US invests billions to develop hypersonic missiles of the future

Hypersonic flights for military or commercial purposes could arrive during this decade. For Washington, this appears to be a top priority, with billions of dollars invested. On Tuesday, December 28, a law allocating $ 770 billion for hypersonic research and development was enacted, reports CNBC. The text must now receive the approval of Congress.

“If you are traveling at hypersonic speeds, you are going over a mile per second. This is important for military activities and it could be important for commercial activities. It could also open up new possibilities to reach l ‘space,’ commented Mark Lewis, executive director of the National Defense Industrial Association’s Emerging Technologies Institute.

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Anything that moves above Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound, is considered hypersonic. At this speed, commercial planes could travel from New York to London in less than two hours. Hypersonic research and development has gained momentum in recent years with promising advances, but it has also shed light on its destructive potential. According to Rand Corp., hypersonic technology could create a new form of threats, transforming the nature of conflict.

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Not enough to stop the States which have embarked on a real race for technology. As CNBC recalls, China, Russia and now North Korea all claim to have successfully developed and tested hypersonic missiles. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles that follow a set trajectory after launch, hypersonic weapons are maneuverable in flight, incredibly fast, and difficult to detect. The United States does not yet have it, but it is a top priority for Washington. According to the Government Accountability Office, funding for hypersonic research increased 740% between 2015 and 2020. The latest defense budget alone increased funding by 20%.

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