US Navy News, March 25, 2025 – Hawaii
The U.S. Navy achieved a breakthrough on March 25, downing a hypersonic target vehicle off Hawaii’s southern coast using an upgraded RIM-174 Standard Missile 6.
Test Execution
Conducted from a destroyer, the test targeted a mock hypersonic missile traveling over Mach 5. The SM-6 variant, enhanced for speed and precision, marked a leap in countering advanced threats from nations like China and Russia.
Technological Edge
Vice Adm. Jon Hill, Missile Defense Agency director, called it “a game-changer,” addressing a critical gap in naval defense against hypersonic arsenals.
Strategic Outlook
With adversaries accelerating hypersonic development, this success bolsters U.S. deterrence, paving the way for fleet-wide upgrades by 2026.