Hypersonic Weapons: The Air Force Is Pushing the Boundaries of What's Possible
Alongside the near-term push for hypersonic weapons is a concurrent and arguably just as significant effort to break new ground with additional paradigm-changing applications of hypersonics.
The difficulties and challenges associated with hypersonic flight are very well known, as they include a need to manage airflow, regulate heat, control guidance technology systems and sustain hypersonic speeds once they are initially achieved.
Hypersonics are progressing amazingly well, due in large measure to a massively revved-up Pentagon and Air Force effort to fast-track the weapons, yet alongside this near-term push is a concurrent and arguably just as significant effort to break new ground with additional paradigm-changing applications of hypersonics. These include the eventual emergence of hypersonic drones, to be followed by recoverable hypersonic drones, and, maybe someday, the idea that some kind of manned aircraft could travel at hypersonic speeds.