Defense against Hypersonic Glide Vehicles

Forest Green said:
www.twz.com

Putting Missile Interceptors In Space Critical To Defending U.S. Citizens: Space Force Boss

The large-scale weaponization of space appears to be imminent as competition in orbit heats up between the U.S. and its adversaries.
www.twz.com www.twz.com

www.airandspaceforces.com

Saltzman: US Can Overcome Hurdles to Develop Space-Based Interceptors

Space Force Gen. B. Chance Saltzman said he believe industry can figure out how to make space-based interceptors work.
www.airandspaceforces.com www.airandspaceforces.com
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With SpaceX and Falcon/Falcon Heavy, it's now affordable to put tens of thousands of Brilliant Pebbles into orbit.
 
Forest Green said:
www.twz.com

Putting Missile Interceptors In Space Critical To Defending U.S. Citizens: Space Force Boss

The large-scale weaponization of space appears to be imminent as competition in orbit heats up between the U.S. and its adversaries.
www.twz.com www.twz.com

www.airandspaceforces.com

Saltzman: US Can Overcome Hurdles to Develop Space-Based Interceptors

Space Force Gen. B. Chance Saltzman said he believe industry can figure out how to make space-based interceptors work.
www.airandspaceforces.com www.airandspaceforces.com
Click to expand...

So do you think we'll see a 21st century version of Brilliant Peebles deployed?
 
NMaude said:
Do we know what upgrades exactly?
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SM-6 Block IAU
" The “U” in Block IAU stands for “Upgrade” and consists of “an update to the Guidance Section Electronics Unit to mitigate obsolescence issues and intends to incorporate the update into the missile,” according to the Pentagon’s Office of the Director of Test and Evaluation (DOT&E). "
www.twz.com

SM-6 Missile Closer To Proving Hypersonic Weapon Intercept Capability After Aegis Destroyer Test

The SM-6 is the U.S. military's most immediate option for tackling growing threats posed by advanced maneuvering hypersonic weapons.
www.twz.com www.twz.com
 
Pioneer said:
I think this is the best thread for this:

armyrecognition.com

Exclusive: China Unveils “World’s Most Powerful Machine Gun” to Stop Hypersonic Missiles

Exclusive: China Unveils Multi-Barreled Weapon That Outguns US Phalanx Close-In Weapon to Tackle Hypersonic Missiles
armyrecognition.com armyrecognition.com

Regards
Pooneer
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The problem with intercepting hypersonics with guns is that the smaller caliber guns simply have too short range. You NEED a kill zone at least a few miles out, because even the debris of a successful intercept will be moving at mach 5. And thus will be a danger.

There's a reason most navies are going to RAM or even CAMM type weapons and dropping low caliber gun type CIWS.

The only gun type CIWS that seems worth a damn against hypersonics might be something like the 76 mm type with guided ammo.
 
MihoshiK said:
The problem with intercepting hypersonics with guns is that the smaller caliber guns simply have too short range. You NEED a kill zone at least a few miles out, because even the debris of a successful intercept will be moving at mach 5. And thus will be a danger.

There's a reason most navies are going to RAM or even CAMM type weapons and dropping low caliber gun type CIWS.

The only gun type CIWS that seems worth a damn against hypersonics might be something like the 76 mm type with guided ammo.
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Or a rail gun. The US did look at using GAU-8's to defend missile silos but all they had to do was damage the RVs and let the silo deal with the fragments. As long as it didn't detonate that's all that mattered.
 
Pioneer said:
I think this is the best thread for this:

armyrecognition.com

Exclusive: China Unveils “World’s Most Powerful Machine Gun” to Stop Hypersonic Missiles

Exclusive: China Unveils Multi-Barreled Weapon That Outguns US Phalanx Close-In Weapon to Tackle Hypersonic Missiles
armyrecognition.com armyrecognition.com

Regards
Pooneer
Click to expand...
Is this actually any better or cheaper than air-bursting rounds? This would actually spread out the fragments, whereas electronic firing mechanisms fire out a shed load of rounds really fast in the same direction unless you use air-burst rounds with it I guess.
 
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Forest Green said:
Is this actually any better or cheaper than air-bursting rounds? This would actually spread out the fragments, whereas electronic firing mechanisms fire out a shed load of rounds really fast in the same direction unless you use air-burst rounds with it I guess.
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Good question, one that I'm not qualified to answer.
I'm wondering if a fragment from an air-burst would have the density and kinetic energy to damage a hypersonic system?

Regards
Pioneer
 
Forest Green said:
Is this actually any better or cheaper than air-bursting rounds? This would actually spread out the fragments, whereas electronic firing mechanisms fire out a shed load of rounds really fast in the same direction unless you use air-burst rounds with it I guess.
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I'm assuming if it's found difficult to accurately calculate the optimal detonation time, then a cloud of bullets is not a bad alternative.
 
Pioneer said:
Good question, one that I'm not qualified to answer.
I'm wondering if a fragment from an air-burst would have the density and kinetic energy to damage a hypersonic system?

Regards
Pioneer
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Don't know the answe to that. Given the range of gun-type systems and the speeds involved, we're really talking about the last second before impact here. Is anything that doesn't completely obliterate the missile outright sufficient at that point?
 
Forest Green said:
Don't know the answe to that. Given the range of gun-type systems and the speeds involved, we're really talking about the last second before impact here. Is anything that doesn't completely obliterate the missile outright sufficient at that point?
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Depends on impact velocity.

For example, ICBM RVs have slowed down to Mach 2 at about 20,000ft, just because of the dense air.

Hypergliders will have the same problem.

You don't get into "packing its own weight in TNT in kinetic energy" until 3km/s. Mach 10. And you need that Mach 10 at impact, despite the dense air.

Thus far, there hasn't been mention of a rocket boosted hyperglider or RBA for pure kinetic force.

Long story short, yes a gun that doesn't obliterate a hypersonic is still sufficient as long as the hypersonic's impact velocity is below Mach 10.
 

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