China is working on a laser to increase the speed of hypersonic missiles
Defense Post author Joe Saballa writes that a group of laser experts at the Beijing Space Engineering University is currently developing a device that would increase the speed of hypersonic missiles and warplanes. We are talking about a "laser cannon" that will be installed on a hypersonic missile and will reduce air resistance by 70% or more.
China is going to use this device in the production weapons and aircraft. However, at this stage, its implementation may face a number of technical problems. Saballa cites the opinion of experts, according to which, with the help of a laser, the pressure distribution can be changed to reduce resistance, as well as the speed of an aircraft or rocket can be increased.
Chinese engineers appear to be developing a device that will create a droplet-shaped plasma cloud that affects wind currents. In any case, the Chinese authorities did not disclose details regarding the creation of new weapons. Beijing keeps all its experiments in the field of creating hypersonic weapons and enhancing their capabilities a closely guarded secret.
At the same time, scientists from the University of Space Engineering spoke about the presence of several problems with the device they are developing. The first problem has to do with the size of the laser cannon. It needs to be very small to fit on a rocket or in the front of an aircraft. The main challenge now is to reduce the weight and size of high-power lasers.
Secondly, the installation of a laser on an aircraft can increase its mass, which will negatively affect the aerodynamic characteristics. And, at the same time, experts are convinced: the benefits from the introduction and use of a new device will far outweigh the adverse effects that may arise from its operation. For example, the question of how this "laser gun" can affect other objects in the air has not been resolved.
In any case, now China is rapidly moving towards improving its own hypersonic weapons. The concerns of Western countries are understandable: in this direction, Beijing has managed to overtake the United States.
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