How Hypersonic Missiles Achieve Hypersonic Speed: Inside U.S. Hypersonic Missile Programs and New Advances in Hypersonic Flight

145

The Race for Hypersonic Speed

Hypersonic missiles—defined by their ability to sustain hypersonic speed beyond Mach 5—have become one of the most disruptive weapon technologies of the decade. As the U.S. expands a suite of hypersonic missile programs, from glide vehicles to air-breathing cruise designs, Washington aims to strengthen deterrence in an era shaped by rapid advances in hypersonic technology and great-power competition. This article examines how hypersonic weapons achieve such extraordinary velocity, why they are difficult to intercept, and the current state of U.S. hypersonic missile development.

What Defines Hypersonic Speed?

Hypersonic speed begins at Mach 5, or roughly 3,800 miles per hour. At this velocity, airflow behaves differently:

• Air molecules ionize
• Surfaces face extreme thermal stress
• Standard aerodynamic models no longer apply

Because of these conditions, creating a controllable hypersonic weapon requires specialized materials, engines, guidance software, and real-time thermal management.

How Hypersonic Missiles Achieve Hypersonic Velocity

Hypersonic missiles typically fall into two categories—air-breathing hypersonic cruise missiles and hypersonic boost-glide vehicles. Both reach extreme velocity, but through different methods.

Boost-Glide: The Most Mature U.S. Hypersonic Path

A boost-glide hypersonic weapon uses a rocket booster to ascend into the upper atmosphere before releasing a glide body that coasts at hypersonic speed toward its target. Key elements:

• A ballistic-class launch phase
• High-altitude glide
• Unpredictable, non-ballistic maneuvering

This maneuverability is what complicates traditional missile defense systems. The U.S. Army and Navy’s Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) is the foundation of both services’ future hypersonic strike capability.

Scramjet Engines: Air-Breathing Hypersonic Cruise Missiles

Unlike boost-glide vehicles, air-breathing hypersonic missiles rely on supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) engines. Scramjets compress incoming air at supersonic speeds, allowing combustion without traditional rotating turbines.

This enables a smaller, lighter missile with persistent maneuverability within the atmosphere.

The U.S. Air Force has tested several scramjet designs, including:

• Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC)
• Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM)

These programs represent America’s push for air-launched, fast-reaction hypersonic strike options.

The Science Behind Hypersonic Flight

Traveling at hypersonic speed generates friction so intense that the missile’s exterior can reach temperatures exceeding 3,500°F (1,925°C). Engineers combat this with:

Thermal-Resistant Materials

• Heat-resistant carbon composites
• Ceramic matrix structures
• Ablative coatings that shed surface layers to cool the body

Precision Guidance Under Extreme Conditions

Hypersonic flight interferes with radio communication and GPS reception. Guidance systems must function despite:

• Plasma buildup
• Structural vibration
• Rapid temperature swings

The U.S. invests heavily in advanced seekers and resilient satellite links for precision at long ranges.

Inside U.S. Hypersonic Missile Programs

The United States is simultaneously pursuing multiple offensive and defensive hypersonic systems.

U.S. Army – Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW)

The LRHW uses the C-HGB glide body mounted on a mobile launcher.

• Range: Over 2,775 km (est.)
• Intended for long-range, time-sensitive targets

U.S. Navy – Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS)

The Navy’s CPS system will deploy the C-HGB aboard the Zumwalt-class destroyers first, followed by Virginia-class submarines.
Its sea-based deployment gives the U.S. global strike coverage with reduced warning time.

U.S. Air Force – HACM and ARRW

While the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) program faced setbacks, the HACM remains the Air Force’s lead air-breathing hypersonic system.

HACM integrates scramjet propulsion for long-range precision at hypersonic speed.

Why Hypersonic Weapons Challenge Modern Defense

The combination of speed, maneuverability, and unpredictable trajectories makes hypersonic missiles harder to detect and intercept compared to ballistic missiles.

Limits of Current Radar Systems

Hypersonic weapons can fly at lower altitudes, slipping beneath long-range missile defense radar coverage.

Interceptor Challenges

Current interceptors are optimized for predictable ballistic arcs—not maneuvering hypersonic glide vehicles.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency is developing specialized sensors, tracking layers, and a future Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) to counter emerging threats.

Strategic Impact and the Global Hypersonic Competition

The U.S., China, and Russia are all accelerating development, each seeing hypersonic missiles as tools for deterrence and power projection.
While China has advanced flight-test programs, the United States is now increasing funding and joint-service integration to catch up.

The Pentagon’s 2025 budget allocates billions to hypersonic strike and missile defense—illustrating Washington’s long-term commitment to operational deployment.

Analysis: What Comes Next in U.S. Hypersonic Technology

The next phase of U.S. hypersonic development centers on:

• Lower-cost production
• Longer-range precision targeting
• Better thermal protection
• High-fidelity flight sensors
• Integration across the Army, Navy, and Air Force

The U.S. defense industry believes that by the early 2030s, hypersonic missiles could become standard tools for long-range strike missions, much like cruise missiles today.

FAQs