Hypersonic weapon

Hypersonic missile — Scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missile

A hypersonic weapon is a weapon capable of travelling at hypersonic speed, defined as between 5 and 25 times the speed of sound or about 1 to 5 miles per second (1.6 to 8.0 km/s).^[1]

Below such speeds, weapons would be characterized as subsonic or supersonic, while above such speeds, the molecules of the atmosphere disassociate into a plasma which makes control and communication difficult.

There are multiple types of hypersonic weapon:

Hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV): missile warheads which maneuver and glide through the atmosphere at high speeds after an initial ballistic launch phase^[2]^[1]
Hypersonic cruise missile: cruise missiles which use air-breathing engines such as scramjets to reach high speeds^[2]^[1]
Hypersonic aircraft using air-breathing engines such as scramjets to reach high speeds^[1]
Guns which fire cannon-launched guided projectiles. These may be developments of traditional artillery or novel technologies such as railguns.^[1]

Other types of weapons, such as traditional ballistic missiles, may achieve hypersonic speeds but are not typically classified as hypersonic weapons due to lacking the use of aerodynamic lift to allow their reentry vehicles to maneuver under guided flight within the atmosphere.^[3]^[4]

History

The Silbervogel was the first design for a hypersonic weapon and was developed by German scientists in the 1930s.^[5]

In the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia was seen to have fielded operational weapons and used them for combat. The Kremlin presents new hypersonic weapons as supposedly capable of overcoming "any" foreign missile defense systems, with the "pre-nuclear deterrence" concept contained in its 2014 iteration of the official Russian Military Doctrine.^[6] A volley of Russian hypersonic missiles were launched at Kyiv in January 2023.^[7]

By country

Plans, programs and projects for such weaponry include:

Multinational

SCIFiRE, between the US and Australia.

Brazil

14-X

China

DF-ZF mounted on the DF-17
YJ-21. According to a South China Morning Post report, in December 2023, Chinese hypersonic anti-ship missiles went undetected in a computer-simulated attack against the US warships in a Chinese research lab.^[8]^[9] The missile range was reported to be similar to that of YJ-21.^[9]

France

VERAS hypersonic glide vehicle (first French program on hypersonics; launched in 1965 and cancelled in 1971)^[10]^[11]
ASN4G hypersonic air-launched cruise missile (under development; technological work on the missile began in the early 1990s and scheduled to succeed the ASMP in the pre-strategic deterrence role in 2035)^[12]^[13]
LEA hypersonic cruise demonstrator (project launched in 2003 to validate technologies for the ASN4G program)^[14]
Prométhée scramjet missile program (little is known about the program beyond the fact that a test, codenamed ASTRÉE, of a mixed ramjet capable of successive subsonic and supersonic combustion was carried out in the United States in either 2021 or 2022)^[12]^[13]
VMaX (Véhicule Manœuvrant Expérimental) hypersonic glide vehicle (first flight test took place on June 26, 2023, from the DGA's site in Biscarrosse and was successful)^[15]^[16]^[17]^[18]^[19]
VMaX-2 hypersonic glide vehicle (first flight test scheduled for 2024 or 2025)^[20]^[12]^[13]
Espadon hypersonic combat aircraft program^[21]^[22]

Germany

SHEFEX II HGV (DLR research)^[23]^[24]^[25]

India

Iran

Fattah-1 – hypersonic ballistic missile unveiled in June 2023^[26]
Fattah-2 – hypersonic cruise missile unveiled in November 2023^[27]

Japan

Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile
Hypersonic Cruise Missile (HCM)^[24]

North Korea

Hwasong-8

Russia

3M22 Zircon
Avangard (hypersonic glide vehicle)
Kh-47M2 Kinzhal
Kh-95 long-range hypersonic cruise missile^[28]
Vympel R-37M
Zmeevik anti-ship missile^{[citation needed]}
Gremlin Hypersonic Guided Rocket (air-launched)^[29]

