(LB) 17 times faster missile
Total bullshit!
Atmospheric missiles can reach over mach 3 (3x the speed of sound) so we are talking nearly mach 60?!!?
Keep in mind escape velocity of earths gravity is approximately mach 33. (i know, 33 strange right). Orbital velocity in the stratosphere is about mach 23. So to maintain altitude in the upper stratosphere a mach 60 object would need to burn fuel to follow the curve of the earth and pull 1.5+ Gs. The rocket equation shows this is not possible with any known chemical fuel.
Otherwise and object that fast (mach 60+) would shoot off into the solar system and rise to exceed the orbit of mars.
The 17 is therefore a deliberate number to communicate something. No a real velocity quote of an actual missile.