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US tested hypersonic missile in mid-March but kept it quiet to avoid escalating tensions with Russia
The Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Idea (HAWC) was launched from a B-52 bomber off the west coast, the official mentioned, within the first profitable take a look at of the Lockheed Martin model of the system. A booster engine accelerated the missile to excessive pace, at which level the air-breathing scramjet engine ignited and propelled the missile at hypersonic speeds of Mach 5 and above.
The official supplied scant particulars of the missile take a look at, solely noting the missile flew above 65,000 toes and for greater than 300 miles. However even on the decrease finish of hypersonic vary — about 3,800 miles per hour — a flight of 300 miles is lower than 5 minutes.
“That is a fairly vital sledgehammer to take out a goal like that,” Kirby mentioned on the time.
The Kinzhal missile is solely an air-launched model of the Russian Iskander short-range ballistic missile. In different phrases, it’s a variation of a longtime know-how versus a revolution in hypersonic weaponry. The US take a look at was of a extra subtle and troublesome air-breathing scramjet engine. The HAWC missile additionally has no warhead, as an alternative counting on its kinetic vitality to destroy the goal.
On the time of the US take a look at, Biden was getting ready for a go to to NATO allies in Europe, together with a cease in Poland the place he met with Ukraine’s international minister and protection minister.
The US has been cautious to not take steps or make statements that would unnecessarily escalate the tensions between Washington and Moscow. On Friday, the US canceled a take a look at of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) to keep away from any misinterpretation by Russia. Austin had already postponed the take a look at in early March to keep away from any actions that could possibly be misconstrued by Russia at such a delicate time.
Usually, the US has additionally remained considerably discreet concerning the weapons and tools it sends into Ukraine. Solely within the newest $300 million safety help package deal did the Protection Division listing particular techniques and weapons.
The US has additionally opposed the switch of fighter plane to Ukraine by means of the USA, involved that the Kremlin might interpret such a transfer because the US and NATO coming into the battle in Ukraine.
US officers remained quiet about this newest hypersonic take a look at for 2 weeks for comparable causes, the protection official mentioned, cautious to not provoke the Kremlin or President Vladimir Putin, particularly as Russian forces expanded their bombardment of Ukraine.
The US take a look at is the second profitable take a look at of a HAWC missile, and it’s the first of the Lockheed Martin model of the weapon. Final September, the Air Drive examined the Raytheon HAWC, powered by a Northrop Grumman scramjet engine.
The take a look at met all main goals, based on a press launch from the Protection Superior Analysis Tasks Company (DARPA), together with the missile’s integration and launch, protected separation from the launch plane, booster firing, and cruise. Then too officers supplied few particulars concerning the flight, with no point out of how briskly the missile flew or what distance it traveled. The discharge solely said that the missile traveled at speeds larger than Mach 5.
The US has positioned a renewed emphasis on hypersonic weapons following profitable Russian and Chinese language checks in latest months, exacerbating the priority in Washington that the US is falling behind on a navy know-how thought of important for the longer term.