“…New materials, improved modelling and simulation, and more efficient propulsion systems have enabled recent developments in hypersonic research and have greatly increased the likelihood of their wide operational use [169]. The PRC, Russia, the US, the UK, France, India, Japan and Australia all have openly acknowledged research, testing, and operational use of hypersonic systems [170,167,171,172,173]. In 2019 Russia announced the fielding of its first hypersonic manoeuvring air-launched ballistic missile (Kinzhal) and the operational deployment of the Avangard HGV.…”