Hypercone projectile advances hypersonic research
Example of a USN railgun. (Photo: ONR/John Williams)
A hypersonic projectile reached a distance of 109nmi in recent test firings in the US, as research continues for defensive and offensive applications.
The US is continuing efforts to close its perceived gap with Russia on hypersonic missile technologies, with two recent firings of the Hypercone projectile.
‘Hypersonics are a hot topic, no pun intended. It is the speed at which battle will be fought,’ Adam Jones, head of the advanced hypersonic weapons and guided munitions division at the Naval Surface Weapons Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), said on 6 April during a briefing at the 2022 Navy League meeting in Washington DC.
The USN FY2023 budget proposal, released in March 2022, includes $1.4 billion in developing and deploying hypersonic weapons via programmes such
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Defence Notes
-
![Spain unveils new multi-billion euro defence investment plan]()
Spain unveils new multi-billion euro defence investment plan
The new plan outlined how Spain would reach 2% of its GDP spend on defence by 2025, with €1.9 billion earmarked for new equipment acquisition with several land, naval and air platforms disclosed to be replaced or upgraded.
-
![New Zealand boosts defence spend to US$6.6 billion and vows increased closeness with Australia]()
New Zealand boosts defence spend to US$6.6 billion and vows increased closeness with Australia
This budget will be spent over the next four years and nearly doubles the country’s defence spending as part of GDP to 2%.
-
![UK Chancellor commits £2 billion to make the country a “defence industrial superpower”]()
UK Chancellor commits £2 billion to make the country a “defence industrial superpower”
Rachel Reeves announced port upgrades, protected budgets for innovation and investment in novel technologies.
-
![Avalon 2025: Australian defence budget meets the low expectations of show attendees]()
Avalon 2025: Australian defence budget meets the low expectations of show attendees
The Australian Budget was marked by tax cuts and a looming general election which led to little hope that there would be a substantial defence boost even with a big bill for nuclear submarines due.
-
![Launch of Gilat Defense targets DoD market]()
Launch of Gilat Defense targets DoD market
The communications company Gilat launched its new Gilat Defense division at the Satellite 2025 expo, with future solutions aimed at US military customers.
