U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement on the potential development of hypersonic weapons by Russia and China:

“Hypersonic weapons are potential “nightmare weapons” that could allow an adversary to launch a devastating strike on U.S. personnel, interests, or assets with little warning. The implications of these weapons under development by China or Russia could be catastrophic, which is why I have consistently sounded the alarm on this threat from my post on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Hypersonic weapons are strategic game-changers with the dangerous potential to fundamentally undermine strategic stability as we know it, and the U.S. cannot lag in this development or allow for blind spots as we monitor the progress of our competitors. I will continue pressing Administration and military officials to give this matter the attention and resources required to defend our nation.”