7. Peregrine Falcon-Inspired Missiles – Hypersonic Weapons
Inspired by nature’s fastest bird, some hypersonic missiles have now surpassed even the X-15’s speed. Russia’s Avangard and China’s DF-ZF are hypersonic glide vehicles that can travel at Mach 20+ (approx. 15,000 mph or 24,000 km/h).
These weapons represent the future of modern warfare. Capable of flying at extreme speeds while remaining maneuverable, they can evade conventional missile defense systems. Hypersonic glide vehicles are launched via rockets into near-space, then glide toward targets at tremendous speeds.
The danger isn’t just their speed — it’s the fact that they can change trajectory mid-flight, making them incredibly difficult to detect or intercept. Their development has led to a new arms race, with the U.S., China, and Russia investing heavily in hypersonic technology.
While these are not civilian creations, their development shows how far human engineering has come in mastering speed beyond atmospheric limits.
