ABSTRACT
The concepts of a hypersonic and supersonic weapon that could be controlled and maneuvered have been studied for decades, and translating them into development and production has only now become feasible, thanks to recent technological advances. Count hypersonic weapons among its military capabilities can anticipate a number of crucial advantages, all related to an increased degree of uncertainty posed by these weapons to an adversary in the event of a conflict. The velocity with which hypersonic weapons would be able to reach their targets reduces the adversary’s ability to either relocate or respond before the strike occurs. The weapons’ maneuverability allows them to travel on unpredictable trajectories, making it difficult to track and destroy them before they successfully penetrate advanced air and ballistic missile defenses. Lower signatures and an ability to fly at lower altitudes also compound the challenge of finding, targeting, and intercepting hypersonic vehicles for current missile defense systems [1].
