Hypersonics

Companies known toNotable becompanies involved in hypersonics include the following:

Hypersonics is an area of research referring to aircraft, missiles, and rockets that travel through the atmosphere at speeds much greater than the speed of sound, Mach 5 or higher (>3836.55 Mph). The field has seen considerable development for military applications with the US, China, and Russia developing hypersonic weapons. Hypersonic weapons and defense have become priorities of the United States Department of Defense's National Defense Strategy and Missile Defense Review.

As well as military applications, there is a push towards commercial hypersonic flight that can dramatically reduce flight time for passengers.

• Speedspeed to target,
• Maneuverability
• maneuverability, and
• Survivability to reach well-defended targets.

Defending against the threat of hypersonic weapons requires systems with greater levels of speed and accuracy. Multi-layered approaches are needed across all phases, including flight detection, tracking, and interception.

Friction and air resistance at hypersonic speeds create extreme levels of heat, which require thermal protection systems and lightweight heat shields. Sensors and electronics have to be designed to withstand the extreme heat conditions produced in hypersonic travel. Hypersonic flight means developing advanced materials and composites to overcome the extreme environment.

ManeuvrabilityManeuverability at hypersonic speeds requires significant precision in order to accurately hit the intended target as well as operate in contested environments, overcoming a wide range of defenses.

Communication during hypersonic flight is a significant challenge,; systems must maintain connectivity to operators and decision-makers through global communication and sensor systems.

Companies known to be involved in hypersonics, include the following:

Hypersonics is an area of research referring to aircraft, missiles, and rockets, and spacecraft that travel through the atmosphere at speeds much greater than the speed of sound, Mach 5 or higher (>3836.55 Mph). The field has seen considerable development for military applications with the US, China, and Russia developing hypersonic weapons. Hypersonic weapons and defense have become priorities of the United States Department of Defense's National Defense Strategy and Missile Defense Review.

While Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles reach hypersonic speeds as they re-enter the atmosphere, hypersonic weapon development aims to accelerate to Mach 5 or higher while remaining in the atmosphere and not taking advantage of the lack of friction and cooling properties of outer space. Unlike ICBMs that target fixed locations, such as cities, hypersonic research is attempting to make maneuverable projectiles that can strike moving targets.

Piloted hypersonic flight experiments date back to the 1960s and the US's X-15 rocket plane.

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In June 2019, the USAF performed the maiden flight test of the air-launched rapid response weapon (ARRW), a hypersonic weapon. Conducted at Edwards Air Force Base in California, the test saw a B-52 Stratofortress aircraft carry a sensor-only version of the Lockheed Martin designed AGM-183A ARRW externally.

Defending against the threat of hypersonic weapons requires systems thatwith aregreater incrediblylevels fastof speed and accurateaccuracy. Multi-layered approaches are needed across all phases ofincluding flight detection, tracking, and interception.

Companies known to be involved in hypersonics, include:

• Lockheed Martin
• Raytheon
• Boeing
• NASA
• Hermeus
• Reaction Engines
• Indiana Innovation Institute (IN3)
• Dynetics
• General Atomics
• Spirit Aerosystems
• Integration Innovation Inc.
• Verity Integrated Systems
• Martinez & Turek
• Penta Research

Hypersonics is an area of research referring to aircraft, missiles, rockets, and spacecraft that travel at speeds much greater than the speed of sound, Mach 5 or higher (>3836.55 Mph).

Hypersonic weapons and defense have become priorities of the United States Department of Defense's National Defense Strategy and Missile Defense Review.

Advanced hypersonic weapon systems provide advantages in terms of:

• Speed to target
• Maneuverability
• Survivability to reach well-defended targets

Defending against the threat of hypersonic weapons requires systems that are incredibly fast and accurate. Multi-layered approaches are needed across all phases of flight detection, tracking, and interception.

Traveling through the atmosphere at Mach 5 or over a mile a second creates a range of complex engineering and physics challenges.

Friction and air resistance at hypersonic speeds create extreme levels of heat which require thermal protection systems and lightweight heat shields. Sensors and electronics have to be designed to withstand the extreme heat conditions produced in hypersonic travel. Hypersonic flight means developing advanced materials and composites to overcome the extreme environment.

Maneuvrability at hypersonic speeds requires significant precision in order to accurately hit the intended target as well as operate in contested environments, overcoming a wide range of defenses.

Communication during hypersonic flight is a significant challenge, systems must maintain connectivity to operators and decision-makers through global communication and sensor systems.