Hypersonic Weapons: Overhyped or Superweapons? - threats, challenges & has the USA fallen behind?

Описание: Besides atomic ordnance, perhaps no weapon system commands public and media attention like hypersonics. No other weapon, when used in Ukraine, is basically guaranteed to command a news cycle.

And yet their importance is hotly debated. There are those who argue the US has fallen behind in an absolutely critical field of military technology - and likewise others who argue the entire class of systems represent an overhyped waste of money.

In this episode I try and provide at least an introduction to that multi-billion dollar question...

Patreon:
  / perunau  

Caveats and corrections:
All usual caveats with an additional note that we're talking about ongoing, often deeply classified programs, so information quality is notably spotty

Sources & Reading:

Congressional Budget Office on Hypersonics:
https://www.cbo.gov/publication/58255

CRS on hypersonic weapons:
https://sgp.fas.org/crs/weapons/R4581...

CRS on Hypersonic Defence:
https://s3.documentcloud.org/document...

Georgetown Journal of International Affairs:
https://gjia.georgetown.edu/2021/01/2...

RT on Avangard:
https://www.rt.com/news/476985-avanga...

ARRW cancellation:
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone...

2022 Missile defence Review
https://media.defense.gov/2022/Oct/27...

TASS on Killjoy range:
https://tass.com/defense/1013794

Putin says Russia leading hypersonics
https://apnews.com/article/vladimir-p...

Missile Defence Project listing the range:
https://missilethreat.csis.org/missil...

Raytheon Glide-Phase-Interceptor
https://www.raytheonmissilesanddefens...

Fars News on IRGC missile claim:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14011...

Bulletin of Atomic Scientists on Hypersonics:
https://thebulletin.org/2020/01/hyper...

CSIS - Complex air defence
https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaw...

Northrop Grumman HBTSS
https://www.northropgrumman.com/wp-co...

Lora Saalman Ph.D - PROMPT GLOBAL STRIKE:
CHINA AND THE SPEAR
https://dkiapcss.edu/wpcontent/upload...

Phoenix Testbed project:
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/h...

Media saying the US is behind on hypersonics:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davedept...

CSIS - Chinese FOBS capability
https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/...

Alan Cummings - Hypersonic weapons tactical uses and goals
https://warontherocks.com/2019/11/hyp...

Reporting on cost of CPS rounds:
https://defensescoop.com/2023/03/22/n...

S-500 Reporting:
https://www.janes.com/amp/russia-begi...

Reporting on HALO:
https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/...
https://defensescoop.com/2023/04/03/n...

CPS Reporting:
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/0...
https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/...

Russian media on Sarmat:
https://sputnikglobe.com/20220522/rus...

PRC team claim reliable communications with Hypersonic object:
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/scien...

DOT&E Report 2022
https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/p...

Timestamps:
00:00:00 — Hypersonic Weapons
00:01:24 — What Am I Talking About?
00:02:33 — What Are They?
00:11:44 — Advantages & Defensive Challenges
00:19:26 — The Problems & Costs (Technical)
00:28:08 — The Problems & Costs (Mission)
00:38:01 — Defensive Options
00:45:15 — National Programs: Russia
00:55:06 — National Programs: PRC
00:58:43 — National Programs: USA
01:06:07 — The State of Competition
01:10:45 — Conclusions
01:11:51 — Channel Update