The United States launched a constellation of satellites against the threat of hypersonic missiles

The two main categories of these new weapons are hypersonic glide systems and powered cruise missiles. Propelled cruise missiles are multi-stage rocket-propelled vehicles that accelerate to a point where a ramjet-powered sustainer stage can take over and complete the mission. Hypersonic boost-glide systems work by accelerating a glide vehicle to hypersonic speeds in several stages, typically using a solid rocket, and then gliding the vehicle unpowered to complete its mission.

Hypersonic weapons

Hypersonic strike weapons are being developed for applications ranging from short range to intercontinental. Russia has deployed an intercontinental range system called Avangard as well as the Kinzhal, an air-launched ballistic missile. Russia is also developing the Zircon, a ship-launched hypersonic system capable of attacking land and naval targets.

For its part, China has publicly demonstrated its DF-17 medium-range hypersonic boost-glide system, and there is plenty of information about key testing of its new DF-ZF.

The United States is also developing medium and intermediate range hypersonic strike weapons. These include the Conventional Fast Strike Weapon (CPS), Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), AGM-183 Air Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) and Tactical Boost Weapon (TBG).

At the forefront of hypersonic weapons, offensive weapons will probably never stop evolving as a critical component of the great power rivalry, providing long-range rapid strike capabilities.

Technological advances in the areas of propulsion, materials, sensors, warheads, aerodynamics and component miniaturization will enable the production of effective weapons at low cost and in small sizes, resulting in significantly larger arsenals.

At the same time, significant hypersonic defense capabilities are expected to develop concurrently with the introduction of offensive strike weapons, and the United States is expected to exploit the early advantages of its global ICBM defense systems.

The first integrated defense systems are expected to appear, providing effective mid-course and terminal protection against hypersonic attacks. Affordable approaches lead to smaller, more efficient interceptors and fully integrated non-motion capabilities in the future.

Search and tracking

The sensor architecture used today in missile defense focuses on powerful surface radars. But in today’s increasingly complex air and missile threat environments, ground systems have inherent limitations.

Ground-based radars have a limited ability to detect and track low-flying threats such as cruise missiles, which remain hidden until close due to the curvature of the Earth. They are rare compared to their size and price.

Radar installations are also potential targets due to their fixed position and power generation. In particular, cruise missile defense, hypersonic defense, and combat unmanned aerial systems (UAS) rely on expanding the deterrence horizon.

Cruise missiles, unlike ballistic missiles, fly on unpredictable flight paths and at low altitudes, often out of range of ground sensors. Instead, airborne sensors can provide continuous coverage and are not limited by the mechanics of spacecraft orbit, but they have smaller detection footprints and must be located somewhere.

Space-based sensors extend the field of interaction by providing sensor coverage beyond the line of sight of ground-based radars and by looking outward or downward over topographic features that may obscure cruise missiles or small unmanned units from view.

Early detection, in turn, allows time for dispersal, concealment, or other forms of passive defense, as well as increasing the time for active defense intervention.

Satellites in low (LEO), medium (MEO), geostationary (GEO) and highly elliptical (HEO) orbits are examples of conventional multi-orbit designs. LEO constellations benefit from proliferation and economies of scale, but suffer from orbital persistence and longevity issues.

MEO constellations offer greater coverage and persistence, although they may require more expensive satellites with larger viewing system apertures. GEO and HEO orbits require fewer satellites to cover a certain pole or longitude, but are more expensive. Space sensor constellations have the ability to track missiles from launch to final destination.

This “birth-to-death” monitoring capability allows space sensors to track a constantly moving threat, making them particularly important for countering and maneuvering hypersonic ballistic missiles. This also reduces the need for many ground sensors, which ensure a consistent target trajectory.

American Constellation

The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Space Development Agency (SDA) recently announced space programs for the detection and interception of hypersonic vehicles in LEO.

The six satellites are part of the Joint Homeland Security Mission (USSF-124) between MDA and SDA which aims to track hypersonic weapons. Four of these satellites are missile tracking sensors manufactured by L3Harris for the SDA tracking layer constellation.

MDA’s Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) program includes two other satellites, one manufactured by L3Harris and the other by Northrop Grumman.

The goal of the Tracking Layer constellation is to create a global network of sensors that will act as a deterrent against ballistic and hypersonic missiles from China and Russia.

HBTSS has sensors intended to track threats with high fidelity and transmit the information to interceptor missiles that will attempt to shoot them down, while SDA satellites are used to detect hypersonic threats.

To intercept a hypersonic missile, the HBTSS must integrate fire control data with sufficient precision to guide the interceptor to shoot the incoming missile. While infrared and electro-optical detection technologies have been established, tracking hypersonic missiles is significantly more challenging than conventional ballistic missile warning.

Distinguishing the hypersonic heat signature from the Earth’s background has been likened to observing a slightly brighter signature in the ocean of signatures, requiring significant testing and modeling to confirm.

The constellation, USSF-124, will be launched in 2024 by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base, Florida.

(With information from the Agency and The Eurasian Times)