Current US hypersonic weapons projects. (General)

[TeourdBeourglaer]

Debatable. Even though Dark Eagle was already in service at the time and HAWC had undergone several successful flights, one senior insider stated that ARRW was the most mature hypersonic weapon they had. Ground crews have also received training on this supposedly cancelled weapon.


It definitely can.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCBs1IEk9Fc&t=2

Debatable. Even though Dark Eagle was already in service at the time and HAWC had undergone several successful flights, one senior insider stated that ARRW was the most mature hypersonic weapon they had. Ground crews have also received training on this supposedly cancelled weapon.


It definitely can.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCBs1IEk9Fc&t=286s

Yeah you're right, I was just replying to a stupid comment, so dumb it made my brain stop working.

But if anything, it's radar-homing and IIR seeker combo plus whatever AI/smart-teaming function it has can easily hunt down and attack ships..!

 

[Forest Green]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1804583423530447017

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1804583423530447017

https://twitter.com/x/status/1804628030067007750

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1804628030067007750

 

[Forest Green]

Longer weapons?

EDIT: Confirmed, it will provide for longer weapons!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1804897490920976835

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1804897490920976835

https://twitter.com/x/status/1804952215146332183

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1804952215146332183

 

[TAOG]

MPBD

An air launched, highly classified hypersonic program.

Two stage rocket （from GD's booster size table, MPBD is 28x 126 size, which may be the fisrt stage size and is simmilar to ARRW size. But MPBD has two stage), second stage motor with TVC acs. Seems like a big strike missile.

Also, development is at least begin from 2018, and still continous now. Raytheon seeked program director through 2022.11-2023.3.

Update:
Raytheon still seeking for MPBD director on 2023/8/30

Update MPBD air launch hypersonic missile info:

1. Raytheon still seek program Director.

Picture 1 : post on 2022
Picture 2: post on 2023/8
Picture 3: post on 2024/6

2. MPBD consists of two stage solid rocket ( picture 4)

3. Aerojet Rocketdyne is also the sub contractor, and the MPBD has conduct 2 static test firing (picture 4-6).

4.NG is still develeloping second stage, and mention hypersonic again. ( Picture 7)

---------------------

It seems like A. Rocketdyne is developing the first stage and NG is for 2nd stage, Raytheon is main conctrator integrate AUR.

 

[bobbymike]

C-17 can now launch hypersonic missiles with Boeing's REVOLVER system

Boeing has unveiled the REVOLVER launcher system for the C-17 Globemaster III, capable of deploying X-51A Waverider hypersonic missiles.

interestingengineering.com

 

[flateric]

Not that again. Once more, Boeing did not unveil anything. It's just a fan made animation of own amateur what-if project.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1796169100709822846

View: https://x.com/egpjet3d/status/1796169100709822846

 

[sferrin]

Not that again. Once more, Boeing did not unveil anything. It's just a fan made animation of own amateur what-if project.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1796169100709822846

View: https://x.com/egpjet3d/status/1796169100709822846

The money shot:

"allowing the rapid launch of up to 12 Boeing X-51A Waverider hypersonic cruise missiles"

 

[TomcatViP]

Not that again. Once more, Boeing did not unveil anything. It's just a fan made animation of own amateur what-if project.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1796169100709822846

View: https://x.com/egpjet3d/status/1796169100709822846

@Jemiba

 

[bobbymike]

US Navy make a move on developing CPS hypersonic weapon

Lockheed Martin won additional funds worth $534m to support its efforts in engineering, development and testing the hypersonic CPS missile.

www.naval-technology.com

 

[bobbymike]

Hypersonics: DoD’s Development Strategy for Missiles

In this webinar, we examine the current hypersonics threat scenario, how the DoD is responding with both offensive and defense hypersonic programs.

info.breakingdefense.com

 

[Moose]

CPS All Up Round test was successful. Was launched from a stand rather than an Army or Navy launcher, but a good step.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1806788817543963053

https://twitter.com/x/status/1806788817543963053

View: https://twitter.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1806788817543963053?t=kFE5Et-P2PQ4j8fbMorCBw&s=19

 

[NMaude]

So those photographs show what the production CPS booster-stack will look like?

