What are the three key requirements for a missile to qualify as hypersonic?

To qualify as hypersonic, a missile must possess three key characteristics: speed, maneuverability, and accuracy. For speed, hypersonic missiles travel at Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound) or above—potentially reaching 19,000 miles per hour. This allows them to cross vast distances quickly, such as from the US to China in just 18 minutes. Hypersonic missiles also require sophisticated propulsion systems. Some use scramjet engines that collect oxygen from the atmosphere and mix it with hydrogen fuel to create combustion at extreme velocities. Others, like the Chinese Dong Feng 17, are glide vehicles that can change trajectory mid-flight, providing the crucial maneuverability needed to evade defense systems and accurately strike targets like aircraft carriers.