What if Russia Fired Hypersonic Weapons into Ukraine?

Video Analysis: How Quickly can the US Close the Hypersonics Gap with Russia and China?

*This Article is Being Republished for Viewer Interest

By Kris Osborn – President & Editor-In-Chief, Warrior Maven

Would Russia fire Hypersonics? If Russia now has operational hypersonic weapons, and there is an actual capability gap, discrepancy or distinct Russian advantage related to the US with hypersonics, would Putin seek to demonstrate or exploit that gap in some kind of attack on Ukraine? 

The question was posed to Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby who said an invasion or occupation of Ukraine is not the kind of operation in which a long-range hypersonic weapon might be needed per say. However, Kirby was clear to emphasize that he did not want to get into Putin’s “head,” so to speak, and did not want to speculate much as to what he might or might not do.

“It wouldn’t be exactly clear if the intent is to invade Ukraine, why one would need a hypersonic weapon to do that. Those weapons, as you know, are meant to be used at extremely long intercontinental ranges, and to approach with stealth and speed….again, I don’t know what’s in his head, but one would not think that one would need that sort of weapon if one was going to invade Ukraine from right across the border,” Kirby said at the Pentagon.

However, it does not seem entirely impossible that Putin might want to showcase Russia’s