The United States of a new global strike weapons: high-supersonic cruise missiles (Chart)
The use of a certain kind of weapons does not exceed one hour of time to ensure that anywhere in the world of the targets, this is a bold plan to the Pentagon. However, people still can not help but have doubts about this weapon: it will not become a deal with erratic, fleeting targets of uncertainty crucial weapon? And more importantly, its appearance and use will lead to a nuclear war will not be a fuse?
Research programs within the intelligence derived from the stimulus
U.S. military intelligence under the house such a scenario: Imagine North Korea conducted a nuclear launch, or a group of biological weapons were being transported to a Hezbollah stronghold. The news spread through the United States intelligence network Command, U.S. Strategic Command - the Pentagon, and ultimately spread to the White House. Followed in the Pacific Ocean, an "Ohio" class nuclear-powered submarine surfaced, all the combat readiness in the well after the president's firing order was pending. Ordered the attacks came, the submarine fired a 65 tons heavy, "Trident" (Trident) II ballistic missile. Two minutes later, the speed of the missile has reached over 20,000 ft per second. After a period of sea flight, the missile began to climb, and through the atmosphere into space, flying thousands of miles in space. When it fly to the top of its flight parabola, that is the most away from the site, the "Trident" ballistic missile warheads in four separate towards the earth from space began to fly down the rapid speed of 13,000 miles per hour. These warheads filled with tungsten rod, the metal strength is twice that of steel. To reach a goal when the warhead above the explosion, in its attack on the coverage area of projectile out of tungsten rods of thousands of roots, each root tungsten rod is equivalent to 50-caliber bullets, lethal lethal to 12 times. This overwhelming high-speed blowing of the "metal storm" covers an area of 3,000 square feet, is within the scope of anything that would hurt or destroyed.
This is the idea of the Pentagon strategists, if this vision become a reality, then what on earth will have no place to avoid such attacks. The program idea came from a more ambitious project for 90 years starting from the 20th century, now in the United States military has been generally recognized, is experiencing rapid development, which is "global agile combat" program . The plan to a modified "Trident" cruise missile based on effect, its ultimate goal is to successfully develop a new generation of aircraft and weapons to reach speed of Mach 5 and above, so that the current U.S. arsenal of any weapons can hold a candle to. X-51 hypersonic cruise missile is one of these new weapons, and its design speed of more than 5 Mach, about 3600 miles per hour. United States Strategic Command's deputy commander Robert Keller said the project aims is "to ensure that within 60 minutes against the Earth's surface in any one place." But this plan is also facing a serious problem, and that is such a the deployment of combat forces will trigger a third world war. The metal tungsten as the anti-media's "Trident" missile, whether it is a static appearance from its point of view, or the dynamics of flight from its point of view, with the U.S. nuclear arsenal is very similar to the deadly nuclear weapons, it is difficult to distinguish.
US-developed X-51 "surfers" hypersonic cruise missile to imagine Map
Quickstrike
Convinced that the U.S. military in the coming years, they need to be such a quick way to deal with a variety of threats, including terrorists, nuclear or biological, chemical weapons, smuggling, these threats are often in a very short period of time appeared then quickly disappeared inside, leaving the U.S. military to respond effectively to time may be only a few hours or even minutes. Keller's office will be responsible for Department of Defense's global strike missions, he said, "We know how to accurately attack from a distance. The difference compared to the present and the past is that the sense of time changed, enforcement actions on time requirements even higher. "
Was selected to pay for the "global agile combat" mission, a target for rapid lethal weapons hit the "Trident" II missile and the X-51 cruise missiles, "Trident" II missile launched from submarines, while the X - 51 cruise missiles are carried by the B-52 bombers and fired by rocket-propelled acceleration to supersonic scramjet and then it accelerated to hypersonic.
Each one strategist remember August 20, 1998, the day U.S. troops deployed in the Arabian Sea on the " Abraham Lincoln" battle group to the eastern region of Afghanistan launched an al-Qaida training camp in a "Tomahawk" cruise missiles. "Tomahawk" cruise speed of 550 miles an hour flying 1100 miles, two hours after the launch arrived at the destination, but the target missile has come for an hour before departure.
