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First use of Hypersonic missile in battle

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Kinzhal is about mach 10 which is hard to intercept. At least a mach 7 projectile would be necessary. An abm system is required to counter this.

Tsirkon is slower about mach 6-8. A mach 4-5 projectile can be enough.

The missiles do not maneuver much and fly high that can be detected by radars. Rail guns are an option. At least the slower hypersonic cruise missiles like mach 5-6 range can be intercepted with smaller mobile rail guns generating mach 4-5 speed projectiles. Even if mach 3 speed railgun is achieved it can be somewhat effective against mach 5 range which is generally the actual non-advertised flight profile of hypersonic cruise missiles.

 
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Kinzhal is about mach 10 which is hard to intercept. At least a mach 7 projectile would be necessary. An abm system is required to counter this.

Tsirkon is slower about mach 6-8. A mach 4-5 projectile can be enough.

The missiles do not maneuver much and fly high that can be detected by radars. Rail guns are an option. At least the slower hypersonic cruise missiles like mach 5-6 range can be intercepted with smaller mobile rail guns generating mach 4-5 speed projectiles. Even if mach 3 speed railgun is achieved it can be somewhat effective against mach 5 range which is generally the actual non-advertised flight profile of hypersonic cruise missiles.

Rail guns have yet to prove their efficacy effectively. Its not a proven technology
 
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Rail guns have yet to prove their efficacy effectively. Its not a proven technology
Yes other option is a high mach sam system especially in midcourse phase where cruise missile can change its trajectory. Currently all systems are experimental against hypersonic cruise missiles. Rail guns can be experimented and developed less costly(not the mach 7 Usa variant but smaller ones mach 3-4 types) but their effectiveness depends on how less maneuvrable the target is. Even if it is slightly maneuvrable it would miss like an anti aircraft artillery. At terminal phase however if the mach 5+ cruise missile moves it cant easily correct itself to hit the target with precision that is where rail guns can be used in my opinion.
 
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Yes other option is a high mach sam system especially in midcourse phase where cruise missile can change its trajectory. Currently all systems are experimental against hypersonic cruise missiles. Rail guns can be experimented and developed less costly(not the mach 7 Usa variant but smaller ones mach 3-4 types) but their effectiveness depends on how less maneuvrable the target is. Even if it is slightly maneuvrable it would miss like an anti aircraft artillery. At terminal phase however if the mach 5+ cruise missile moves it cant easily correct itself to hit the target with precision that is where rail guns can be used in my opinion.
In my opinion LASERs are more useful against hyper velocity threats
 
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In my opinion LASERs are more useful against hyper velocity threats
it depends on the energy and how long to focus for burning down the target considering the missile and incoming multiple targets at the same time. It needs recooling time to be fired again.

300kw would be able to take down the missiles but if the vehicle is hit. It would be costly to replace the optics and intense energy generators.

Disadvantage of a mach 4 railgun would be it would require a direct hit and precise calculation in very small time. If there is any way to put a timed fuse and a small explosive in the bullet that can stand against sudden high g launch then direct hit wont be necessary. A longer barrel and slower acceleration to mach 4 maybe can make the fuse stay intact after launch.

Another option is rail gun bursting charge muzzle. After exit it disperses the bullets like a shot gun. No electronics is necessary in the muzzle in that case.

There seems to be some fuse action dispenser in this one below at about 0:52 mark
 
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Another option is instead of penetrating the missile a laser/em radiation emission can create an area of ionised air just in front of the incoming missile. It will change its speed and induce a speed error in missiles calculated high mach hit trajectory which it can't fix in small time and miss the target. Unless the payload is large which is difficult for hypersonics-aerodynamic drag issues or a tactical nuke making it miss the target would be enough in my opinion.

Laser is also mechanically steered. Several Aesa rf emitters can focus beams on a point(s) in air ionising the air at that location where the beams intersect. That can create bumps in air to deflect the hypersonics.
 
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Railgun is more useful in the space where there is no atmosphere, you know, rods from "god", maybe it already exists in the Boeing X37B.

And all the work in a terrestrial useless railgun is only to have the knowledge enough to build the secret space railgun.
 
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