chance of destroying targets such as enemy warships, air defenses, fixed-wing or rotary aircraft and command centers.

Air Force senior leaders met earlier this month to accelerate hypersonics research and development to ensure the U.S.' continued technological superiority.

Hypersonics refers to flying at five times the speed of sound, which is also known as Mach 5 (6,000 km/h) or higher. For the Air Force, hypersonics is a game-changing capability that can greatly enhance the speed, range, flexibility and precision of an aircraft or weapon.

"We must push the boundaries of technology in every area," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein.

"Our adversaries aren't standing still. They are looking for every advantage they can get."

An air force study acknowledged China and Russia are already flight testing hypersonic weapons.

"We're accelerating our research in this area," said Acting Secretary of the Air Force Lisa S. Disbrow.