On Monday, the U.S. Navy successfully tested the launch of an SM-2 interceptor from the USS Zumwalt. The USS Zumwalt is the first-in-class stealth destroyer for the Navy and the SM-2 intercepted a mock anti-ship cruise missile.
Also on Monday, it was reported the Chinese H-6N bomber was spotted carrying a suspected hypersonic cruise missile while landing at an airfield. Analysts are divided on if the booster is an air-launched ballistic missile or air-launched cruise missile, but seemed to agree the warhead closely resembles the DF-17’s hypersonic glide vehicle.
On Tuesday, the Israel Air Force successfully struck an underground Hamas target in Gaza following the intercept of a rocket fired from the same area. A few days later, on Thursday, Israel's defense system intercepted one of two missiles that had been fired from the Gaza Strip.
Also on Tuesday, new satellite imaging indicated that Russia is preparing to resume missile test flights at its Pankovo test site. The site was used in November 2017 to test Russia’s Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile, but testing from the Pankovo site had halted after 2018.
On Wednesday, India's Navy performed a test of its Brahmos supersonic cruise missile variant. The test confirmed the Russian and Indian built missile as the most accurate and highest speed supersonic cruise missile currently in operation.
Also on Wednesday, it was reported that a Patriot air defense battery appeared at Easterwood Airport in College Station, Texas. The setup of the battery was revealed to be part of a drill to test the ability for quick deployment of Patriot system in an emergency situation.
