L-R: Rendering from Raytheon and rendering of Russia’s Zircon hypersonic missile

Hypersonic weapons, which are projectiles or missiles that travel at speeds of at least Mach 5, have gained attention in recent years due to their potential to pierce air and missile defences. The most important types of hypersonic weapons are hypersonic gliders and hypersonic cruise missiles. Hypersonic gliders are glider like projectiles that are launched into space by a booster rocket and then accelerate to hypersonic speeds by gliding and bouncing on the atmosphere until they reach their target. Hypersonic cruise missiles, on the other hand, are cruise missiles with special air breathing engines that enable them to fly at hypersonic speeds.

Hypersonic weapons offer several advantages over traditional ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. They combine the speed of ballistic missiles with the manoeuvrability of cruise missiles, making them highly effective at penetrating modern air defence networks. They also reduce reaction time and can hit time sensitive targets much faster than cruise missiles. Hypersonic weapons can be launched from various platforms, including ships, submarines, aircraft and trucks.

The development of hypersonic weapons has been a subject of competition among major military powers, with the US, Russia and China being at the forefront of research and development. In 2019, the US rated the technological maturity of hypersonic gliders at 5 out of 9, with expectations to reach level 6 out of 9 in 2020, which is considered a low risk for starting system development. However, China has already tested a working prototype of a hypersonic glider in 2021, indicating that it may have surpassed the US in hypersonic glider technological development.

The engines used in hypersonic cruise missiles are different from traditional jet engines, as they need to withstand the stresses of hypersonic flight. Jet engines, which are commonly used in lower speed aircraft, have compressors to compress air for efficient combustion, but they are heavier compared to engines built for higher speeds. Hypersonic cruise missiles require specialised air breathing engines that can operate at hypersonic speeds, making them more difficult to intercept and track, and enabling them to have short time to impact capabilities.

In conclusion, hypersonic weapons are a disruptive technology with the potential to significantly impact modern warfare. Their combination of speed, manoeuvrability, and ability to penetrate air and missile defences make them highly effective and challenging to defend against. The development of hypersonic weapons has become a competitive race among major military powers, with the US, China, and other countries investing heavily in research and development. The technological maturity of hypersonic weapons is still evolving, with China making significant strides in recent years. As hypersonic weapons continue to advance, they are likely to shape the future of military strategies and operations.

Courtesy: Market Forecast

Raytheon and NGC for hypersonic weapon advancements

Raytheon in partnership with Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a follow-on contract from the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to reduce risk for future air breathing hypersonic systems. Under the agreement, the Raytheon led team will build and fly additional Hypersonic Air breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) flight vehicles. This artist’s rendering shows the Hypersonic Air breathing Weapon Concept, which will integrate Raytheon’s air breathing hypersonic weapons with scramjet combustors from Northrop Grumman.

VMAX hypersonic glider test

France has successfully conducted an inaugural test of a prototype hypersonic glider, according to an announcement by the country's defence procurement agency. The test involved the launch of a sounding rocket carrying a VMAX hypersonic glider from the Biscarosse missile test site located on the Bay of Biscay in southwestern France. Executing a highly challenging long-range trajectory, the flight test represented an unparalleled technical feat that will shape the future of France's national hypervelocity roadmap, as stated by the agency in a released statement. While no specific details regarding the test's outcome were disclosed, the agency confirmed that the data collected during the test is currently undergoing analysis.

Kratos and Hypersonix’s DART AE Hypersonic System

Hypersonix Launch Systems Ltd and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions have announced an exclusive teaming agreement to provide the Hypersonix DART AE Hypersonic System within the US market, integrated with Kratos’ Zeus family of solid rocket motors. The DART AE is a three meter long, single use, high temperature alloy, hydrogen fueled, scramjet technology driven, autonomous, multimission, air breathing hypersonic platform used to develop, demonstrate, test and evaluate hypersonic technologies and for “other” potential hypersonic applications.