The U.S. reports on the successful testing of two hypersonic missiles.

This is reported by Reuters.

The U.S. Air Force confirmed that it successfully tested an air-launched rapid reaction weapon off the coast of California on Tuesday, manufactured by Lockheed Martin.

The launch was from a B-52H strategic bomber. During the preliminary tests, there were problems with the separation of the missile from the aircraft. Lockheed commented that the tests demonstrated the missile's ability to accrue and maintain hypersonic speed, provided important data for future work, and confirmed the missile's safe separation from the aircraft during launch.

The Air Force says further tests will take place later this year.

At the same time, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) reported a successful first hypersonic weapon test conducted in New Mexico. Their Operational Fires is a ground-based system.

Hypersonic missiles move in the upper atmosphere at more than five times the speed of sound - about 6200 km per hour.