US Navy tests Prompt Global Strike weapon for first time

The hypersonic weapon tested by the US Navy is said to be capable of attacking any target on Earth within an hour.

Hypersonic warhead design in the PGS project. Illustration photo: DARPA

The US Navy said on November 7 that it tested a hypersonic weapon system in the Prompt Global Strike (PGS) operation last weekend. This is a weapon technology that allows Washington to attack anywhere on Earth within an hour, minimizing the enemy's ability to detect and counter, Popular Mechanic reported.

The US began to look into ultra-long-range precision-guided weapons in 2001, when the George W. Bush administration wanted to put a non-nuclear warhead on a long-range ballistic or cruise missile. That way, the US could strike any target in a short time, when other strategic weapons such as aircraft carriers and bombers could not react.

The concept of PGS was developed strongly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. They are considered effective weapons to attack short-lived and difficult-to-detect targets such as terrorist meetings. In fact, the US used this method to attack the residence of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein before the military campaign in 2003, but Mr. Hussein was not present at the location.

US military officials believe the PGS could be used to destroy nuclear missiles on launch pads in North Korea or Iran, attack weapons of mass destruction in the hands of terrorist groups, or even launch a lightning preemptive strike in the event of a conflict with China or Russia.

Initially, the US deployed a variety of weapons in the PGS, including a conventionally warhead variant of the Trident D-5 submarine-launched ballistic missile. However,opponents possessing nuclear weapons are veryIt would be difficult to tell whether the Trident D-5 missile that had just been launched was a nuclear-tipped variant or not. This could force them to trigger a devastating retaliatory strike.

The operating mechanism of a Trident missile carrying a conventional warhead. Photo: DARPA.

The US Navy is testing hypersonic weapons technology that can travel at speeds of 6,175-12,350 km/h, 5-10 times faster than the speed of sound. The warhead is mounted on a ballistic missile, which will gain altitude and speed before separating from the warhead, allowing it to accelerate and glide toward its target. Hypersonic weapons have a different trajectory than ballistic missiles, making them easier to distinguish on radar screens.

Last week’s test was the first time the US Navy has tested a missile under the PGS program. Submarines are the ideal platform for this type of lightning strike, as they can hide close to their target, shortening the reaction time for a preemptive strike.

However, Washington is still facing difficulties in developing hypersonic weapons, as they become very difficult to control and lose accuracy as speed increases. The temperature of the warhead shell can reach nearly 1,000 degrees Celsius at maximum speed, requiring the use of advanced technology and materials. These are major technological challenges, but not necessarily insurmountable.

The US is not the only country working on hypersonic weapons. China has tested a weapon codenamed DF-ZF, while Russia is also developing the Yu-71 hypersonic glide vehicle with similar capabilities.

According to VNE