Hypersonic Boom: The Rise of Lethal High-Speed Warfare

Malcolm Davis

Security,

Current research into hypersonic propulsion is focusing on the Mach 5 to Mach 10 range.


Of all the potentially transformational military technologies that will appear over the next ten years, hypersonic strike weapons, and ultimately, hypersonic platforms, could radically transform future military operations as well as open up the prospect of cheaper and more responsive access to space. The United States, Russia (here and here), China (its programs discussed below) and India (and here) as well as Australia (here and here) all have R&D projects aimed at developing hypersonic propulsion or understanding the science of hypersonics.