South Korea

Hycore cruise missile (scramjet two-stage missile)^[30]

United Kingdom

HVX (Hypersonic Air Vehicle Experimental) demonstrator program announced in July 2022^[31]
Concept V, a single-engine hypersonic aircraft concept unveiled under the HVX program^[32]
Hypersonic cruise missile by 2030^[33]

United States

Boeing X-51 Waverider^[34]
DARPA Falcon Project (Hypersonic Weapon System (HWS)
DARPA Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC)^[35]
Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (Air Force) ^[36]^[37]^[38]
Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (Army) and Conventional Prompt Strike (Navy) boost-glide system, both will use the same Common-Hypersonic Glide Body HGV ^[39]
OpFires (DARPA) ^[40]^[41]
Hypersonic Air Launched Offensive Anti-Surface (HALO) air-launched anti-ship missile under Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare Increment 2 (OASuW Inc 2) program (Navy)^[42]^[43]
AIM-260 JATM (expected)
Lockheed Martin Mako^[44]^[45]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e John T. Watts; Christian Trotti; Mark J. Massa (August 2020), Primer on Hypersonic Weapons in the Indo-Pacific Region (PDF), Atlantic Council, ISBN 978-1-61977-111-6
^ ^a ^b "'National pride is at stake.' Russia, China, United States race to build hypersonic weapons". www.science.org. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
^ "Fact Sheet: Hypersonic Weapons". Center for Arms Control and Non-proliferation.
^ Montgomery, Alexander. "Ukraine and the Kinzhal: Don't believe the hypersonic hype". Brookings Institute. The term "hypersonic" is now typically used just to refer to two types of weapons that are being developed through contemporary defense programs: hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) and hypersonic cruise missiles (HCMs).
^ David Wright; Cameron Tracy (1 August 2021), "Overhyped: The Physics and Hype of Hypersonic Weapons", Scientific American, 325 (2): 64–71
^ McDermott, Roger (4 February 2022). "The Role of Hypersonic Weapons in Russian Military Strategy". The Jamestown Foundation.
^ "Ukraine war: Kyiv says it shot down Russian hypersonic missiles". 16 May 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
^ Paleja, Ameya (19 January 2024). "China's secretive lab simulates hypersonic missile attack on US warship". interestingengineering.com. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
^ ^a ^b "China lab simulates attack on US warships using space weapons, hypersonic missiles". South China Morning Post. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
^ "Quand la France avait de l'avance dans la mise au point d'un planeur hypersonique avec le projet VERAS". 7 August 2022.
^ "Le premier vol du planeur hypersonique français V-MAX est (enfin) pour bientôt, promet M. Chiva". 3 March 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c "MBDA en dit un peu plus sur l'ASN4G, le futur missile de la composante aéroportée de la dissuasion française". 12 March 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Le futur missile de la composante aéroportée de la dissuasion française : l'ASN4G". 13 March 2023.
^ "NATO STO: French Flight Test Program LEA Status". 1 September 2010.
^ "France debuts hypersonic glide weapon in first VMaX test flight". 28 June 2023.
^ "France Conducts First VMaX Hypersonic Glide Vehicle Test". 27 June 2023.
^ "France conducts first test firing of V-MAX hypersonic glider demonstrator". 27 June 2023.
^ "La France a testé le planeur hypersonique VMAX d'Ariane Group". 27 June 2023.
^ "Armées : la France a testé pour la première fois un planeur hypervéloce, capable de voler à plus de Mach 5". 27 June 2023.
^ "Le ministère des Armées va financer un second démonstrateur de planeur hypersonique, le VMaX-2". Opex 360 (in French). 4 May 2023.
^ "L'ONERA dévoile le projet d'avion militaire hypersonique " Espadon "". 19 July 2023.
^ "Aéronef hypersonique militaire : anticiper la menace". 26 June 2023.
^ https://sgp.fas.org/crs/weapons/R45811.pdf
^ ^a ^b https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23688406/r45811.pdf
^ "Institute of Structures and Design".
^ "سپاه پاسداران در مراسمی با حضور ابراهیم رئیسی از "موشک هایپرسونیک فتاح" رونمایی کرد". ایران اینترنشنال (in Persian). 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
^ Motamedi, Maziar. "Iran unveils upgraded hypersonic missile as Khamenei touts Israel 'failure'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
^ "Is This Russia's Best Hypersonic Missile yet?". The National Interest. 3 December 2021.
^ "Gremlin Hypersonic Guided Rocket (GZUR)". globalsecurity.org.
^ "South Korea develops Hycore hypersonic cruise missile". 25 January 2022.
^ "UK Developing Reusable Hypersonic Tech". 28 July 2022.
^ "Farnborough 2022: UK reveals 'Concept V' hypersonic aircraft". 18 July 2022.
^ https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain-developing-homegrown-hypersonic-missile/
^ "X-51A Waverider". United States Air Force.
^ Buccellatto, Salvatore. "Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC)". DARPA.
^ "Partnering and integration speed delivery of a hypersonic missile".
^ Losey, Stephen (12 March 2024). "Air Force budget backs Raytheon hypersonic, no Lockheed missile funds". DefenseNews.com.
^ Tirpak, John (13 March 2024). "Air Force Looks to Reusable Hypersonics as ARRW Ends and HACM Gears Up for Testing". Air & Space Forces Magazine.
^ "Report to Congress on Army Long Range Hypersonic Weapon". USNI.
^ "Lockheed Martin's Hypersonic OpFires Missile Has Medium Range Covered".
^ Malin, Hamish. "Operational Fires". DARPA.
^ "HALO programme accelerates US Navy hypersonic capability drive". 5 September 2022.
^ https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2018/navy/2018oasuw.pdf?ver=2019-08-21-155650-680
^ https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_april_2024_global_security_army_industry/lockheed-martin_unveils_mako_hypersonic_missile_at_sea_air_space_2024.html
^ https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sea-air-space-2024/2024/04/lockheed-martin-unveils-mako-hypersonic-missile/