U.S. forces already have to destroy anything within a few minutes of weapons - nuclear missiles. Of this terrible weapon was originally used to contain the United States during the Cold War the strategic opponent, the former Soviet Union. After the Cold War, U.S. strategists worried about the nuclear threat we have is no longer a reliable means necessary - time to focus on security interests, and our nerves once too tightly a Bund. We have a need for a terrorist attack in retaliation for the (use of nuclear weapons) to destroy Tehran do? The answer is no.
It was absurd that, with our opponents have become more and more weak weapons in our arsenal has become more and more do not have the threatening. Military theorists call "self-deterrence." "In today's environment, we have a variety of options, you can decide whether to use nuclear weapons in war," Terry J Benedict captain said. He is responsible for the regular navy, "Trident" project management, office location a few miles from the Pentagon. "This country's leaders need to be a compromise means to implement the action he needs, rather than take a very direct means."
In 2001, the Department of Defense planners have begun to study a plan intended to ensure fast against the enemy, and be able to avoid large-scale slaughter. This plan contains many kinds of programs, such as unmanned bombers, ultra high-speed cruise missiles, space reentry hypersonic glider kinetic energy and so on, initially expected to take a decade or longer to complete. However, from 1993, the Navy had been a pilot to carry conventional munitions, "Trident" II-type cruise missiles, and has so far cost hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars. According to strategists estimate that the first responsible for "global agile attack" submarines scheduled tasks will be completed within two years of preparatory work and begun to put into use.
Russia Hai-class submarines in Russia can carry 24 Trident II missiles
Although the cost of a conventional missile only about 60 million U.S. dollars, but it was asked to have won a lot of the accuracy of nuclear missiles. Release of a number of missile warheads through GPS navigation in space flight, after re-entry warhead on a missile body using the tail adjust the direction in order to ensure hitting the target. "Trident" II missile flight distance of up to 6000 sea miles, so carrying such a cruise missile submarines capable of any one continent on the enemy targets at risk. Responsible for "Trident" missile upgrade work, Benedict said, "Now, we have been able to hot spots of a period of dangerous areas to combat all of the targets."
Emphasis on the relevance of nuclear weapons, two
The program has just introduced, immediately met with the critics in Congress and outside analysts attacks. Their reason is that, technically speaking, improved the "Trident" missile has been fully able to meet the needs of the global fight against these critics were satisfied. Moreover, for these new weapons will be how to deploy, who will become the planned targets, the Pentagon is more a lack of clear explanation. There is no doubt that such a vague lead to more questions.
First of all, and there are an intelligence issue. If a president is determined to launch the first time in human history, intercontinental ballistic missile attack, he will need accurate information and solid evidence to support his action. Obtain high-quality information to make such a request in this regard our ability to at best only be considered "unsatisfactory" level. March 19, 2003, the United States from three different locations to Baghdad fired 40 cruise missiles, but later confirmed that U.S. troops want to fight against the Iraqi leadership who do not in those locations. The missile attack left at least a dozen people were killed, even though the military did not clarify that they are civilians or the Iraqi leadership targets. Although the United States, allied forces took control of the area, but the task ultimately ended in failure. "Global Agile blow" one of the core program is such an unclear mandate to be: The U.S. military targets from long distances to their, or their opponent's air defenses extremely powerful, so that they can not penetrate each other in the anti-aircraft fire net. Analysis of nuclear energy and nuclear weapons expert at Harvard University Jeffrey Lewis said, "For example, we have timely access to a report on the current areas of concern, time-sensitive information, but there is no U.S. troops to send them around to use. If then we have a submarine is in a suitable area to launch the fight against it no longer the case. I think it is still possible, although very small possibility. "
For the military, a more difficult to explain the problem is that conventional "Trident" missile launchers How can we avoid a bigger crisis, a more than the reality of it is ready to solve the crisis but also large potential crisis. The Navy's plan called for "Ohio"-class submarines to carry conventional warheads, and two load carrying 22 nuclear warheads, "Trident" II missiles. (Navy intends to their "Ohio" class submarines increased from 18 down to 14, maintaining a 12 submarines at sea at any time performance of duties.) On the outside observers alike, the conventional warheads on submarines, missiles and nuclear warheads and missiles, there is no What is different, because they are in outward appearance, size, launch speed and launch sites, etc. are all identical.
