The race for the two miles-a-second super weapons that Putin says turn targets to dust

The article discusses the global race for the development of hypersonic missiles, with Russia and China leading the charge. Hypersonic missiles are capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5, or two miles per second, and can turn targets to dust, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The article highlights the concern that the United States is playing catch-up in this technology, while the United Kingdom has yet to develop any such weapons. The development of these super-fast missiles is seen as a crucial strategic advantage, as they can evade traditional missile defense systems. The article delves into the potential implications of this technological race, the efforts of various nations to develop and deploy these weapons, and the broader geopolitical implications of the competition. However, the summary provided here focuses on the key facts and avoids any partisan or biased language, as requested.