Hypersonic Missile Spikes Begin to Erode
There are no static threats. Now a number of countries have developed hypersonic anti-missile missile systems. Israel is at the forefront with the SkySonic system.
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The photo released by the Russian Ministry of Defense on February 19, 2022 shows an officer checking the readiness of the MiG-31K fighter jet that will carry the Kinzhal hypersonic missile. Kinzhal has been used twice in Ukraine, on March 2022 and March 9, 2023 respectively.
Appearing as a distinguishing factor, hypersonic missiles are believed to be difficult to intercept due to their speed and maneuverability, but their dominance is starting to be eroded. The Ukrainian battlefield became a proving ground when one of Russia's main hypersonic missiles, Kinzhal, could be shot down by the US-made Patriot missile defense system. It was evident on the Ukrainian battlefield that speed and maneuverability, which are the main strengths of hypersonic missile systems, are not guarantees for successfully destroying a target.
Unlike other conventional ballistic missiles, the United States Naval Institute states that hypersonic missiles can travel at a speed of 5 Mach or five times the speed of sound - approximately 1 mile per second. Not only is the missile fast, it is also capable of flying low and maneuvering at very high speeds, with an unpredictable trajectory.
Also read: Russia Rains Missiles on Ukrainian Cities, Including the Kinzhal Hypersonic Missile
Most of the terrestrial-based radar cannot be detected until the final phase of the missile's flight due to the limitations of line-of-sight radar detection. deploy interceptor missiles. For a country's air defense system, hypersonic missiles are a significant challenge.
Initiated in the 1930s by German experts, Russia is advanced in developing hypersonic missiles. However, according to VOA on March 10, the Head of Technology Experts at the US Defense Intelligence Agency, Paul Freisthler, said that China is the leader in hypersonic missile development.
Also read: Recently Launched Ballistic Missiles, Iran Tests Hypersonic Missiles
"During the last two decades, China has dramatically advanced the development of conventional and nuclear-armed hypersonic missile technology through intensive and focused investment, development, testing, and deployment," said Freisthler before the US Congressional Defense Committee."
Other countries that also develop hypersonic missiles include the US, North Korea, Japan, India, South Korea, France, and Iran. Compared to Russia and China, the US is considered to be lagging behind. Several of their tests have failed. Meanwhile, last week Iran announced that it had successfully developed a hypersonic missile named Fattah.
The photo released by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shows Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaking at the launch of the Fattah hypersonic missile in Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday (6/6/2023). Fattah has a range of up to 1,400 km and features technology that can penetrate the latest air defense radar systems.
"The precision-guided Fattah hypersonic missile has a range of 1,400 kilometers and is capable of penetrating all defense shields," said Amirali Hajizadeh, Chief of Staff of the Aerospace Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The Iranian news agency, IRNA, claims that the missile can reach speeds of up to 15,000 km/h and is capable of tearing apart the air defense system of Israel's pride, the Iron Dome."
However, as in the world, there is always a thing called antidote or reaction against, especially in the issue of defence. The development of strategic weapons by a country will trigger a response from other countries, especially those who are geopolitically opposed. Bullets are countered by bullets, missiles are countered by missiles.
The US, which feels left behind by its two rivals, Russia and China, is now pushing for the development of hypersonic anti-missile systems. Referring to the Arms Control Association's January/February 2022 article titled "Pentagon Awards Anti-Hypersonics Missile Contract," the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has awarded contracts to Raytheon Co, Lockheed Martin Corp, and Northrop Grumman Corp to develop prototypes of hypersonic anti-missile missiles. The contract value for each company is around $20 million.
Also read: Competing to Test Hypersonic Missiles, North Korea Doesn't Want to Be Left Out
Called the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI), the prototype of the hypersonic anti-missile missile is targeted to be able to intercept and destroy enemy hypersonic projectiles. On its official website, Northrop Grumman emphasizes that there is no static threat. "Defeating hypersonic missiles is a necessity," said Northrop.
