The Russian Defense Ministry has announced that it has used a hypersonic missile for the first time in the war with Ukraine. What is the dynamics of a hypersonic missile? What is the weapons system used by Russia?
The Russian Defense Ministry announced last Sunday that it had used a hypersonic missile for the first time in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said the Kinsale Aviation Missile System, equipped with hypersonic aerobatic missiles, had destroyed a large underground warehouse containing missiles and aerial ammunition in the village of Telliat in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.
What is a hypersonic missile?
Hypersonic missiles are capable of maneuvering at least 5 times faster than sound.
The maneuverability of a hypersonic missile distinguishes it from a ballistic missile. Ballistic missiles can only travel in certain directions. However, the hypersonic missile does not follow the path like a ballistic missile, but can maneuver and destroy the target.
There are two types of hypersonic weapon systems, the hypersonic glider missile (HGV) and the hypersonic cruise missile. The hysonic glide vehicle is launched from the rocket before reaching the target. The hypersonic cruise missile launches the so-called scramjet party after reaching the target.
What are the advantages of hypersonic missiles?
According to General John Hayton, former commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, hypersonic weapons can be operated on long-range attack options that respond to distant, protected or threats of a time crisis.
Conventional hypersonic weapons use kinetic energy to destroy difficult targets or underground areas.
Can hypersonic missiles be detected in aircraft?
According to a report by the Congressional Research Service on Hypersonic Missiles released in October 2021, the detection and safety may be challenged due to the speed, maneuverability and low altitude of the hypersonic weapons. Hypersonic missiles cannot be detected by ground-based radars or terrestrial radars until the weapon has flown. This delay makes the attempt to intercept the missile difficult.
The congressional report notes that some analysts have suggested that the current command and control model for U.S. missile defense may not process enough data to respond and neutralize a hypersonic missile.
In which countries are there hypersonic weapons? Which country are making it?
Russia, which declared its hypersonic missiles ‘Kinsal’ or Dakar in 2018, has used them for the first time in the war with Ukraine. Apart from Russia, China also has this weapon in hand. It is also said to have been used twice to orbit the world before reaching its goal in August 2021.
The Russian Kinsale missile is said to be a modification of its Iskander missile.
According to Russian media reports, the Mach 10 had a top speed of 1200 mph when launched from the Kinsal MiG-31.
Russia has said it will use the missile on a Su-34 long-range fighter jet and is trying to use it in tactical Tu-22M3 bombing.
In August 2021, China tested a glider missile with a Long March rocket. NA is said to be conducting HGV testing in conjunction with its own DF-21 and DF-26 missiles.
China also extensively tested the DF-ZF HGV over a range of 1200 miles and launched it in 2020. According to the report, the nuclear-capable hypersonic missile Starry Sky-2 (Jing Kong-2) was successfully tested in August 2018.
In the United States, hypersonic weapons are developed under the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike program and by the Army, Air Force and Defense Advanced Research Program Agency (DARPA).
While the United States, Russia and China are in the advanced stages of developing hypersonic missile programs, India, France, Germany, Japan and Australia are also developing hypersonic weapons.
What is the status of the Indian Hypersonic Missile Program?
The congressional hearing about that were exactly where India was developing its hypersonic technology demonstrator vehicle program.
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