Photo-illustration: IEEE Spectrum
Cameron L. Tracy and David Wright, IEEE Spetrum: Don't Believe the Hype About Hypersonic Missiles
Hypersonic tech represents merely evolutionary change that isn't worth the price
Hypersonic weapons are one of the hottest trends in military hardware. These missiles, which fly through the atmosphere at more than five times the speed of sound, are commonly depicted as a revolutionary new tool of war: ostensibly faster, less detectable, and harder to intercept than currently-deployed long-range ballistic missiles. The major military powers—China, Russia, and the United States—have bought into this belief, with each investing vast sums in a hypersonic arms race.
But there is a glaring problem with this narrative: Many claims regarding the purported advantages of hypersonic weapons are false. These missiles are, in reality, an old technology with a massive price tag and few meaningful advantages over existing ballistic missiles.
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WNU Editor: The above authors make the case on why hypersonic missiles may not provide the military benefits that its advocates are claiming.
3 comments:
Look at the CV of both authors to see each is highly biased. Both have long time ties to the Union of Concerned Scientists. That think tank rarely endorses any strategic weapons system. Against them all over last 50 years plus there is there deep left wing bias of that think tank.
I haven’t researched their funding but dollars to donuts they receive big bucks from China. So their report is political in nature, nor scientific.
Hyper-sonic weapons are a good complement for ICBM. The cost is high, of course, as the first ICBM was on its time. Are they a game changer? Not really, but not having them will be a big weakness, and we don't need that.
They are just another weapon until proven otherwise.
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