As they soar through Earth's atmosphere, existing ballistic missiles can achieve speeds of Mach 20 due to the lack of drag. There are a number of important reasons why missile speed is crucial. One important consideration is that missiles travelling at high speeds are better able to avoid hostile defences, which makes interception a very difficult task. A missile's chances of successfully penetrating a target improve when its speed decreases the amount of time an enemy has to respond. The missile's responsiveness and range are enhanced by its fast speeds, which also facilitate quick deployment and engagement.
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