Hypersonic Defense

Abstract

Potential adversaries are developing hypersonic missile capabilities that can travel at exceptional speeds with unpredictable flight paths that challenge existing defensive systems. These are challenging realities of the emerging missile threat environment that U.S. missile defense policy, strategy, and capabilities must address. These adversaries continue to expand the capability and capacity of their offensive hypersonic missile inventories, and both strategic and regional hypersonic missile capabilities. Research on hypersonic weapon technology and development of hypersonic weapons is proliferating to other countries. In accordance with Public Law 114-328, the Director of the Missile Defense Agency shall serve as the executive agent for the Department of Defense for the development of a capability by the United States to counter hypersonic boost-glide vehicle capabilities and conventional prompt strike capabilities that may be employed against the United States, the allies of the United States, and the deployed forces of the United States. In carrying out as the executive agent, the Director shall develop architectures for a hypersonic defense capability, from detecting threats to intercepting such threats, that involves systems of the military departments and the Defense Agencies; and includes both kinetic and non-kinetic options for such interception; and establish a program of record to develop a hypersonic defense capability. MDA's Hypersonic Missile Defense (HMD) strategy includes leveraging existing systems, delivering an initial layered defense capability, and increasing defense capabilities in the future. Activities enabling this strategy are the following: - Missile Defense System (MDS) architecture changes needed to address hypersonic threats include: persistent tracking of an unpredictable threat, improved communications, fire control strategy changes, and inclusion of new kinetic interceptor(s) with very high agility in a harsh aerothermal environment and/or non-kinetic solutions needed to negate hypersonic threats - Maturing critical technologies and mitigating key technical risks including testing in relevant environments prior to selecting a final concept - Partnering with the Services and other agencies to leverage work on common technologies, test infrastructure, weapon development, testing, and war-gaming - Partnering with Allies where possible - Demonstrating hypersonic defense capability and performance through system testing This Hypersonic Defense (HD) Program Element (PE) includes executing the systems engineering activities, upgrading existing systems, investing in new technologies, developing new defensive capabilities and collecting hypersonic vehicle data in partner flight tests. This PE supports Pacific Deterrence Initiatives (PDI) by pursuing a glide phase interceptor capability to counter the peer threat in a regional denied environment. Funding provides limited hypersonic missile defense content: - Execute Systems Engineering for HD (architecture analysis, technology prioritization, requirements development, planning, analysis and capability development) - Modify existing MDS Sensors and Command, Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) for track and warning of hypersonic threats - Develop Hypersonic Defense Weapon Systems and mature technology to enable a broad set of solutions including kinetic and non-kinetic means - Develop advanced sensor and Command and Control (C2) technology to include ground, airborne, and space based technologies to inform the HD development strategy

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2022
Source ID
0604181C_4_0400_PB_2022
Change Summary Explanation
FY 2020 does not include the enacted rescission of $25.1 million for MDA hypersonic defense partner tests and $12.5 million for delays in the Glide Phase Defeat Weapon System. FY 2021 Defense Appropriation included Congressional Plus Up (CPU) for Glide Phase Defeat Weapon System, Disruptive Technology for Future Architecture and Engineering Enablers. Increase in FY 2022 provides acceleration of Aegis Glide Phase Intercept (GPI) capability and other hypersonic missile defense capabilities.
Service Agency Name
Missile Defense Agency

Entities

Organizations

  • Missile Defense Agency

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Battle Management
  • Boost Glide Vehicles
  • Command And Control
  • Defense Systems
  • Disruptive Technology
  • Focal Plane Arrays
  • Focal Planes
  • Hypersonic Glide Vehicles
  • Hypersonic Missiles
  • Hypersonic Vehicles
  • Hypersonic Weapons
  • Product Development
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Weapon Control
  • Weapon Systems

Readers

  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
  • Missile Defense Systems.

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
  • Hypersonics
  • Space

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