The Opaque Hypersonics Arms Race.

• Date: 01 July 2018
• Author: Magnuson, Stew

For decades, the United States didn't show a sense of urgency for developing missiles and aircraft that could reach hypersonic speeds--defined as Mach 5 and higher.

But no longer. The U.S. military's research-and-development community is going full bore on hypersonics, it's considered a top R&D priority and contracts to the defense industry are flowing.

Thanks for the kick in the pants, Vladimir Putin!

In March, the Russian president claimed to have developed a weapon that could reach Mach 10 and fly 2,000 miles.

There are two methods of reaching hypersonic speeds and Putin said during his annual televised call-in show June 8 that Russia had mastered them both. A hypersonic boost-glide vehicle called the Avangard--which he said was "absolutely invulnerable for any missile defense system"--is in the process of industrial production with plans to deliver it to the military in 2019.

Boost-glide employs a rocket to lift a hypersonic vehicle and releases it once it reaches a certain altitude. Hypersonic speed is achieved via gravity as the vehicle descends. The ability to maneuver makes it more survivable.

The second method is basically an air-launched missile that can use various approaches to...