In this story, we dive in deep, going point by point throughout the flight path of a hypersonic boost-glide weapon and comparing the UCS analysis with its critiques.
In essence, the critics argue the Union of Concerned Scientists got something wrong at every step of their analysis, from the technical details to the strategic implications.
DARPA’s Project Falcon hypersonic testbed, HTV-2
UCS based their model on decade-old flight tests of an experimental DARPA design, HTV-2, which never completed a full flight test and is very different from the newer hypersonics weapons now in development.
UCS graded the model on two key metrics, flight time and detectability. They concluded the hypersonic weapon would reach the US from Russia, a 5,000 mile flight, only five minutes faster than a traditional ICBM, and it could be readily detected en route by existing early-warning satellites. But they didn’t refute the larger reason America’s adversaries are pursuing hypersonics: It’s not
As Biden takes office, key nuclear and missile defense decisions loom January 19 A Milestone B decision on the replacement for America s nuclear cruise missile is one of the many issues facing President-elect Joe Biden s nuclear and missile defense experts. (Tech. Sgt. Aaron D. Allmon II/U.S. Air Force) WASHINGTON When U.S. President-elect Joe Biden takes office, his national security team will have to work quickly to make calls on a number of key nuclear and missile defense decisions, according to a top outgoing Pentagon official. Rob Soofer, who has served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and missile defense policy since early in the Trump administration, told Defense News in a Jan. 5 interview that he expects a wide-ranging review of nuclear and missile defense issues from the new administration. But he is hopeful that technical reviews needed to keep programs on track will not be delayed in the process.
Why America needs a layered homeland missile defense Vic Mercado January 19 An animation from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency shows the steps involved in intercepting and destroying and intercontinental ballistic missile. Earlier this week, during the 8th congress of the Workers’ Party in Pyongyang, North Korea, as reported by North Korea’s Central News Agency, Kim Jong Un referred to the U.S. as “our biggest enemy” and outlined plans to upgrade the country’s nuclear forces, develop hypersonic weapons and solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, and build the ability to strike targets out to 15,000 kilometers, which would encompass the entire United States.
Congress provides $130 million for hypersonic missile warning satellites Concept art from Northrop Grumman shows a potential architecture for defending against hypersonic missiles. (Northrop Grumman) WASHINGTON Congress increased the Missile Defense Agency’s budget by $130 million to fund a new satellite constellation capable of tracking hypersonic weapons. A satellites in low Earth orbit will provide targeting data for hypersonic weapons that are dimmer than traditional ballistics and can maneuver in flight, plugging a massive hole in the U.S. missile warning architecture. Lawmakers, who approved the appropriations package Dec. 21 by a majority wide enough to overcome a veto hinted at by President Donald Trump, had expressed concern throughout the year that the agency’s budget does not include any funding to develop the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS). While MDA leadership did ask Congress to fund the constellation, seeking $108 million for HBT