The Falcon HTV-2 is an experiment in extremely high speed flight technologies by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

The Pentagon said the weapon self-destructed barely four seconds after its launch at a test range in Alaska when officials detected a problem with the aircraft. The glider exploded during take-off and fell down to earth in the range complex, a spokeswoman for the US Defence Department said.

The weapon, which is being co-developed by the US Army, has “the ability to promptly engage targets at a strategic range without using nuclear weapons” but it still underlines the staggering powers that will be used in future conflicts.