Hypersonic arms race. New Player: Germany
Currently, all the leading countries of the world are developing advanced weapons based on hypersonic technology. Recently it became known that a similar project is being created in Germany. The German hypersonic program is still in its earliest stages, but real results are expected in the foreseeable future. Of particular interest is the official reason for the start of such work.
Information about the German hypersonic project was first published a few days ago by the publication Welt. The presence of such works was told by the head of the MBDA sales department, Peter Heilmayer. A representative of the developer organization revealed some data about the new project, but did not disclose unnecessary details.
The hypersonic program was launched last year at the initiative of the Directorate of Arms and Technology Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw). The reason for the launch of this project is called "specific threats" in the form of the latest Russian developments. An analysis of new and promising Russian weapons has shown that the existing German systems can no longer fight them. This requires the creation of completely new designs.
At the moment, the program is in its very early stages, involving research and technology search. Germany is working independently and has not attracted any other countries to it. The first prototypes of the new program will appear and be tested in the next three years.
P. Heilmayer did not specify the nature of the new project and the basic requirements for future weapons. However, he pointed out that the promising development is exclusively defensive in nature and is aimed at protecting against threats from foreign weapons.
The representative of MBDA pointed to the defensive nature of the new development and clarified the possible scope of its application. Thus, a hypersonic rocket of a promising model can be used in the field of air defense. It is quite capable of becoming one of the ammunition for the promising Taktische Luftverteidigungssystem (TLVS) anti-aircraft missile system.
Currently, the MBDA concern together with Lockheed Martin are working on the technical design of the future TLVS air defense system. Already this month the completion of such works is expected, after which the Bundeswehr will be able to approve a technical proposal or make its own amendments. From the latest statements, it follows that a promising missile with a truly improved performance can indeed appear as part of a promising air defense system.
Information about the German hypersonic program is still extremely small, but the available data are of great interest. First of all, it follows from them that Germany does not plan to repeat the experience of other countries and create its own projects similar to others. On the contrary, modern technologies will be introduced in other areas.
Currently under hypersonic weapons usually understand systems of two classes. These are attack cruise missiles capable of developing high speeds, as well as hypersonic planning combat units, which are accelerated by a special rocket. The statements of the representative of MBDA suggest that a completely different system is being created for the BAAINBw order.
P. Heilmayer said that the new project is designed for defense, and its appearance is associated with the latest foreign developments. In addition, data on the possible introduction of hypersonic ammunition in the new air defense system. All this can be regarded as a very transparent hint at the essence and objectives of the new German project.
It seems that we are talking about the development of an anti-aircraft complex with a hypersonic guided missile or the creation of a similar missile defense system for introduction into the air defense system being developed. No shock systems have been mentioned yet. However, having mastered the necessary technologies and checking them in the framework of the air defense system project, German enterprises will be able to create offensive weapons.
The idea of defensive weapons based on hypersonic technology is of great interest to the military. Moreover, such ideas have already found application in practice and confirmed the ability to solve combat missions. Thus, Germany and MBDA cannot be considered fully pioneers, but in this case the result of the new project will be more than interesting.
The definition of hypersonic flight implies a speed of at least M = 5. Such performance characteristics give the ZUR obvious advantages. The missile is able to quickly intercept the target, flying at high speed, and in case of a miss, the air defense system will have time to re-launch. With the right approach to design, it is also possible to ensure high maneuverability of missiles, which further enhances its effectiveness.
Hypersonic flight speeds have already found practical application. Thus, as part of the Russian missile defense system, the anti-missile system PRS-1 / 53Т6, capable of accelerating to 5-5,5 km / s and maneuvering with longitudinal overload to 210, is used. The latest modifications of the American anti-missiles SM-3 show speeds up to 4-4,5 km / s with high maneuverability and accuracy of destruction. The creator of another weapon of such designation and with similar characteristics in the future may be Germany.
It is argued that the reason for launching the German hypersonic program were new Russian developments. Indeed, a certain part of the newest shock systems of the Russian army is an extremely difficult goal or completely invulnerable to modern foreign defense complexes. To counter, they need a fundamentally new weapon with high performance.
Based on the available data, you can make an approximate forecast for the further development of the German hypersonic program. First of all, MBDA and related organizations should complete a general study of hypersonic topics and search for the necessary technologies. After that, it will be possible to start developing full-fledged weapons projects.
The first should be some kind of defensive missile system. A new type of missile defense system can be introduced into the TLVS developed by the ATS, but it is also possible to create a completely new complex specifically for it. The finished anti-aircraft system will be designed for the Bundeswehr, but in the future it is possible to enter the international market. It is worth expecting that a successful project of the air defense system of this kind will attract the attention of potential buyers.
The military and political leadership of Germany has specific views on the development of the defense sector, which may hinder the further development of hypersonic systems. However, it cannot be excluded that, following a complex of defensive purposes, a shock system will appear, based on the technologies already developed.
Having serious experience in the missile sphere, MBDA and other German enterprises are fully capable of creating both a hypersonic cruise missile with a power plant and a complex with a planning warhead. However, so far the topic of such weapons has not been raised, which gives some reasons for optimism.
Germany's hypersonic program was launched last year, and further work will take several more years. So, trials are scheduled to begin in the next three years. Probably, we mean the verification of individual components, whereas the testing of the complex as a whole will begin later. It turns out that even with the favorable development of events, the new weapon will enter service with the Bundeswehr not earlier than the mid-twenties. After this, the combat capability of the German air defense and missile defense systems will noticeably increase.
Fundamentally new weapons in Germany can affect the shock potential of third countries. Therefore, the states that Berlin sees as a likely adversary should take into account the latest news and plan responses. First of all, it concerns Russia - it was her latest developments that became the formal reason for launching the German hypersonic program.
