Hypersonic Weapons In 2025?

 

Video: Air Force Sees Hypersonic Weapons in 2025 -- Defense Tech 

The U.S. military may be able to deploy unmanned hypersonic weapons as early as 2025, an official said.

The Air Force on May 1 successfully flew the X-51 WaveRider, an experimental “scramjet” made by Boeing Co., reaching up to five times the speed of sound for a record three and a half minutes.

The service called it “the longest air-breathing hypersonic flight ever.” The fourth and final mission was the culmination of a nine-year, $300 million project designed to test the viability of using more common jet fuels for hypersonic flight.

The demonstration may lead to a program to develop weapons based on the technology by 2020 and usable systems by 2025, according to Charlie Brink, manager of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s X-51A program.  

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Previous Post: Successful Test Flight Of The US Air Force's X-51A Achieving The Longest Hypersonic Flight Ever  

My Comment: They proved the science and technology. The problem now is the money .... or to be more specific .... the lack of. My prediction .... a future President would love to have the option of having a missile that can strike a target on the other side of the planet in a very short period of time .... because of this need, the money will be provided.

Air Force To Retest X-51 WaveRider Hypersonic Aircraft

At Edwards Air Force Base last year, Staff Sgt. Jonathan Young prepares to load the X-51 WaveRider aircraft onto a B-52 for testing. The Air Force plans to retest the X-51’s capabilities Thursday. (Chad Bellay, U.S. Air Force / March 24, 2011)

Air Force To Retest X-51 WaveRider Hypersonic Aircraft Near Point Mugu -- L.A. Times

The unmanned X-51 WaveRider is designed to deliver warheads at very high speeds with pinpoint accuracy almost anywhere on Earth.

The U.S. Air Force plans to launch an experimental aircraft Thursday that could potentially reach speeds of 4,000 mph over the Pacific Ocean in a test flight that could give the Pentagon a new way to deliver a military strike anywhere around the globe within minutes.

Built in Southern California, the unmanned X-51 WaveRider is being developed to deliver powerful warheads at tremendously high speeds with pinpoint accuracy almost anywhere on Earth.

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More News On Today's Test Of The X-51

Air Force to Fly Hypersonic Aircraft in Global Strike Test -- Global Security Newswire
Experimental Scramjet aircraft set for test flight -- Physorg.com
Modified X-51A Waverider ready for next hypersonic test -- Next Big Future
Experimental Scramjet Aircraft Set for Test Flight -- Universe Today
Hypersonics and the Future of Warfare (II) -- Second Line of Defense

X-51A News Updates -- May 29, 2010

This US Air Force graphic shows the X-51A Waverider. Powered by a scramjet engine, it is designed to ride on its own shockwave. The US Air Force on May 26 test launched the hypersonic X-51A, with the vehicle accelerating to more than Mach 5 before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. Newscom

Air Force X-51A Waverider: Faster Than Superman -- Christian Science Monitor

The US Air Force just flew its new X-51A Waverider at five times the speed of sound. It could be used as a hypersonic cruise missile, delivering a warhead to anywhere on earth in an hour.

Wednesday’s flight of the Air Force X-51A Waverider was certainly impressive. The X-51A – a Dustbuster-shaped air vehicle dropped from a B-52 bomber – used scramjet power to accelerate beyond a screaming-fast Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound).

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The X-51A Waverider at rest.
(Credit: U.S. Air Force)

More News On The X-51A

Scramjet-powered X-51A Waverider missile breaks Mach 5 record -- Christian Science Monitor
The X-51A Waverider’s Record-Setting Hypersonic Flight -- Time Magazine
X-51A races to hypersonic record -- CNET
X-51 hypersonic scramjet test: Flameout at Mach 5? -- The Register
Scramjet-Powered USAF Aircraft Hits Mach 6 -- PC Mag
Boeing: Hypersonic scramjet sets record in first flight -- Seattle PI

U.S. Air Force X-51A WaveRider Hypersonic Missile Test Considered A Success

Air Force’s Mach 6 Cruise Missile Makes a Successful Splash -- The Danger Room

The Air Force has successfully launched the X-51 WaveRider hypersonic missile, bringing the military one step closer to a Mach 6 cruise missile that’s 10 times faster than current models.

An observer tells Danger Room the test was “mostly successful,” with over 200 seconds of accelerating powered flight. “Clean separation, perfect engine start, acceleration under power,” our source says. “Some hitches at the end of flight, but overall it’s a magnificent first flight.”

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Background News On The X-51 WaveRider Hypersonic Missile

Going hypersonic with the X-51A Waverider (images) -- CNET
Military's New Wingless Hypersonic Plane Ready For Flight -- The Tech Journal
Air Force's Hypersonic X-51 WaveRider Ready For First Test Flight -- Popular Science
What is the Air Force doing with space? -- Discover
Hypersonic scramjet set for launch from B-52 -- Air Force Times

Air Force's Hypersonic X-51 WaveRider Ready For First Test Flight

X-51 WaveRider The X-51A WaveRider, a wingless scramjet, will make its first hypersonic test flight Tuesday over the Pacific Ocean. Air Force Research Laboratory

From Popular Science:

The military’s new wingless plane is set to make its first hypersonic test flight Tuesday, after it is released from a B-52 bomber off the California coast.

The X-51A WaveRider, which sort of resembles a shark, will fly for about five minutes, powered by a scramjet engine. It should reach about Mach 6 and transmit data to ground stations before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, according to the Air Force Research Laboratory.

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UPDATE: Today’s X-51 hypersonic missile test was scrubbed. “A tanker ship sailed into the splash zone,” our spy says. “Next attempt tomorrow.”

My Comment: A full report on the results of this test will be posted in this blog when possible..