By awarding contracts to three companies simultaneously, the Pentagon hopes to accelerate the development of the new system. GPI missiles are designed to be launched from a vertical launcher system installed on Aegis destroyers. If proven successful, the system will be transferred to a land-based system.
To support the resilience of the GPI, the US, in fiscal year 2022, through the National Defense Authorization Act, allocates up to 256 million US dollars to develop a satellite system called the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor. The system is used to track enemy hypersonic missiles, as well as guide GPI missiles to intercept these hypersonic missiles.
For the fiscal year 2024, both systems will be proposed again, and the US government is expected to take them seriously. Referring to the official website of the US Department of Defense, in front of the Senate Defense Subcommittee, a senior officer of the US Air Force, Marshall Glen D. VanHerck, said that the development of advanced Russian and Chinese weapons could potentially pose a serious threat to the US.
"In the field of innovation and extraordinary technology achievements, inflexible and obsolete processes are a greater hindrance to success than many advances of our competitors," he said. Therefore, he encourages the development of GPI and its supporting satellite systems to be given more attention.
SkySonic Israel
Meanwhile, Israel has advanced. In last week's Paris Air Show, Israeli defense contractor Rafael showcased the SkySonic missile defense system. "The SkySonic interceptor will enable us to intercept all types of hypersonic threats, such as hypersonic ballistic missiles or hypersonic cruise missiles," said Yuval Steinitz, Head of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.
In SkySonic's animated video presented by Rafael, the interceptor missile is shown taking off vertically from the launcher tube. The missile's warhead is then shown detaching and flying with its own propulsion towards the detected enemy hypersonic missile.
Also read: US-Israel is worried if North Korea supplies hypersonic missile technology to Iran
In one of the articles in The Times of Israel , it is stated that SkySonic will intercept hypersonic missiles operating at an altitude range of 20-70 kilometers. Currently, most air defense systems operate to an altitude of 20 kilometers, while anti-ballistic missile systems intercept targets outside the Earth's atmosphere, generally above 70 kilometers.
"The challenge is to overcome threats at altitudes between 25 to 75 or 80 km, the environment is completely different and most of the existing systems are inadequate," said Pini Yungman, Head of the Air Defense Division at Rafael. "
In the photo taken on Wednesday (21/6/2023), a mock-up of the SkySonic hypersonic anti-missile missile made by Rafael, Israel was displayed at the Paris Air Show held at Le Bourget Airport, France.
The emergence of SkySonic seems to confirm the statement of Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Previously, after Iran announced they had successfully developed hypersonic missiles, Gallant asserted that Israel already had the countermeasure.
"I have heard that our enemies are boasting about the weapons they have developed," said Yoav Gallant. "For such developments, we have a better response - whether it be on land, in the air, or in the maritime arena, including defensive and offensive measures."
Not wanting to be left behind, MBDA, a European missile manufacturer, is also joining the race. MBDA has announced that it has launched a program to develop a intercept system called Aquila. 19 partner companies from five European Union countries, namely France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, will also participate. It is estimated that the system will be available by 2030.
Also read: Japan Prepares Hypersonic Missiles to Face Threats in the Region
Referring to Russia's hypersonic missile, Kinzhal, which is capable of reaching speeds up to 6,000 km/h, the hypersonic anti-missile missile developed by MBDA is claimed to have twice the capability.
"We have to be able to maneuver better than they do with extraordinary speed when intercepting, exceeding 12,000 km/h," said Lionel Mazenq from the Future Systems division of MBDA."
The war in Ukraine confirms that the future of defense systems relies, among others, on missile systems. From an industrial perspective, this segment is considered to be the fastest growing. However, technological advancements, including the adoption of artificial intelligence, may make the "competition arena" more exciting and intense. Whoever is quicker has the potential to change the course of the game.
(AP/AFP/REUTERS)