 

[Moose]

So those photographs show what the production CPS booster-stack will look like?

The markings don't look final, but the hardware likely is.

 

[bring_it_on]

So those photographs show what the production CPS booster-stack will look like?

Yes. We've known this through the second picture in the tweet since [at least] last year.

 

[NMaude]

I must say that the booster-stack is a very elegant design.

 

[MihoshiK]

Imagine one of those launching from a Zumwalt...

 

[NMaude]

Imagine one of those launching from a Zumwalt...

Or a late block Virginia-class SSN.

 

[Forest Green]

Imagine 66 launching from an Ohio SSGN.

The test took place 25th of May apparently and only mentioned now.

DOD Completes Flight Test of Hypersonic Missile

The Navy and Army recently completed an end-to-end flight test of a hypersonic missile from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii.

www.defense.gov

https://twitter.com/x/status/1806886406943309867

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1806886406943309867

 

[TomcatViP]

3500km? Has anyone crosschecked? I have a 10% higher value in latitude only (without even taking into consideration the longitudinal offset).

 

[Forest Green]

3500km? Has anyone crosschecked? I have a 10% higher value in latitude only (without even taking into consideration the longitudinal offset).

Well... the original specification for CPS was 2000-3000nm (3700-5600km), but back then they were on about using a re-purposed Trident C4 with a stage removed or something.

I did get about 3,700km. Get a terminal seeker on it and it's game over.

From an earlier article:

Army Shows First-Ever Footage Of New Hypersonic Missile In Flight And Impacting

The Army and Navy are jointly developing the weapon, which is set to be both services' first-ever operational hypersonic missile.

www.twz.com

The Army has still not said how fast the C-HGB flew during Flight Experiment 2 or how far it traveled. The Pentagon has previously said that this weapon would allow the Army and Navy to “strike targets hundreds and even thousands of miles away” and that it will get up to a speed of Mach 17.

 

[bobbymike]

Anyone guessing or estimating the missile’s dimensions and if the booster stack is purpose built or an existing modified SRM.

If I missed this early my apologies.

 

[sferrin]

Also, is the USN going to cold or hot launch them?

 

[TomcatViP]

@Forest Green : Thanks. We can then certainly safely assume a 2000NM range.
The 3500km was itching me as it was a bit too short for that.

 

[Calphor]

Anyone guessing or estimating the missile’s dimensions and if the booster stack is purpose built or an existing modified SRM.

If I missed this early my apologies.

The booster stack is purpose built for the mission. The diameter of the booster is either 34.5” or 32.5”, I cannot remember off the top of my head.

 

[Moose]

Also, is the USN going to cold or hot launch them?

Same as Trident: flash boil seawater with a gas generator and the steam produced yeets the missile. A fairly warm "cold" launch.

 

[bobbymike]

Revolution at Mach 10: NASA-Backed Hypersonic Jets Poised to Transform Space Travel

Wind Tunnel Study Reveals Hypersonic Jet Engine Flow Can Be Controlled Optically Researchers at the University of Virginia are exploring the potential of hypersonic jets for space travel, using innovations in engine control and sensing techniques. The work, supported by NASA, aims to enhance scramj

scitechdaily.com

As part of a new NASA-funded study, University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science researchers published data in the June issue of the journal Aerospace Science and Technology that showed for the first time that airflow in supersonic combusting jet engines can be controlled by an optical sensor. The finding could lead to more efficient stabilization of hypersonic jet aircraft.

In addition, the researchers achieved adaptive control of a scramjet engine, representing another first for hypersonic propulsion. Adaptive engine control systems respond to changes in dynamics to keep the system’s overall performance optimal.

 

[Forest Green]

Anyone guessing or estimating the missile’s dimensions and if the booster stack is purpose built or an existing modified SRM.

If I missed this early my apologies.

Diameter is 34.5in (876mm), the length is probably at least 10m. I had a diagram somewhere estimating length but the site search engine is currently broken.

 

[NMaude]

but the site search engine is currently broken.

Yeah, what is up with that? I've been trying to find the PrSM thread.

 

[Forest Green]

Yeah, what is up with that? I've been trying to find the PrSM thread.

