China has taken the lead over the US in hypersonic weapons with its long-range CJ-1000 missile. It is the world's only operational land-based scramjet-powered hypersonic missile, joining only Russia's ship-based Zircon and China’s own YJ-19 in this elite group. According to Shipborne Weapons magazine, scramjet engines give these missiles better speed, range, and maneuverability than the glider-type hypersonic vehicles used by China and Russia. The CJ-1000 flies low, between 20km to 30km altitude, making it harder for enemy radars to detect. This missile uses scramjet power during most of its flight, boosting its precision and control. The US pioneered scramjet flight, first in 1998, but recent hypersonic missile projects like the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile have fallen behind. The article cites poor project planning and weak leadership in the US versus strong government support, research, and investment in China. The CJ-1000 is mounted on a mobile 10-wheel launcher and can strike targets at least 2,500 km away, covering areas like Japan, the Philippines, and the Pacific between the first and second island chains. It launches vertically with a solid booster to Mach 4, then switches on the scramjet to reach Mach 6 for cruise. Experts say this missile may render current air defense systems powerless. Only the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense might partially intercept such threats. The article warns that as China continues to evolve its hypersonic missiles, its offensive and defensive capabilities will grow stronger, possibly leapfrogging future countermeasures.