The Phoenix climbed to 80,000 to 100,000 ft and then cruised there at around Mach 5. I personally don't see that as slow. And once in the terminal area it dived down to increase its speed for the final intercept.
Is that really true Ken (a genuine question)? Mach 5 is where hypersonic officially begins, and I've never heard the Phoenix being classed as a hypersonic weapon before. Indeed, the DoD has only recently got to those kind of speeds with the developmental WaveRider, so I'd be surprised to learn that a comparable missile had been in service decades before.
No more Death Star Valley or Mach Loop! Unthinkable! Still, the Welsh will be happy
Not a bit of it Courtney. The 'Piss-off Biggles' farmer aside, we'd be quite gutted ;-)