Originally Posted by
BFSGrad
Seems to be a lot of kidding going on by the media. The Zircon is simply a very expensive way to deliver a warhead to a target faster than a non-hypersonic missile. While hypersonic missiles are more difficult to defend against, the warhead carried is similar to non-hypersonic missiles.
According to the wisdom imparted to me by the Internet, apples-to-apples (say, same launch weight?), the warhead ought to be actually smaller.
The reasoning:
(1) All that speed (and attendant friction) doesn't come from nothing - need to carry more fuel.
(2) Hypersonic means surrounded by plasma, so no guidance corrections until it slows down near target. At which point it can be engaged just like any supersonic missile at close-in range.
If the design chooses not to slow down, then:
(1) The warhead must give up some of its HE weight to a heat shield, and
(2) It will not be GPS accurate. So ironically, it could really use a bigger warhead.
Perhaps this last point can be solved with some clever optical terminal guidance, but it certainly won't be easy to do, with the nose cone busy trying not to melt.