As long as the slower ground-based intercepting supersonic projectile is sufficiently forward of the incoming missile, it only needs to arrive at the same time, somewhere along the hypersonic missile's predicted trajectory.  Is that correct?

Edited January 11, 20241 yr by StringJunky

On 1/11/2024 at 7:22 AM, StringJunky said:

Is that correct?

Given that current generation PAC-2/3 interception missiles can top Mach 4, their speed deficit against say Avangard and  Starry Sky-2 hypersonic glide vehicles is perhaps less of a challenge than keeping track of these highly manoeuvrable devices as they actively evade defence systems.

That they achieve their impressive success rates via direct kinetic impact (rather than nearby fragmentation) I find quite staggering.

Perhaps the real test will come with the future deployment of the BrahMos II Russian/Indian scram jet powered hypersonic cruise missile which will be capable of Mach 8-ish.

Edited January 12, 20241 yr by sethoflagos
Clarification

Cheers Seth. It was hearing about the Patriot system taking out the Kinzal quite often that got me thinking about it. It was happening too often to just be luck.

Edited January 12, 20241 yr by StringJunky