The Pentagon has once again stated the US lag in the development of a hypersonic weapon. This was reported by the head of research and engineering programs of US Department of Defense Mark Lewis and his deputy for hypersonic systems Michael White.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Pentagon, Lewis and White announced, Russia and China significantly ahead of the US in the development of a hypersonic weapon, although earlier it was the United States were the leaders of these developments. The US is currently focused on developing hypersonic cruise missile airborne (ARRW Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon – ca.. IN). At the same time, Russia and China are developing tools, designed to deprive the United States of advantages not only on the ground, air and sea, but also in space.
Previously, we have been leaders in hypersonic technology, but we decided not to move to their use in weapons systems. Russian and Chinese took this decision a few years ago. We can not accept the existence of such a situation
– said White.
According to Lewis, Russian started working on hypersonic weapon at the same time with the Americans, but the experience and the development of the Cold War, and China, Included in the work later, I invested in the development of huge amounts.
The Pentagon stressed, that the main focus will be on the development of hypersonic cruise missile airborne, since such rocket suitable for placement in various media.
earlier it was reported, that the American company Lockheed Martin has successfully defended the project promising hypersonic missiles aeroballistic ARRW (Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon), the development of which is conducted by the US Air Force to order 2018 of the year. Recall, that in early February, the US Air Force shut down one of the programs of development of a hypersonic weapon. As stated by the official representative of the Air Force Ann Stefanek, a reduction in the development of the program got “Hypersonic conventional strike weapons” (Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon – HCSW). work on it also led Lockheed Martin.
