German companies have had the issue of hypersonics on their radar for some time and have already done pioneering work in this area. Areas above five times the speed of sound are referred to as hypersonic. Bayern-Chemie, a subsidiary of MBDA Germany, had already constructed an engine at the beginning of the new millennium with which a guided missile tested in Meppen in 2003 could be accelerated to 8,644 km/h and thus broke the world record at the time. According to reports, the lack of threat scenarios has ensured that no further investments were made in this area. This circumstance changed significantly at the latest after the change in the world political situation and the presentation of Russian offensive supersonic weapons.
Research & Technology Study
Die Bundeswehr ist seit letztem Jahr in das Thema Hyperschall eingestiegen, dazu hat das Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) 2018 ein Technologieprogramm (F&T, Stufe 2) aufgesetzt. Laut Peter Heilmeier, Leiter Vertrieb und Geschäftsentwicklung MBDA Deutschland, kann in drei Jahren mit den ersten Prototypen gerechnet werden, inklusive erster Schussversuche. Deutschlands Ansatz ist zunächst nur defensiver Natur, z.B. als Panzerabwehrwaffe gegen die abstandsaktiven Schutzsysteme der russischen T-14 ARMATA. Die Reaktionsfähigkeit solcher Systeme wäre nicht ausreichend um mit Hyperschall anfliegende Panzerabwehrlenkflugkörper schnell genug detektieren und bekämpfen zu können.
Another option is to implement it as a defense system against enemy missiles and missiles. Hypersonic weapons can reach speeds of Mach 5 and faster. This means that they are usually too quick to take defensive measures. Interceptor missiles must therefore operate in similar speed ranges in order to be able to combat incoming hypersonic weapons quickly enough. The current project is a purely national study without the insight of international partners.
An interesting aspect of this technology is the question of whether such a weapon still needs a warhead at all, or whether, due to the speed of Mach 5+, the pure kinetic energy is sufficient to achieve the desired effect on the target.
Furthermore, there are considerations in Germany to use this technology in the field of air defense, for example in the course of the TLVS program. The potential purpose of use would be, for example, the defense against Russian ballistic missiles, so-called (AVANGARD) Hypersonic Glider (HGV), aerodynamic missiles (SSC-8 SCREWDRIVER) and nuclear-powered cruise missiles (9M730 BUREVESTNIK/SSC-X-9 SKYFALL). In addition to MBDA, IABG and DIEHL Defense are also working on this topic.
International projects
Russia has already tested several hypersonic weapons, but not yet under operational conditions, the USA and CHINA are also working hard on such weapons. It is expected that nations such as Great Britain, Japan and Israel will soon also present initial results and projects. France wants to realize a first hypersonic glider with the V-MaX by 2021.
Andre Forkert
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