The Pentagon is thinking about a hypersonic nuclear missile as a response to the Russian Avangard
The United States is seriously concerned about the creation of a hypersonic missile that could carry a nuclear warhead and would have a flight range equivalent to that of a traditional intercontinental ballistic missile.
U.S. Air Force begins research into hypersonic nuclear missile capabilities
Currently, the study of the prospects for the development of such a hypersonic launch vehicle has begun by specialists from the US Air Force. It is interesting that up to the present time, all official programs for the development of hypersonic weapons assumed conventional warheads for hypersonic missiles. So the interest of the US military in a hypersonic nuclear missile indicates a fundamental change in the existing approach to hypersonic weapons.
On August 12, 2020, the US Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center included information posted on the Internet in its request. The request spoke about 7 possible ways to modernize an intercontinental ballistic missile. First of all, it was about ground strategic deterrence, since Minuteman III was not designed with this task in mind.
Among the areas of interest to the US military is the thermal protection system. According to Lieutenant General Richard Clarke, US Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, the ability to use new technologies will help counter any threats that the United States may face in the future. The appearance of a request in the public domain, as the general emphasized, indicates that the country has a real opportunity to introduce these technologies.
Answering a question from Aviation Week editor Steve Trimble, Lieutenant General Clarke noted that a hypersonic nuclear-armed missile does not meet the requirements of the existing program, but this only suggests that the paragraphs of this official document may be corrected.
Why is the US interested in hypersonic nuclear weapons
High-ranking officials of the US Department of Defense at the same time told the American press about the existing policy of restrictions on the development of hypersonic weapons. That while Washington is limiting the development of hypersonic missiles to the non-nuclear sphere, but this, nevertheless, cannot be an obstacle to research into the possibilities of nuclear hypersonic weapons.
Arms Control Association's director of disarmament policy, Kingston Rafe, found in a review prepared by President Donald Trump's administration, passages that may indicate the country's leadership interest in the development of hypersonic nuclear weapons. Here is one of these passages:
The Department of Defense will consider prioritizing existing research and development funding for advanced nuclear delivery technologies and prototyping capabilities. This will focus on the rapid development of nuclear delivery systems, alternative basing methods and capabilities to engage advanced air and missile defense systems.
The interest of the American side in hypersonic weapons is not surprising. Now the United States, like Russia, and China, and a number of other countries, are concerned with the development of the maximum flight speed of the missile and its capabilities to penetrate the enemy's anti-missile defenses.
The use of hypersonic weapons significantly complicates the enemy's ability to build high-quality protection or move their objects before the missile hits the final target.
Columnist Joseph Trevithick emphasizes that American interest in hypersonic nuclear weapons could be provoked by the development of similar weapons from potential opponents of the United States. As an example, Trevithick cites Russia, which has already adopted a number of Avangard missiles. China, according to the analyst, is also working on similar weapons. The hypersonic nuclear missile being developed in the United States is viewed precisely as a possible "response" to Avangard.
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