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/us-army-lockheed-martin-long-range-precision-fires-lrpf.30938/page-32

 

[Scott Kenny]

Same as Trident: flash boil seawater with a gas generator and the steam produced yeets the missile. A fairly warm "cold" launch.

Helps to cool down the gas generator exhaust, since that steam cannot easily exceed 100degC.

 

[Scott Kenny]

Diameter is 34.5in (876mm), the length is probably at least 10m. I had a diagram somewhere estimating length but the site search engine is currently broken.

Would that fit into a Mk57 PVLS, or do we need to stick those into the VPMs?

 

[Forest Green]

Would that fit into a Mk57 PVLS, or do we need to stick those into the VPMs?

VPMs only, 3 to a single VPM. Mk57 is only 710mm wide, and only 7.93m high.

Mk-57 Peripheral Vertical Launching System PVLS Zumwalt DDG

mk-57 vertical launching system vls peripheral zumwalt class ddg

www.seaforces.org

https://twitter.com/x/status/1807389874581881192

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1807389874581881192

 

[Forest Green]

Anyone guessing or estimating the missile’s dimensions and if the booster stack is purpose built or an existing modified SRM.

If I missed this early my apologies.

Using this image on full size on a 27in monitor, I measured the width at 10.5mm and the length at 130mm. BUT, there is a slight slant here from top to bottom, so both estimates are conservative. Either way, it's about Pershing II height!

34.5in = 876.3mm
(130/10.5) x 876.3mm = 10.85m



16.5 small squares wide and 200 high.

(200/16.5) x 876.3mm = 10.62m

BUT: Slight slant so ~10.7m

 

[Josh_TN]

CPS All Up Round test was successful. Was launched from a stand rather than an Army or Navy launcher, but a good step.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1806788817543963053

https://twitter.com/x/status/1806788817543963053

View: https://twitter.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1806788817543963053?t=kFE5Et-P2PQ4j8fbMorCBw&s=19

Is it just me or is the nose cone far more streamlined than the renders? It is usually depicted as having a blunter nose optimized for underwater launch.

 

[Calphor]

Is it just me or is the nose cone far more streamlined than the renders? It is usually depicted as having a blunter nose optimized for underwater launch.

It is significantly longer than you would expect for a traditional missile. CHGB drives the length of the nose cone/fairing. The initial test flights of the glide body were on significantly larger diameter launchers which partially/fully obfuscated the length of the glide body.

 

[A Tentative Fleet Plan]

Is it just me or is the nose cone far more streamlined than the renders? It is usually depicted as having a blunter nose optimized for underwater launch.

I've had this render since May 2021, which seems pretty close to the system as it entered service.

 

[NMaude]

This seems like the right thread for the below Defense Updates video concerning a US test of satellite tracking of hypersonic missiles:

The US has reached a crucial milestone.

According to the Missile Defense Agency., the Defense Department’s advanced missile tracking satellites logged their first views of a hypersonic flight test.Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) satellites were able to track a hypersonic system.

MDA didn’t disclose the date of the flight, which took off from Wallops Island in Virginia.The agency said in a June 14 statement, “Initial reports show the sensors successfully collected data after launch. MDA will continue to assess flight data over the next several weeks.”

Viewers may note, that the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Space Development Agency (SDA) are actively working on components of a hypersonic missile defense system to protect against hypersonic weapons and other emerging missile threats. This includes developing the tracking and transport layers of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) and various interceptor programs.

In this video, Defense Updates analyzes why successful tracking of hypersonic flight by US HBTSS satellites is a crucial development ?

#defenseupdates #hypersonicmissile #hypersonicweapon

Chapters:

00:11 INTRODUCTION

02:15 HYPERSONIC WEAPON

04:09 TRACKING HYPERSONIC THREATS

06:49 AID IN HYPERSONIC WEAPON TESTING

06:49 ANALYSIS

 

[bobbymike]

I've had this render since May 2021, which seems pretty close to the system as it entered service.

View attachment 733292

Do you have this full presentation?

 

[A Tentative Fleet Plan]

Do you have this full presentation?

No but I've got these from 2020, before they wanted to fit it to Zumwalt:

 

[Forest Green]

So was the test AUR or AUR+C? It looks like a hot launch, but it could just be that the shot was taken after ignition. AUR implies not canister though.