What to Expect From Military Hypersonic Aircraft Over the Next Decade

To retain its competitive advantage in global power dynamics, the United States government is executing a National Defense Strategy.

The plan seeks to restructure military capabilities and provide a long-term foundation for superiority. Since the middle of the past century, the United States has prioritized new technologies, particularly hypersonics, as key technology areas.

On the other hand, Chinese high-flying and high-speed unmanned air vehicles, such as aerial discharges from drones and balloons, are being tested.

The designs are similar to the MD-22 hypersonic testbed, which was first revealed in 2022. The new UAV is inspired by the life and work of Qian Xuesen, an aerospace pioneer at NASA’s Laboratory.

Hypersonic speed is five times faster than sound (MACH 5 < M < 10). NASA defines hypersonic aircraft as those capable of speeds exceeding 3000 MPH (4828 km/h).

Models such as the Concorde and F-15 Eagle have made major contributions to aviation history, unlike supersonic planes that reach speeds of over 761 MPH (1,225 km/h).

Hypersonic aircraft is a promising future military area that employs cutting-edge technologies to overcome physical limitations in engine design, materials, and lightweights.

Companies are investing in metal additive manufacturing to develop a vertically integrated operation that will enable quick prototyping and iteration of complicated parts for next-generation aircraft engines. This vertical integration enables a greater impact on the industry.

HyperFast Weapons

Hypersonic missiles launched from rocket boosters can reenter the atmosphere faster and conduct evasive movements to circumvent defenses.

They can travel thousands of kilometers, allowing them to bypass defenses. In contrast, hypersonic aircraft use conventional military weaponry to deliver payloads before returning to replenish. Despite the increased initial expenditure, they avoid discarding unusual propulsion systems with each attack.

The Game Changer or the Missiles

These weapons include Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), which travel in an arc shape outside the Earth’s atmosphere and deliver payloads at higher speeds than other missiles. Furthermore, hypersonic cruise missiles are available in two versions:

one mounted on a glide vehicle HGV and another with a scramjet engine. These missiles are not intended to be reusable and instead release payloads in a single direction.

A scramjet is an air-breathing jet engine that employs supersonic airflow to ignite. It uses high vehicle speed to compress entering air. Nonetheless, it uses shockwaves generated by its ignition source rather than a shock cone, allowing it to operate efficiently at high speeds.

States such as the United States and China are developing glide vehicles and cruise missiles, despite inconsistent results. The growth of hypersonic weaponry is fueled by a schism between strategic planning and technological acquisition, with hypersonic cruise missiles still in development due to engine constraints and uncertain accuracy.

Russia is developing three weapons, including the Kinzhal and Tsirkon, with regional and strategic strike capabilities and the ability to carry nuclear warheads.

The Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) program is a collaboration between the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the United States Air Force to develop crucial technologies for an effective and economical air-launched hypersonic cruise missile. The program prioritizes efficient, quick, and economical flight tests.

HAWC intends to conduct flight demonstrations to increase air vehicle feasibility, efficacy, and price. Advanced hypersonic flight configurations, hydrocarbon scramjet-powered propulsion, thermal stress management, and cost-effective system designs and production methods are all critical technologies.

Aircraft developments

The field of hypersonic military aircraft is continually growing; however, these are some of the most notable and recent advances.

These improvements represent a significant step forward in military aviation technology, with the goal of achieving superiority in aerospace innovation and defense capabilities. Multiple hypersonic aircraft programs will shape the future of hypersonic aircraft.

SR-72, “Son of Blackbird”

Lockheed Martin is developing the SR-72 “Son of Blackbird,” a hypersonic successor to the famed SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest piloted aircraft ever built. This autonomous aircraft is predicted to achieve speeds greater than Mach 6 (about 4,600 mph or 7,400 km/h).

Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development initiatives, which were developed for surveillance, intelligence, and reconnaissance under Skunk Works, are in charge of a variety of aircraft designs, highly classified research and development initiatives, and exotic aircraft platforms.

Stratolaunch’s Talon-A

Stratolaunch, based in Mojave, California, is a prominent aerospace firm that designs, manufactures, and launches vehicles and technology to suit a variety of national requirements.

Its Talon-A is an autonomous, reusable testbed intended for flight testing, making it more accessible and cost-effective. It provides speed and mobility, allowing for frequent high Mach speeds at different altitudes and flying profiles.

The testbed also enables for the customisation of payload volumes and instrumentation to meet the mission requirements. It also enables speedy flight turnaround and cost-effective data collection.

Mayhem Program

The US Air Force’s Mayhem program, which focuses on demonstrating an air-launched hypersonic air vehicle for strike, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations, is in jeopardy due to a financial shortfall that could postpone its completion.

However, interest in individual project components, such as research and development of new high-speed jet engines, may still exist.

According to the branch’s Requests for Information, Mayhem intends to deploy an unmanned, reusable hypersonic drone platform capable of performing two distinct mission sets: strike operations and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

Quarterhorse Mk 1.

Hermeus, a premier aerospace and defense technology company, has completed the ground component of the Quarterhorse Mk 1 flight test campaign, which includes successful integrated testing of all vehicle subsystems as well as software and hardware in Hermeus’ proprietary Flight Deck.

Hermeus is concluding executive efforts to obtain flight certification from the US Air Force 412th Test Wing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The extensive ground testing effort at Edwards Air Force Base was completed in just 21 days, demonstrating Hermeus’ capacity to design and build a clean-sheet aircraft in just 204 days.

The ground testing ended with 130-knot taxi tests with full afterburner on Edwards’ famed dry lakebed, which validated aerodynamic model assumptions, assessed the aircraft’s directional control, and evaluated control surface performance, as announced on December 17, 2024.

Quarterhorse Mk 2 is currently being constructed in Hermeus’ Atlanta factory. This aircraft has a significantly larger engine, the Pratt & Whitney F100, and can fly at supersonic speed.

China’s MD-19

The MD-19, an experimental craft created by the Qian Xuesen Science and Technology Youth Task Force, has displayed impressive capabilities, including the ability to launch from a TB-001 twin-tailed drone.

The TB-001 drone’s role as a carrier increases tactical versatility by allowing the MD-19 to be deployed deep into contested airspace while keeping a low profile, decreasing early detection and interception risks.

In December 2024, nine in-flight experiments were carried out, with the MD-19 being hoisted to altitude by another aircraft. The MD-19, which is eight to eleven feet long, can land autonomously after flight. Its potential roles include reconnaissance, anti-satellite operations, and kamikaze attacks against ships.

Avangard

The Avangard is a Russian hypersonic boost-glide vehicle that can carry both nuclear and conventional payloads. It has a range of more than 6,000 kilometers and weighs around 2,000 kilograms.

It is carried by a ballistic missile, the SS-19 “Stiletto” (UR-100NUTTH), which will eventually be replaced by the R-28 “Sarmat”. Originally planned for the road-mobile RS-26 “Rubezh,” Russia picked the silo-based R-28 “Sarmat” owing to financial restrictions.

Furthermore, hypersonic flight has enormous potential for both military and civilian purposes, including global transport and space exploration.

Hypersonic systems confront enormous costs for creating and operating hypersonic aircraft, making it difficult to justify investment. Other complex engineering tasks are:

• Heat from friction and air resistance must be handled using lightweight heat shields and thermal protection systems.
• Extreme situations require the usage of innovative materials and composites.
• Systems must overcome a wide spectrum of defenses in disputed contexts.
• A system traveling at a mile per second requires perfect maneuverability.
• Communication must be maintained during the flight.

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