Since last year
Information about the German hypersonic project was first published a few days ago by the publication Welt. The presence of such works was told by the head of the MBDA sales department, Peter Heilmayer. A representative of the developer organization revealed some data about the new project, but did not disclose unnecessary details.
The hypersonic program was launched last year at the initiative of the Directorate of Arms and Technology Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw). The reason for the launch of this project is called "specific threats" in the form of the latest Russian developments. An analysis of new and promising Russian weapons has shown that the existing German systems can no longer fight them. This requires the creation of completely new designs.
At the moment, the program is in its very early stages, involving research and technology search. Germany is working independently and has not attracted any other countries to it. The first prototypes of the new program will appear and be tested in the next three years.
P. Heilmayer did not specify the nature of the new project and the basic requirements for future weapons. However, he pointed out that the promising development is exclusively defensive in nature and is aimed at protecting against threats from foreign weapons.
Possible unification
The representative of MBDA pointed to the defensive nature of the new development and clarified the possible scope of its application. Thus, a hypersonic rocket of a promising model can be used in the field of air defense. It is quite capable of becoming one of the ammunition for the promising Taktische Luftverteidigungssystem (TLVS) anti-aircraft missile system.
Currently, the MBDA concern together with Lockheed Martin are working on the technical design of the future TLVS air defense system. Already this month the completion of such works is expected, after which the Bundeswehr will be able to approve a technical proposal or make its own amendments. From the latest statements, it follows that a promising missile with a truly improved performance can indeed appear as part of a promising air defense system.
Weapons for defense
Information about the German hypersonic program is still extremely small, but the available data are of great interest. First of all, it follows from them that Germany does not plan to repeat the experience of other countries and create its own projects similar to others. On the contrary, modern technologies will be introduced in other areas.
Currently under hypersonic weapons usually understand systems of two classes. These are attack cruise missiles capable of developing high speeds, as well as hypersonic planning combat units, which are accelerated by a special rocket. The statements of the representative of MBDA suggest that a completely different system is being created for the BAAINBw order.
P. Heilmayer said that the new project is designed for defense, and its appearance is associated with the latest foreign developments. In addition, data on the possible introduction of hypersonic ammunition in the new air defense system. All this can be regarded as a very transparent hint at the essence and objectives of the new German project.
It seems that we are talking about the development of an anti-aircraft complex with a hypersonic guided missile or the creation of a similar missile defense system for introduction into the air defense system being developed. No shock systems have been mentioned yet. However, having mastered the necessary technologies and checking them in the framework of the air defense system project, German enterprises will be able to create offensive weapons.
Hypersonic ZRK
The idea of defensive weapons based on hypersonic technology is of great interest to the military. Moreover, such ideas have already found application in practice and confirmed the ability to solve combat missions. Thus, Germany and MBDA cannot be considered fully pioneers, but in this case the result of the new project will be more than interesting.
The definition of hypersonic flight implies a speed of at least M = 5. Such performance characteristics give the ZUR obvious advantages. The missile is able to quickly intercept the target, flying at high speed, and in case of a miss, the air defense system will have time to re-launch. With the right approach to design, it is also possible to ensure high maneuverability of missiles, which further enhances its effectiveness.
Hypersonic flight speeds have already found practical application. Thus, as part of the Russian missile defense system, the anti-missile system PRS-1 / 53Т6, capable of accelerating to 5-5,5 km / s and maneuvering with longitudinal overload to 210, is used. The latest modifications of the American anti-missiles SM-3 show speeds up to 4-4,5 km / s with high maneuverability and accuracy of destruction. The creator of another weapon of such designation and with similar characteristics in the future may be Germany.
It is argued that the reason for launching the German hypersonic program were new Russian developments. Indeed, a certain part of the newest shock systems of the Russian army is an extremely difficult goal or completely invulnerable to modern foreign defense complexes. To counter, they need a fundamentally new weapon with high performance.
Ways of development
Based on the available data, you can make an approximate forecast for the further development of the German hypersonic program. First of all, MBDA and related organizations should complete a general study of hypersonic topics and search for the necessary technologies. After that, it will be possible to start developing full-fledged weapons projects.
The first should be some kind of defensive missile system. A new type of missile defense system can be introduced into the TLVS developed by the ATS, but it is also possible to create a completely new complex specifically for it. The finished anti-aircraft system will be designed for the Bundeswehr, but in the future it is possible to enter the international market. It is worth expecting that a successful project of the air defense system of this kind will attract the attention of potential buyers.
The military and political leadership of Germany has specific views on the development of the defense sector, which may hinder the further development of hypersonic systems. However, it cannot be excluded that, following a complex of defensive purposes, a shock system will appear, based on the technologies already developed.
Having serious experience in the missile sphere, MBDA and other German enterprises are fully capable of creating both a hypersonic cruise missile with a power plant and a complex with a planning warhead. However, so far the topic of such weapons has not been raised, which gives some reasons for optimism.
Big plans
Germany's hypersonic program was launched last year, and further work will take several more years. So, trials are scheduled to begin in the next three years. Probably, we mean the verification of individual components, whereas the testing of the complex as a whole will begin later. It turns out that even with the favorable development of events, the new weapon will enter service with the Bundeswehr not earlier than the mid-twenties. After this, the combat capability of the German air defense and missile defense systems will noticeably increase.
Fundamentally new weapons in Germany can affect the shock potential of third countries. Therefore, the states that Berlin sees as a likely adversary should take into account the latest news and plan responses. First of all, it concerns Russia - it was her latest developments that became the formal reason for launching the German hypersonic program.
- Ryabov Kirill
- MBDA Systems / mbda-systems.com
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