This article incorporates public domain material from Kelley M. Sayler. Hypersonic Weapons: Background and Issues for Congress (PDF). Congressional Research Service.

[AC-1] John T. Watts; Christian Trotti; Mark J. Massa (August 2020), Primer on Hypersonic Weapons in the Indo-Pacific Region (PDF), Atlantic Council, ISBN 978-1-61977-111-6

[:0-2] "'National pride is at stake.' Russia, China, United States race to build hypersonic weapons". www.science.org. Retrieved 14 November 2022.

[ArmsControl-3] "Fact Sheet: Hypersonic Weapons". Center for Arms Control and Non-proliferation.

[Brookings-4] Montgomery, Alexander. "Ukraine and the Kinzhal: Don't believe the hypersonic hype". Brookings Institute. The term "hypersonic" is now typically used just to refer to two types of weapons that are being developed through contemporary defense programs: hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) and hypersonic cruise missiles (HCMs).

[SA-5] David Wright; Cameron Tracy (1 August 2021), "Overhyped: The Physics and Hype of Hypersonic Weapons", Scientific American, 325 (2): 64–71

[rmrh-6] McDermott, Roger (4 February 2022). "The Role of Hypersonic Weapons in Russian Military Strategy". The Jamestown Foundation.

[7] "Ukraine war: Kyiv says it shot down Russian hypersonic missiles". 16 May 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.

[8] Paleja, Ameya (19 January 2024). "China's secretive lab simulates hypersonic missile attack on US warship". interestingengineering.com. Retrieved 11 February 2024.

[:1-9] "China lab simulates attack on US warships using space weapons, hypersonic missiles". South China Morning Post. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.

[10] "Quand la France avait de l'avance dans la mise au point d'un planeur hypersonique avec le projet VERAS". 7 August 2022.

