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 ma