00:23Aircraft carriers, massive floating cities, home to thousands of sailors,
00:29jets, and cutting-edge weapons. For decades they've been the backbone of U.S.
00:35naval power, but now a new threat is emerging that could change everything.
00:42Hypersonic missiles. These weapons travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5, maneuver
00:48unpredictably, and can strike targets thousands of miles away in minutes.
00:55Former CIA officer John Kiriakou warns bluntly, there is no defense against a
01:02hypersonic missile. The idea of a single salvo wiping out even the most advanced
01:09carrier strike group, including Aegis destroyers, cruisers, submarines, and
01:14aircraft, has kept naval planners awake at night.
01:21Hypersonics compress decision times and evade traditional radar, making them
01:26nearly unstoppable, at least in theory. But the U.S. Navy isn't standing still.
01:33Defense in depth is the strategy. SM-6 missiles target hypersonics in their terminal
01:39phase, with recent tests hitting maneuvering targets. Space-based sensors like HBTSS
01:46track threats from over the horizon. The glide phase interceptor, co-developed with
01:51Japan, aims to strike missiles mid-flight. Directed energy weapons, like lasers on
01:57Ford-class carriers, provide last-ditch protection. And carriers use tactical
02:02maneuvers, electronic warfare, and deception to complicate enemy targeting. Recent exercises
02:09show promise. In March 2025, an SM-6 variant successfully intercepted a hypersonic missile,
02:16marking a major step forward. Production is ramping up, with hundreds of missiles expected
02:22annually. But experts caution, if adversaries launch multiple hypersonics in a salvo, even
02:28these defenses could be overwhelmed. As one defense analyst explains, hypersonics compress
02:35decision timelines. Detection, tracking, and countermeasures are everything. One mistake,
02:42one second too late, and the consequences are catastrophic. So, can a carrier defend itself
02:49against a hypersonic missile? Technically, maybe. Not perfectly. Not yet. In a real conflict,
02:56the outcome will depend on numbers, detection, timing, and innovation. Hypersonics may be changing
03:05the rules of naval warfare. Meanwhile, Trump is considering a limited military strike, not
03:12full-scale war, but a calculated hit designed to pressure Tehran into accepting a nuclear deal.
03:18The message? Make a deal, or face consequences. According to new reports, Trump is reviewing options
03:25for a targeted assault on a small number of Iranian military or government sites. Not nuclear facilities.
03:32At least, not initially. But here's the catch. If Iran refuses to curb uranium enrichment or reject
03:40U.S. demands, including limits on ballistic missiles and support for proxy groups, broader strikes could follow.
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