American and Chinese aircraft could be flying 4,000 miles per hour by 2030
How China and the United States compare in the hypersonic arms race
By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer June 16, 2017
TRCC engines mean China could fly Mach 6 airplanes—like the one shown in this fan art—that could fly anywhere in the world in under three hours. It would mean speeds and altitudes not yet used by modern air defenses.
American and Chinese defense giants are moving quickly to reach the edge of space, aiming to launch hypersonic aircraft that can cross continents in under an hour. What exactly does hypersonic mean? Speeds of over Mach 5, or more than 3,835 miles per hour.
It's an arms race well worth watching. Developments have the potential to revolutionize access to space and transform transcontinental travel for civilians. It could also transform national security, making existing air and missile defenses obsolete.
http://www.popsci.com/hypersonic-arms-race-china-united-states
