Navy warns of enhanced hypersonic weapon interception capabilities

Mondo Military Updated on 2024-01-28

Hypersonic speed** has become a research hotspot in the global military community, and its gliding speed in the atmosphere that exceeds five times the speed of sound is breathtaking. This development was driven by the desire to break through the missile defense system, and its speed and maneuverability made it possible to destroy enemy missile and air defense systems at the initial stage of the conflict and open the channel of attack for others. At the same time, hypersonic ** also poses a serious threat to ships, so much so that the US Navy warns that they cannot effectively combat such **.

Despite this, U.S. Defense ** says Aegis ships equipped with sea-based terminal anti-missile defense capabilities are now capable of countering some hypersonic threats. However, an in-depth understanding of the actual capabilities and limitations of hypersonic ** becomes crucial. The latest analysis of hypersonic ** and hypersonic defense focuses on the physics of missile interception and puts forward the idea that existing sea-based anti-missile defense systems can intercept hypersonics**.

In fact, some countries are developing hypersonic ** for general use, with a maximum speed of less than Mach 10-12. The atmospheric drag of these ** when taxiing and diving to ground targets will reduce their speed enough to be intercepted by advanced versions of defense systems such as the Army Patriot PAC-3 and the Navy Aegis SM-6. Ukraine's successful use of the PAC-3 to shoot down a number of hypersonic maneuvering Russian "Dagger" missiles provides strong evidence for this view.

Hypersonic ** while posing a threat to ships, shipborne radars are capable of detecting approaching hypersonics** at a long enough distance and having enough time to launch interceptor missiles. Thus, ships equipped with anti-missile missiles similar to the advanced PAC-3 and SM-6 should be able to withstand the hypersonic ** currently being developed.

The US Missile Defense Agency supports this point of view and has released an animation showing a scenario of an aircraft carrier battle group using sea-based anti-missile missiles against hypersonics, and they have demonstrated the feasibility of such an interception. However, as hypersonic ** is being developed at an increasing pace, a breakthrough of the current American anti-missile interception system may arise, which will also create new problems.

The main challenge in developing hypersonic ** in the face of the more intense heating in the atmosphere brought about by accelerated flight is how to deal with it. In order to effectively counter the possible next generation of hypersonics**, countries are actively exploring the development of faster and more maneuverable anti-missile**, even including lasers**. As a result, there will be an increasing focus on this area in the future arms race.

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