A new hypersonic showdown is unfolding as Russia and the United States trade bold claims over missile dominance. Washington is flexing Dark Eagle, a Mach-10 weapon designed to evade modern air defenses. Moscow insists its S-500 system can intercept even the fastest hypersonic threats while rushing Oreshnik missiles into combat duty. Analysts are divided over whether Russia’s limited S-500 coverage can truly counter a mobile, boost-glide strike launched in minutes. As both sides escalate rhetoric and readiness, the balance between deterrence and vulnerability is under sharper scrutiny than ever.