By convention the United States are generally fired missiles from the North Pole, but the most likely to become the U.S. "global agile combat" target North Korea and Iran, are located in the south of China and Russia, which will enable China and Russia, the United States missile attack must be passed through land. "These missiles toward targets in the landing period of time, they are likely to be mistaken for is a step in these countries (China and Russia) aims to come." Congress, in a survey say so. That will change the entire world. Therefore, Russian President Vladimir Putin in his 2006 State of the Union said, "This missile launch could trigger an inappropriate response to a nuclear power, causing a large-scale counterattack using strategic nuclear forces action."
On the Senate Armed Services Committee, proposed a "global agile combat" and "nuclear weapons-related nature of two re-issues", the U.S. Navy and Strategic Command has raised a number of amendments to carry out further explanation. Military leaders argued that the submarines can be deployed in different places all over the world, so in comparison with nuclear weapons, submarine-launched conventional missile with greater flexibility (and in order to achieve the quick attack submarines can carry out mobile, leaving the current location of the deployment of ).
This year's military budget is prepared to improve the conventional "Trident" missile allocated 127 million U.S. dollars, for which the House of Representatives and the Senate have asked the Pentagon to come up with a more established program.
U.S. military's "Tennessee" and the USS "Ohio"-class submarines carrying a total of 24 "Trident" II-type ballistic missile weight 65 tons, about 44 feet, 7 feet wide.
X-51 launched by submarines or B52, two minutes speed of 20,000 feet per second
"Surfers" weapons
Department of Defense officials have than the "Trident" missile program even more radical design, which is developed an unusual high-tech equipment, have the same level of weapons can not match speed, can eliminate the fast-moving enemies . If these weapons successfully developed and put into use, they will allow the Pentagon to launch a lightning-fast combat, but do not need to risk a "trigger nuclear war the world storm" risk.
Pentagon, Air Force Chief Scientist Mark Lewis J Office of the tea table, stood a machine model, a 14-foot-long X-51 missile model, this missile is known as "surfers" (WaveRider). It is clear the front edges and corners, central parts of flaps, there is an inlet abdomen, the entire shape between the shuttle and the future of the cruise missiles were between the shape of the cross was. X-51 missile was designed to speed than the "Tomahawk" cruise missiles, nearly seven times faster, from the Arabian Sea in eastern Afghanistan fired flew only about 20 minutes. It is relying on its own kinetic energy to destroy targets. The missile test flight is scheduled for 2008.
Under conditions of limited a vehicle to withstand enormous pressure, friction and high temperature test, and to a high supersonic (generally higher than the Mach 5) flight, which in the past seems a bit extreme things. Only ballistic missiles and rocket fuel propellant spacecraft able to do this, they are launched into space glide back to Earth, only they can achieve such a high speed.
X-51 missiles, the task is to high supersonic flight the unthinkable into reality, and became its advantages. When the aircraft in the air with the speed of Mach 5-speed flight, it will produce a series of shock waves, one after another of these shock waves on the aircraft's flight has a delayed effect. X-51 missile was called "surfer" is because it is able to use shock waves to complement and strengthen its flight. It has a sharp head, which helps in flight using principles of fluid mechanics to cut the air, so that air pressure can be generated by acting on the lower part of the missile, so as to provide lift missiles. Shock waves can also be used at the same time compressed air, auxiliary X-51 missile fuel combustion processes.
X-51 missiles in size, shape and other matters outside the joint air-to-Haiphong Missile (JASSM) the same, so it can be B-52 "Stratofortress" strategic bombers, jet fighters, or to carry. X-51 missiles, using the standard JP-7 jet engine fuel, (this fuel earmarked for supersonic aircraft, its characteristics as a low freezing point for high-altitude and low temperature conditions), rather than rocket fuel, so it can be easily available from the military logistics supply chain to get fuel supplies. X-51 missiles, with a nickel alloy, is not what rare material, its advanced engine technologies are worthy of the name. In 2004, NASA (NASA) during X-43A (X-51 of the previous generation) and flight tests once to break the speed record, at the last flight test, this 12-foot-long vehicle speeds up to each of hours, 7000 miles, close to Mach 10. In other words, X-51 missiles are not guinea pigs, and its design study work has been started.
