How far is the world from hypersonic control?
The United States has conducted extensive research on hypersonic weapons and technology for future warfare and international strategic balance, and was also the first country to call for international control of hypersonic missiles. In 2017, the RAND Corporation released the "Hypersonic Missile Nonproliferation" report, which first raised this issue. The report believes that the United States, Russia, and China are the leaders in the development of hypersonic missiles, far ahead of other countries. Hypersonic weapons, with their efficient kill chain and strong breakthrough capabilities, pose a serious threat to important nodes (even "beheading" leaders or senior commanders), which may lead opponents to implement countermeasures that disrupt social stability. It is necessary to prevent the spread of hypersonic weapon technology to countries outside the three countries. In addition to negotiations and building mutual trust among multiple countries, the most effective measure is international arms control treaties.
Subsequently, reports released by the Air Force Strategic Deterrence Research Center in 2019 and the Strategic Research Quarterly in 2020 explored possible measures for international control of hypersonic vehicles. In 2019, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Institute for Disarmament Research jointly released a report on the necessity of international control of hypersonic vehicles.
In recent years, the United States has actively carried out international cooperation in hypersonic weapon technology, which is completely opposite to its advocated views. It is currently the country with the most frequent introduction of advanced hypersonic technology and technology cooperation output. The relevant actions are summarized as follows.
Since 2006, Australia, the United States, and Australia have collaborated on the "HiFiRE" series of hypersonic international flight research experiments, conducting extensive research on hypersonic basic technologies. Through multiple ground and flight validations, they have accumulated a wealth of hypersonic technology validation data, including gliding and air breathing. Based on this, the two countries jointly announced the "Southern Cross Comprehensive Flight Test" (SCIFIRE) project in 2020, developing and demonstrating a prototype of an air launched, air breathing hypersonic weapon mounted on a fighter jet, and advancing the further maturity of hypersonic cruise missile technology.
The United Kingdom and the United States actively introduced the advanced engine technology of the British "Sabre", and the Air Force Research Laboratory invested in and built a test site for the project. In 2019, the pre cooling core components of the engine completed full-scale prototype assessment tests in California, USA. Based on this pre cooling technology, the United States proposed the concept of a hypersonic aircraft using advanced high-speed power. In addition, the United States is also collaborating with the United Kingdom on the "Tactical High Speed, Responsive, and Efficient Round" (THresher) project, which aims to "mature technology in the context of integrated weapon system concepts", including the development of an air launched hypersonic glider concept and the use of existing technology to develop an affordable offensive tactical weapon system.
Norway - The US Department of Defense and the Norwegian Department of Defense announced in 2020 the joint launch of the "Tactical High Speed Offensive Extended Range Ramjet Engine" (THOR-ER) project, aimed at promoting key technology development through cooperation, developing affordable, larger work envelope full-size scramjet engine prototypes, and conducting flight demonstrations in simulated combat environments for verification.
The analysis of the intention behind the division of words and actions by the United States needs to be based on the background of great power competition strategy and combined with the time dimension. With the breakthrough and deployment of hypersonic weapon technology in countries such as the United States and Russia, the international hypersonic weapon boom will be pushed to a new height. At this time, the conclusion of the bilateral agreement between the United States and Russia is likely to usher in a new stage of international control of hypersonic weapons. How to adapt to the situation and seek favorable situations and opportunities will be a new challenge faced by major countries, which should be given sufficient attention.
Source: Haiying Information