Russia launched a hypersonic rocket at a Ukrainian weapons depot in the west. Although it may sound alarming, the Russian technology used to launch that attack was not very advanced. But, Russia, China and the United States are working together to develop next-generation hypersonic weapons, which pose a serious threat to national security and global security.
I am an aerospace engineer and study space and defense systems, as well as hypersonic systems. These new systems present a major challenge due to their maneuverability and their trajectory. Because these missiles can travel in different flight paths, it is important to track them throughout their flight.
They operate in a different area of the atmosphere to other threats, which is another important challenge. New hypersonic weapons fly higher than slower subsonic rockets, but lower than intercontinental missiles (ICBMs). This in-between area is not covered by the United States or its allies. China and Russia do not have good tracking coverage.
Destabilizing effect
Russia claims some of its hypersonic weaponry can carry nuclear weapons. This statement, regardless of whether it is true or false, should be cause for concern. Russia could use this system against any country, but that country would need to decide if the weapon is nuclear or conventional.
If the U.S. determined that the weapon was a nuclear weapon, it is very likely that they would consider it a first-strike strike and respond by dumping its nuclear weapons on Russia. Because these weapons are extremely fast, the chances of a diplomatic solution being reached in the last minute would be greatly reduced.
The greatest threat they present is their destabilizing impact. The U.S. and its allies must quickly deploy their hypersonic weapons in order to bring other countries, such as Russia or China, to the table and develop a diplomatic strategy for managing these weapons.
What is hypersonic?
Hypersonic refers to a vehicle that flies faster than sound at 761 mph (1,225 km/h) at sea level, and 663 mph (1.067 kph), at 35,000 feet (10668 meters) where passenger planes fly. Hypersonic systems fly at speeds up to 3,500 mph (5.6 kilometers per hour) while passenger jets travel at just 600 mph (966 km/h).
For decades, hypersonic systems have been used. John Glenn returned to Earth in 1962 after returning from the first U.S. crewed orbit around the Earth. His capsule reached hypersonic speeds and entered the atmosphere. Hypersonic speeds are the norm for all intercontinental ballistic missiles within the world’s nuclear arsenals. They can reach speeds of approximately 15,000 mph (24.140 kph) or 4 miles (6 km per second at maximum velocity).
There are three types of hypersonic missiles
There are three types of non-ICBM hypersonic weapons available: glide vehicles, aero-ballistic and cruise missiles. An aero-ballistic hypersonic system, also known as an aero-ballistic system, is dropped from an airplane. The rocket then accelerates to hypersonic speed and follows a unpowered ballistic trajectory. An aero-ballistic missile was used by Russian forces to attack Ukraine. This technology has been in use since 1980.
The hypersonic glider is launched on a rocket at high altitude. It then glides to the target and maneuvers along the way. China’s Dongfeng-17 and Russia’s Avangard are examples of hypersonic gliders. U.S. officials expressed concern about China’s hypersonic vehicle technology.
Hypersonic cruise missiles are boosted to supersonic speed by a rocket. The rocket then uses an air-breathing machine called a scramjet in order to maintain that speed. Hypersonic cruise missiles are smaller than hypersonic glide vehicle launch rockets because they inhale air into their engines. This means that they can be launched from smaller places and cost less. China and the U.S. are developing hypersonic cruise missiles. In March 2020, the U.S. conducted a test flight with a scramjet hypersonic weapon.
It is difficult to defend against
These next-generation hypersonic weapon designs are being developed primarily because they are difficult to defend against. The U.S. has begun to create a multilayered defense against hypersonic weaponry. This includes a network of sensors in space and close cooperation. This strategy is likely to cost a lot and will take years to implement.
It is crucial to evaluate the national security threat posed by hypersonic weapons, given all the activity surrounding them and how they are being defended against. The most useful hypersonic missiles equipped with conventional, nonnuclear warheads can be used against high-value targets such as aircraft carriers. This could make a huge difference in the outcome of major conflicts.
Hypersonic missiles can be expensive so they are unlikely to ever be mass produced. Hypersonic weapons, as seen recently by Russia, are not always a panacea that will end a conflict.