Posted on 03/15/2016 6:05:14 PM PDT by Mariner
Lockheed Martin revealed on Tuesday it is on the brink of a technological breakthrough that could lead to the US developing military aircraft that can fly six times the speed of sound.
Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed’s chief executive, outlined the proposed hypersonic aircraft as she also disclosed the company was working on a laser weapon that could be used on the battlefield.
At the company’s annual media day, Ms Hewson expressed optimism about future US military budgets following years of cutbacks.
She said that lawmakers seemed set to pass an increase in the budget for 2016-17.
However, her most eye-catching remarks were about innovation. She said a series of technological advances were on the verge of making possible weapons systems that had been mooted for years but never come to fruition.
A hypersonic aircraft would give US military planners a significant advantage in reaching targets before opponents had time to react.
(Excerpt) Read more at ft.com ...
But boy oh boy would my arms be tired.
I worked on enabling technologies (3 of the 6) for Hypersonic flight way back in the early 90’s. Quite frankly I’m pissed that we’re not there already. I did come to the conclusion such a craft would have to be straight line flight only. Imagine the G-force one would encounter in any sort of a turn at Mach 6.
Well great. The F35 sucks.
Once again, America trumpets what would normally be expected to be kept top secret, and thus motivates its enemies to step up their own work on hypersonic weapons, which is what I think this pertains to.
I don’t know, lots of companies are “on the brink of” many significant developments. But until it actually works, color me skeptical. Sounds like a little self promotion.
In one test, a missile built by Boeing flew more than 230 miles in just four minutes. In another, a prototype designed by Lockheed Martin blasted off like a rocket and streaked back through the atmosphere at more than 20 times the speed of sound. China has reportedly tested its version over a lake in Inner Mongolia. And in February, Russia joined the fray when it tested a model that intelligence experts assert could be designed to carry a nuclear warhead.
Such hypersonic weapons, intended to attack targets many times faster than the speed of sound — before a defender could even react — have become the newest hope for military commanders seeking to gain an edge over potential adversaries. While most details and the level of funding remain classified, some predict they could be perfected within the next five years. http://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/russia-china-arms-race-goes-hypersonic-weapons-future-121230
What is needed is the development of a nuclear engine powerful enough to place a spacecraft (plural) powerful enough to knock down any missile launch. SAC in space. /Fantasy.
“Considering the shock wave that must precede something traveling that fast, I would doubt that a bird would ever collide with such a craft or missile.”
Can you say shredded tweet?
Yeah, cramming 4 to 6 hours of drinking into a half hour will do that to ya.
Very few will be manned.
The big problem now is not with the technologies, but material sciences.
Heat being the biggest antagonist.
Avoiding disintegration is the obstacle.
A bird strike at that speed would release energy like an explosive, so save the mach 6 for +100,000. In more dense atmosphere, the airframe will melt or cook the interior.
Hafnium carbide is your friend.
Birds can be carried in strong updrafts/thermals to Flight Level 500. Sailplane pilots have seen them on many occasions.
At that speed it would be in the upper atmosphere far above any bird. Drag and heat would destroy the craft at a lower level in the atmosphere
At that speed it would be in the upper atmosphere far above any bird. Drag and heat would destroy the craft at a lower level in the atmosphere
Waiting for it to “crash land” in Iran in 5...4...3...
Satellite orbits are predictable, so you know when to hide stuff.
46305-Nuclear Weapons Specialist
Mk 12 Re-entry Systems-MMIII
Will elicit a NUCLEAR RESPONSE!!!!
“The big problem now is not with the technologies, but material sciences. Heat being the biggest antagonist.
Avoiding disintegration is the obstacle.”
I was a designer on enabling technologies (mach 25) for the NASP. That was my very first hypersonic project. What a great little team we were. We were successful. Withstanding 3000 degrees f and the shock of hypersonic flight for hours on end was accomplished. That’s why I say we should already be there.
Even the Aussies were pretty far advanced in Hypersonics back in the day. I’ve been following some of the stuff you’re talking about. Surprisingly none of the stuff in the 90’s dealing with Hypersonics was classified. I read many open source white papers. Those white papers helped me greatly in my efforts on some of the later technologies I worked on. I’m sure it helped the Chinese get to where they are today too.
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