The US is trying to catch up with Russia in the field of hypersonic weapons development.

Programmehypersonic weaponsThe US has yet to achieve any significant success. Last weekend, the AGM-183A hypersonic missile test failed for the third consecutive time, with the missile failing to detach from the wing of the B-52 bomber for launch.

However, the US is still trying to at least narrow the gap with Russia in the field of hypersonic weapons. American experts are developing both offensive weapons and defensive methods to counter hypersonic missiles. The following is Sputnik's report on the Pentagon's plans in this area.

Hypersonic missiles approach their targets at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (over 5,970 km/h) and possess high maneuverability. This type of weapon remains virtually impenetrable to any modern missile defense system. Any nation that masters these technologies and, most importantly, equips its military with hypersonic weapons will gain a significant advantage over potential adversaries. Russia is closest to achieving this goal. China has also made some progress in this area, while the US is striving to catch up with its competitors.

An Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer. Photo: Reuters

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has launched a defense project called the “Glide Phase Interceptor.” Three defense giants—Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman—will compete. They must submit weapon prototypes and initial design ideas by the end of September 2022. The Pentagon will then compare their proposals and select the most optimal version for development and testing. Approximately $60 million has been allocated for the first phase of competition. However, the technical and tactical requirements for the interceptor missile have not yet been released. It will be deployed on ships (specifically Arleigh Burke-class destroyers) and must be compatible with the Mk41 vertical launch system. This means the missile's length will not exceed 7 meters, and its diameter will be 710 mm. Thanks to the Aegis command and control system, warships can independently or under the direction of external targets, launch interceptor missiles.

The new missile's mission is to intercept hypersonic missile warheads during their glide phase, such as Russia's new Avangard hypersonic weapon system. Unlike traditional intercontinental ballistic missile warheads whose flight paths in space and along their orbits are predictable, Avangard has good maneuverability and a complex flight trajectory. At the end of 2018, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov stated that the latest tests showed Avangard could reach speeds of Mach 27 (over 32,000 km/h). This insane speed is a weapon in itself. In fact, at this speed, no missile can intercept it. The missile doesn't even need a nuclear warhead; with its kinetic impact, the missile can literally blast the target into dust.

It remains unclear how the Pentagon plans to shoot down such "meteorites." Clearly, the new interceptor missiles will also fly at hypersonic speeds, will adjust their trajectory, and their thermobaric warheads will detect the heat from the missile. But, first, the hypersonic missile must be detected in flight. However, after the missile separates from its launch vehicle, detecting it with existing technical means is extremely difficult. The satellites in the US missile attack warning system are in geostationary orbit (very high). Their infrared sensors can detect targets because they detect light and heat from them. However, these sensors are powerless against hypersonic cruise missiles (including Russia's Zircon) and hypersonic glide vehicles.

Recently, the Pentagon's Space Development Agency (SDA) announced that the U.S. has begun building a new satellite system with infrared sensors to create a "steel shield" against ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles. The Washington administration hopes that low-orbit satellites will solve the problem. Eight test satellites are scheduled to be launched into space in 2023. Operating in continuous infrared mode, they will use wide-field sensors to detect signals from cruise missiles and warheads. Each satellite will monitor a specific terrain area and will immediately sound an alarm upon detecting a hypersonic target. The Pentagon's long-term plans include hundreds of satellites with infrared sensors to create a "steel shield" that, theoretically, would allow tracking of every hypersonic missile launch.

Russia is also making similar developments. Recently, sources in the Russian defense industry indicated that by the end of this year, they will test an air defense system in the Arctic capable of intercepting hypersonic targets at distances of hundreds of kilometers. However, to date, the details remain strictly classified.