The emergence of such a situation does not mean that X-51 missiles will be deployed with the conventional "Trident" missile compete. X-51 missile has a range of 600 nautical miles within which it first need to board an aircraft into the air, after launch rocket booster to carry out speed, and then by its hypersonic engine promotion. If in 2008 the success of the flight test, X-51 missiles will be the addition of ballistic missiles capable of Mach 5 and above other than the speed of the first flight a weapon.
Does not cause confusion
"Trident" II missiles in the "global agile combat" mission in there, so people were expecting a "button war" era. In the scenario, the United States has no allies and overseas bases can be used to implement their attacks, so the attack was launched from the White House, but do not need the practice need to go through the U.S. military commanders at all levels of decision-making.
The operation plans are being drafted, the U.S. armed forces operations has not been reduced, only to be faster. It is necessary to use hypersonic weapons. If the air deployment of a missile carrying a X-51 aircraft, once received a secret information, commanders in just a few minutes to crack down on hundreds of kilometers away goal, so as to ensure the validity of this information, both do not need to use submarines to carry the fight against and does not require the intelligence service of the President's Office after several twists and turns. If the intelligence is wrong, the fight against the damage caused by only partial and limited. As the X-51 missiles and nuclear missiles look very different, and the X-51 missiles in the implementation of the strikes do not need to take the risk to flying over a nuclear country, Lewis said, "When you implement a direct attack, you need not worry will trigger the first Third World War. "
Hypersonic technology development will be compared to conventional "Trident" missile takes longer. But for the global fight against arsenal is, X-51 missiles of this kind of weapons they may have even greater significance. After all, these weapons program in the global fight against the most dangerous aspect of a potential to reduce side effects, and that is the human factor.
X-51 missile Structure
X-51 missiles, the operation of the
To carry conventional warheads, "Trident" II missile deployment will take several years, while the X-51 "surfers" missile deployment will take a decade or even longer. X-51 "surfers" missiles against targets of the failure mechanism is very simple, namely, high speed striking the target Mach 5. In this type of missile technology may be used in a very high-speed aircraft and a new space vehicles have a more widespread use. X-51 missile is the Boeing Company and Pratt & Whitney Engine Company for the Air Force Research Laboratory designed, it only one moving parts - fuel pump, to achieve the flight speed of Mach 5, equivalent to 3600 miles per hour.
Rocket booster
X-51 missile weight 1600 lbs, at first be a pre-launch B-52 strategic bombers, or a jet fighter to carry, to fly to an altitude of 45,000 feet after the release of launch. After launch the missile from a rear of the Army Tactical Missile System (ATMS) rocket-propelled to a speed of Mach 4.5, and rose to the height of 100,000 feet, and then rocket boosters fall off, X-51 missile's own engine work.
Built-in inlet
The head of the missile pointed to the high-flying supersonic shock waves generated when the abdomen to collect a missile within a rectangular channel. With the shock wave of compressed air is a unique X-51 missiles, usually this process is the use of mechanical components to complete, and in X-51 missiles, there is no existence of such mechanical parts.
Isolator
This part of the role of the isolator is to adjust air flow, forming a pressure of 2500 pounds per square foot for the jet engine combustion chamber to provide a stable pressure. Slow air missiles will increase the aerodynamic drag during flight, but this will fuel the internal combustion engine more fully.
Jet engine combustion chamber
Air and atomization of the JP-7 fuel mixture is compressed light generated when a strong impetus. Due to the high supersonic flight would have continued up to 4500 degrees Celsius, JP-7 fuel propellant also has the function of coolant to prevent the X-51 missile engine wall melting occurred due to high temperatures.
Airflow
X-51 missile to fly at Mach 5, its front end, engine, horizontal tail and tail of the external airflow status? X-51 missile is responsible for project management agencies have on these issues to the NASA fluid dynamics advisory. As shown in Figure X-51 missiles, the airflow behind the contour line shows the status of the engine exhaust emissions.
