Report: US Unable to Defend against Russian, Chinese Hypersonic Weapons
A recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) claims that the United States has “no existing countermeasures” against sophisticated hypersonic weapons developed by Russia and China
Dan Arkin
| 18/12/2018
The US lacks the defenses needed to protect against highly sophisticated hypersonic weapons from China and Russia, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.
“China and Russia are pursuing hypersonic weapons because their speed, altitude and maneuverability may defeat most missile defense systems, and they may be used to improve long-range conventional and nuclear strike capabilities,” the report said. “There are no existing countermeasures.”
Earlier this year, the Russian military announced the successful testing of a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile capable of sneaking through enemy defenses. The Defense Ministry on Sunday released a video showing a MiG-31 fighter jet launching a Kinzhal (Dagger) missile during a training flight. The ministry said the missile, which carried a conventional warhead, hit a practice target at a firing range in southern Russia.
President Putin said Kinzhal flies 10 times faster than the speed of sound, has a range of more than 1,250 miles and can carry a nuclear or a conventional warhead. The military said it's capable of hitting both land targets and navy ships.
Fox News reports that the US military has been ramping up its hypersonic weapons capabilities. In April, the Pentagon announced a $928 million deal with Lockheed Martin to develop an air-launched Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW). Four months later, the Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a contract of up to $480 million to design a second hypersonic prototype, the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW).
“The ARRW and HCSW efforts are developing unique capabilities for the warfighter and each has different technical approaches,” the Air Force said in a statement. “The ARRW effort is ‘pushing the art-of-the-possible’ by leveraging the technical base established by the Air Force/DARPA partnership. The HCSW effort is using mature technologies that have not been integrated for an air-launched delivery system.”
In its response to the GAO, the US Department of Defense described the report as “an accurate although sobering macro picture of how the US stands in the world against emerging threats.”
A recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) claims that the United States has “no existing countermeasures” against sophisticated hypersonic weapons developed by Russia and China
The US lacks the defenses needed to protect against highly sophisticated hypersonic weapons from China and Russia, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.
“China and Russia are pursuing hypersonic weapons because their speed, altitude and maneuverability may defeat most missile defense systems, and they may be used to improve long-range conventional and nuclear strike capabilities,” the report said. “There are no existing countermeasures.”
Earlier this year, the Russian military announced the successful testing of a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile capable of sneaking through enemy defenses. The Defense Ministry on Sunday released a video showing a MiG-31 fighter jet launching a Kinzhal (Dagger) missile during a training flight. The ministry said the missile, which carried a conventional warhead, hit a practice target at a firing range in southern Russia.
President Putin said Kinzhal flies 10 times faster than the speed of sound, has a range of more than 1,250 miles and can carry a nuclear or a conventional warhead. The military said it's capable of hitting both land targets and navy ships.
Fox News reports that the US military has been ramping up its hypersonic weapons capabilities. In April, the Pentagon announced a $928 million deal with Lockheed Martin to develop an air-launched Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW). Four months later, the Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a contract of up to $480 million to design a second hypersonic prototype, the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW).
“The ARRW and HCSW efforts are developing unique capabilities for the warfighter and each has different technical approaches,” the Air Force said in a statement. “The ARRW effort is ‘pushing the art-of-the-possible’ by leveraging the technical base established by the Air Force/DARPA partnership. The HCSW effort is using mature technologies that have not been integrated for an air-launched delivery system.”
In its response to the GAO, the US Department of Defense described the report as “an accurate although sobering macro picture of how the US stands in the world against emerging threats.”
