For the last several years, the world’s most powerful militaries have been hard at
work developing the next generation of long-range missile technology.
The main objective is to reach farther, faster.
That’s prompted weapons, designers, to push the boundaries of physics and hit speeds in
the “hypersonic” realm, which is typically considered atmospheric travel faster than
Mach 5
Imagine a missile fired from the Chinese mainland that could strike anywhere in the South China
Sea in 20 minutes.
That could be a massive game-changer for such a turbulent region, many strategists believe.
There’s an international arms race in progress to develop hypersonic weapons.
Four countries, including China, Russia, India, and the U.S., are in various phases of research,
testing, or otherwise developing hypersonic weapons systems — planes, warheads, and
cruise missiles capable of sustaining speeds well above Mach 5.
These five most fearsome hypersonic weapons are the future of military firepower.
1.
DF-ZF Hypersonic Glide Vehicle – China
The DF-ZF, previously known as the WU-14 is a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) under development
for use by the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Forces (PLARF).
Though little is known about the HGV, it is alleged that it can fly at speeds of between
Mach 5 and Mach 10 and is capable of “extreme maneuvers” to evade defenses.
The PLARF has conducted multiple tests of the DF-ZF since its first test in 2014, including
successful tests of the DF-17, a medium-range ballistic missile designed specifically to
operate with the HGV.
Other ballistic missiles are expected to be capable of operating with the HGV including
the short-range DF-11 and DF-15, and the medium-range DF-21.
The DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle is expected to enter into service sometime in 2020 along
with the DF-17, the main missile that the HGV is expected to operate with.
The most promising Chinese hypersonic vehicle was successfully tested as recently as April.
Beijing’s “Dong Feng” DF-41 ICBM carried two nuclear-capable warheads from the mainland
into the South China Sea.
To underline the tension in South China’s Sea, Popular Mechanics Kyle Mizokami noted
that this was the first time China tested its weaponry in the area.
The DF-41 booster rocket has a reported maximum operational range of 9,300 kilometers – not
only covering the South China Sea, but also the mainland United States.
It also has the ability to launch the hypersonic DF-ZF glide vehicle, which can reach speeds
of 7,000 miles per hour – the speed of sound is just 768 mph.
2.
Tactical Boost Glide Aircraft – United States
DARPA is developing technology similar to the Chinese DF-ZF they say is, “an air-launched,
tactical-range hypersonic boost-glide system.”
An ICBM boosts the glider to hypersonic speeds, then it separates from the rocket and coasts
unpowered to its target.
The project became known as the Falcon project — a testbed for projects that will enable
the U.S. to hit any target in the world within one hour using unmanned hypersonic bombers.
The Falcon HTV-2’s top speed of Mach 20 would allow the United States to strike a
target in Syria from the American East Coast in around 27 minutes, analysts say.
DARPA’s Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 (HTV-2) program is a multiyear research
and development effort to increase the technical knowledge base and advance critical technologies
to make the long-duration hypersonic flight a reality.
Data from the program informs policy, acquisition, and operations decisions for future Department
of Defense Conventional Prompt Global Strike programs.
Hypersonic data is collected through extensive modeling and simulation, wind-tunnel testing,
and two experimental flight tests.
The ultimate goal is a capability that can reach anywhere in the world in less than an
hour.
Falcon HTV-2 is an unmanned, rocket-launched, maneuverable aircraft that glides through
the Earth’s atmosphere at incredibly fast speeds—Mach 20 (approximately 13,000 miles
per hour).
At HTV-2 speeds, flight time between New York City and Los Angeles would be less than 12
minutes.
The HTV-2 vehicle is a “data truck” with numerous sensors that collect data in an uncertain
operating envelope.
Mastery of three key technical challenges stands between the DoD and long-duration hypersonic
flight: Aerodynamics; Aerothermal effects; and critical guidance, navigation, and control.
HTV-2 flew its maiden flight on 22 Apr 2010, collecting nine minutes of unique flight data,
including 139 seconds of Mach 22 to Mach 17 aerodynamic data.
3.
BrahMos II Missile – Russia and India
BrahMos-II, also known as BrahMos Mark II is a hypersonic cruise missile currently under
development as a joint project by Russia and India.
Russia’s NPO Mashinostroeyenia and India’s Defense Research and Development Organization
have formed the BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited which has produced previous versions
of the BrahMos missile.
The BrahMos-II is the second version of the BrahMos cruise missile series.
BrahMos-II is expected to have a range of up to 600 km and a speed of Mach 7.
Russia has been working on developing a special fuel formula to help the Brahmos-II exceed
Mach 5.
The Brahmos-II is expected to undergo its first flight test in 2020 and enter into service
in 2025.
Brahmos-II will be especially strategically valuable for India.
Brahmos-II will give India a major strategic advantage in mountain warfare against China
and Pakistan.
The missile is designed to find targets hidden behind and within a mountain range and its
“hypersonic qualities means the missile would likely pass through Beijing’s defense
systems like a knife through butter.”
Its ability to maneuver through air and missile defenses also provides Russia with a serious
strategic advantage and deterrence measure against its adversaries.
4.
X-51 Waverider – United States
The Boeing X-51 WaveRider is an unmanned scramjet aircraft for hypersonic (Mach 6, approximately
4,000 miles per hour at altitude) flight testing.
It completed a 6-minute flight and reached speeds of over Mach 5 for 210 seconds for
the longest duration hypersonic flight.
The aircraft has been nicknamed “WaveRider” because it uses its shock waves to add compression
lift.
The U.S. Air Force plans have X-51 technology applied to the High-Speed Strike Weapon (HSSW),
a missile similar in size to the X-51.
The HSSW could fly in 2020 and enter service in the mid-2020s.
It is envisioned to have a range of 500-600 nautical miles, fly at Mach 5-6, and fit on
an F-35 or in the internal bay of a B-2 bomber.
5.
DF-21D – China
The original DF-21 ballistic missile is dated back to the 1980s.
Its latest variant, the DF-21D was first unveiled in 2012.
It evolved from the DF-21C.
Externally these missiles and their launchers are very similar.
Chinese sources claim that the DF-21D is an anti-ship ballistic missile.
Furthermore, it is the first dedicated anti-ship ballistic missile in the world and the DF-21D
is intended to engage large surface ships, such as US Navy's aircraft carriers and their
battle groups.
It is claimed that this missile reached initial operational capability in 2012.
The DF-21D is a solid-fuel ballistic missile.
It has a range of over 2,000 km.
Some sources claim that its maximum range is up to 3,000 km.
It can reach targets in the Yellow Sea, Taiwan Strait, and the South China Sea.
Chinese sources report, that the DF-21D has a conventional warhead.
However most likely this ballistic missile carries a nuclear warhead or even multiple
nuclear warheads.
It should be capable of attacking not only ships but cities and military bases as well.