[11] "Le premier vol du planeur hypersonique français V-MAX est (enfin) pour bientôt, promet M. Chiva". 3 March 2023.

[opex360.com-12] "MBDA en dit un peu plus sur l'ASN4G, le futur missile de la composante aéroportée de la dissuasion française". 12 March 2023.

[air-cosmos.com-13] "Le futur missile de la composante aéroportée de la dissuasion française : l'ASN4G". 13 March 2023.

[14] "NATO STO: French Flight Test Program LEA Status". 1 September 2010.

[15] "France debuts hypersonic glide weapon in first VMaX test flight". 28 June 2023.

[16] "France Conducts First VMaX Hypersonic Glide Vehicle Test". 27 June 2023.

[17] "France conducts first test firing of V-MAX hypersonic glider demonstrator". 27 June 2023.

[18] "La France a testé le planeur hypersonique VMAX d'Ariane Group". 27 June 2023.

[19] "Armées : la France a testé pour la première fois un planeur hypervéloce, capable de voler à plus de Mach 5". 27 June 2023.

[20] "Le ministère des Armées va financer un second démonstrateur de planeur hypersonique, le VMaX-2". Opex 360 (in French). 4 May 2023.

[21] "L'ONERA dévoile le projet d'avion militaire hypersonique " Espadon "". 19 July 2023.

[22] "Aéronef hypersonique militaire : anticiper la menace". 26 June 2023.

[23] ttps://sgp.fas.org/crs/weapons/R45811.pdf

[s3.documentcloud.org-24] ttps://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23688406/r45811.pdf

[25] "Institute of Structures and Design".

[26] "سپاه پاسداران در مراسمی با حضور ابراهیم رئیسی از "موشک هایپرسونیک فتاح" رونمایی کرد". ایران اینترنشنال (in Persian). 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.

[27] Motamedi, Maziar. "Iran unveils upgraded hypersonic missile as Khamenei touts Israel 'failure'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 February 2024.

[28] "Is This Russia's Best Hypersonic Missile yet?". The National Interest. 3 December 2021.

[29] "Gremlin Hypersonic Guided Rocket (GZUR)". globalsecurity.org.

[30] "South Korea develops Hycore hypersonic cruise missile". 25 January 2022.

[31] "UK Developing Reusable Hypersonic Tech". 28 July 2022.

[32] "Farnborough 2022: UK reveals 'Concept V' hypersonic aircraft". 18 July 2022.

[33] ttps://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain-developing-homegrown-hypersonic-missile/

[34] "X-51A Waverider". United States Air Force.

[35] Buccellatto, Salvatore. "Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC)". DARPA.

[36] "Partnering and integration speed delivery of a hypersonic missile".

[37] Losey, Stephen (12 March 2024). "Air Force budget backs Raytheon hypersonic, no Lockheed missile funds". DefenseNews.com.

[38] Tirpak, John (13 March 2024). "Air Force Looks to Reusable Hypersonics as ARRW Ends and HACM Gears Up for Testing". Air & Space Forces Magazine.

[39] "Report to Congress on Army Long Range Hypersonic Weapon". USNI.

[40] "Lockheed Martin's Hypersonic OpFires Missile Has Medium Range Covered".

[41] Malin, Hamish. "Operational Fires". DARPA.

[42] "HALO programme accelerates US Navy hypersonic capability drive". 5 September 2022.

[43] ttps://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2018/navy/2018oasuw.pdf?ver=2019-08-21-155650-680

[44] ttps://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_april_2024_global_security_army_industry/lockheed-martin_unveils_mako_hypersonic_missile_at_sea_air_space_2024.html

[45] ttps://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sea-air-space-2024/2024/04/lockheed-martin-unveils-mako-hypersonic-missile/

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Hypersonic weapon

History

By country

Multinational

Brazil

China

France

Germany

India

Iran

Japan

North Korea

Russia

South Korea

United Kingdom

United States

See also

References

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