Report shows US in danger of falling behind in hypersonics

Four years ago, the US was on the brink of developing a new family of hypersonic weapons, based on the X-51A. Now, a classified report has come out that states the US is in very real danger of falling farther and farther behind in the quest for hypersonic weapons systems. Both Russia and China have tested new hypersonic vehicles, multiple times, and have others under development. Meanwhile the US doesn't plan to fly another vehicle until 2019, if it stays on schedule, and doesn't plan full rate development until the 2030 timeframe.

Less than four years ago, it seemed that the U.S. Air Force was on the brink of developing the first generation of air-breathing high-speed strike weapons following the success of the experimental scramjet-powered Boeing X-51A. Now a classified report warns that the U.S. may be losing its lead in hypersonics to China and Russia.

Although parallel research on hypersonic glide vehicles under DARPA’s HTV-2 program suffered failures in 2010 and 2011, the Air Force by 2013 appeared enthusiastic about weaponizing the maturing air-breathing technology demonstrated in the X-51A flight tests. After more than five decades of development and testing in high-speed flight, the U.S. finally looked set to become the undisputed leader in hypersonics.

aviationweek.com...

Not officially anyway as far as what we may have.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Then you have people like Michael Smart below . And try as i might i cant link .

Over the past couple of years, Smart has been carrying out hypersonic tests with a rocket and a two-metre-long scramjet at Woomera – flying the aircraft at hypersonic speeds 400 kilometres across the desert. “It’s the best ever radio controlled plane,” admits Smart, although it’s way too fast to control with a joystick. “We pre-prepare all the flight software, press the button and off it goes.”

Found another story , link below .
www.afr.com...

a reply to: Zaphod58

The US has been fracking precious metals out of tens-of-thousands wells for the last 20 years. Why so fast?...The US has not fallen behind regarding hypersonic weapons. They've mastered sonic in our skies, our oceans, and now they've moved on to space.

Funny as it may be, The US is pack mulling precious metals into space, as well as superbugs. Your guess may be as possible as mine.

How does carbon form, and how is transferred in space (theories of course)? How do precious metals form (our Sun?) How are they transferred in space? How are superbugs formed (by man?) and how would they be transferred in space?

Sonics are relevant for what purpose? Earthly purpose, right? Again, when THEY discovered Phytoplankton and Water Bears exist and survive in space, the game changed.

All life on Earth is capable of surviving in space, with our sheparding and watchfulness. We act inherently.

Tie it together. Someone found out how we can survive space, most likely in dormancy, but survivable, via a superbug. Interstellar travel will have multiple species aboard, and possibly within one vessel, within another vessel. Think about it.

Sure we are, were waay behind.

We suck at hypersonics.

It sure would be cool if we had a bunch of hypersonic stuff.

Too. Bad. We. Dont. Cause. If. We. Did.....

a reply to: BASSPLYR

I was waiting for someone to go there.

we don't need them imo..

a reply to: Zaphod58

Maybe our work with HELLADS-derived CIWS development is going so well that we're confident those technologies will mature before any Chinese/Russian/Indian hypersonic ASM's are actually fielded? I'd imagine that a DEW CIWS would completely nullify any advantage that hypersonics bring to the table.

So the 8min barriers been broken :-P

a reply to: Blackfinger

Not necessarily. The current height of hypersonic technology is the boost glide weapon. That's for all intents and purposes an ICBM type weapon that doesn't go into space,and maneuvers.

a reply to: Zaphod58

US secret programs are far ahead, why waste it on an obsolete tech.

originally posted by: Barnalby
a reply to: Zaphod58

Maybe our work with HELLADS-derived CIWS development is going so well that we're confident those technologies will mature before any Chinese/Russian/Indian hypersonic ASM's are actually fielded? I'd imagine that a DEW CIWS would completely nullify any advantage that hypersonics bring to the table.

In practice, DEW is very difficult. It's very difficult to generate sufficient energy, transmit and focus it long distances to a degree that minor countermeasures won't be effective. Think about it: any hypersonic warhead in the atmosphere is already going to be extremely resistant to immense heat generation which is occurring a few centimeters in front of the body. Your little laser is just a girly tickle by comparison.

Take a look at what the Sprint ABM did in the 1970's (it was
www.youtube.com...

Its nosecone glows white-hot. So will the incoming hypersonic warheads.

If you want a CIWS, you have to make the Sprint II again. And if the target is maneuvering non-ballistically (which is the entire point of flyable hypersonic warheads), it's even more difficult to lead the target and close. Your interceptor will need to have a nuclear warhead, yup, right over you, because hit-to-kill is almost impossible when the target jinks erratically and it is already shielded against immense re-entry heat.

ICBM warheads spend 3-5 seconds in the re-entry atmosphere before detonation.

Laws of physics then are the same as now.

Terminal ICBM defense is nearly impossible.

a reply to: mbkennel


Are you telling me Missile Command lied to me??!?!?