Friday, December 21, 2018

Russia Again Successfully Tests A Ship-Based Hypersonic Missile

Russian Defence Ministry

CNBC: Russia again successfully tests ship-based hypersonic missile — which will likely be ready for combat by 2022

* Russia has successfully tested a ship-based hypersonic missile the United States is currently unable to defend against, according to people with direct knowledge of U.S. intelligence reports.
* The weapon is expected to join Moscow’s arsenal by 2022.
* The latest development gives the U.S. even more ground to make up as Russia and China bolster their arsenals with hypersonic weapons at a breakneck pace.

WASHINGTON — Russia has conducted another successful test of its ship-based hypersonic missile, a weapon the United States is currently unable to defend against, according to two people with direct knowledge of a U.S. intelligence report.

The people, who spoke to CNBC on the condition of anonymity, said Russia has carried out five total tests of its ship-based hypersonic missile since 2015.

The last known test of the device, dubbed "Tsirkon," was successfully conducted Dec. 10 and reached a top speed of Mach 8, approximately eight times the speed of sound, or about two miles per second.

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WNU Editor: It appears that Russia is winning the hypersonic missile race.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I remember just a few months ago that there was an article that stated that this race advantage will be narrowed by 21/22 with the US own hypersonic missiles.

Also, remember these weird objects showing up over the US skies? Those that were recorded on video and we all thought they are UFOs with these fast speeds and weird maneuvers? My guess is that's hypersonic vehicles by Skunkworks or another company

B.Poster said...

I remember something as well stating that this gap was going to be narrowed by 21/22. I also know the US government tends to be overly optimistic about such things as well. As such, I would expect the gap held by Russia to be even larger by 21/22.

Perhaps not. For the first time in, at least my memory, we have a competent POTUS. One of the things he has tried to do is to properly focus the military. He has stated that good progress has been made here. General Mattis even was forced to admit such in his resignation letter.

Now with generals Kelly and Mattis out of the way perhaps personnel whose views are more in line with those of POTUS can be brought in and we can see even more progress. Perhaps we really can make our country great after all.

Jac said...

I have a mix feeling about this subject. The speed is not really the problem, after all we can ( with difficulties ,yes, but we can) intercept ICBM which are speeding at Mach 15. The problem is that they are tactical missile which have not ballistic way and very short notice.
Strategically this is not changing anything: the number of nuclear warhead is still there. But tactically that's a game changer. The Pentagon is aware of that and only directed energy is able to stop it because that speed light. IMHO that's why DARPA and Lockheed are under the project of an 100 KW laser which can make the job.