Hypersonic Weapon Explodes After Four Seconds as the Catch-Up Arms Race Begins
"The hypersonic weapon is part of a characteristically blandly named Defense Department program called Prompt Global Strike. Founded after 9/11, the project aimed to discover how to strike anywhere on the planet within an hour to prevent terrorism, or a crisis like North Korea launching a nuclear attack.
The missiles wouldn't necessary carry nuclear payloads, said experts. Rather, they likely would deliver conventional explosives, but far more quickly and accurately than current options."