Hypersonic Weapons: Background and Issues for Congress

By Kelley M. Sayler

The United States has actively pursued the development of hypersonic weapons-maneuvering weapons that fly at speeds of at least Mach 5-as a part of its conventionalprompt global strike program since the early 2000s. In recent years, the United Stateshas focused such efforts on developing hypersonic glide vehicles, which are launchedfrom a rocket before gliding to a target, and hypersonic cruise missiles, which arepowered by high-speed, air-breathing engines during flight. As Vice Chairman of theJoint Chiefs of Staff and former Commander of U.S. Strategic Command General John Hyten has stated, theseweapons could enable "responsive, long-range, strike options against distant, defended, and/or time-criticalthreats such as road-mobile missiles] when other forces are unavailable, denied access, or not preferred." Critics, on the other hand, contend that hypersonic weapons lack defined mission requirements, contribute little to U.S.military capability, and are unnecessary for deterrence

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B08HGLNMVS
• ISBN13: 9798683565442
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 30 Pages
• Weight: 0.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.5" x 11.0"