In the race to build better weapons, sometimes bigger isn't always better, but faster is, at least when it comes to missiles. Speed is the key in missile warfare since it adds to the element of surprise, boosts the weapon's range and accuracy, and makes it harder for the enemy to intercept it. The fastest missile in the world today can reach Mach 27, that is, 27 times faster than the speed of sound, and has a range of nearly 3,800 miles (6,000 km).

Avangard is the name of this hypersonic glide vehicle and it went into combat duty in Russia in December 2019. Avangard, which can carry a 2-megaton nuclear weapon, uses an intercontinental ballistic missile to reach the upper atmosphere before dropping down on its target at speeds between Mach 20 and Mach 27, more than 20,000 miles per hour. A

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