The Navy develops high-energy DEW (Directed Energy Weapons) against hypersonic weapons.

A concept of directed energy weapon (Image: Lockheed Martin) (EurasianTimes.com/Defenseless Against Hypersonic Missiles, US Navy Turns To ‘Faster & Lethal’ DEWs To Battle China, Russia – Top Admiral)

Hypersonic missiles are hard targets but "easy to destroy". If the air-defense weapons can track and aim bullets or missiles against hypersonic missiles they can destroy them. But the problem is that counter-weapons must hit to target. And the low-flying hypersonic weapon will not let a long time for reacting. 

Hypersonic weapons have the same thing as all other missiles and airplanes. That thing is that they are easy to destroy if the ammunition hits to target. There are developed weapon systems that can shoot over a million small-caliber ammunition against the target. The problem is that those CIWS systems (Close-in Weapon systems) are using lots of ammunition. 

And the ship needs an ammo ship for refilling its ammunition storage quite often. There are also missile-based systems that are shooting multiple missiles against incoming targets. But those systems are expensive, they are slow to reload. And the hypersonic warhead can be stealthy. They hit targets before their sound will reach them. And the radar echo from those targets is extremely weak. 

The things like DEW (Direct Energy Weapons) is that they don't need ammunition. The laser systems can also use as Lidar. So that kind of system can see incoming warheads sooner than regular radars. There are developed anti-stealth systems that detect the visual image of the attacking systems. Also, infrared imaging systems are making it possible that the detector sees incoming hypersonic missiles. 

Detection of hypersonic missiles is based on the use of satellites. Or some other high-flying platforms like GlobalHawk or some solar-power aircraft. One of those systems could be the blimp which orbits the naval unit near the edge of the atmosphere. 

Those high-flying platforms should detect the rocket booster or the air channel or turbulence that the hypersonic weapon leaves after it. Then that system sends the information about that launch to predicted target areas.  The problem is that the satellites and other platforms are good targets for the ASAT systems that can aim and destroy high-flying aircraft,  blimps, and satellites. 

Image 2:) "China’s Type 072III-class landing ship Haiyang Shan is outfitted with a large weapon identified by some analysts as a railgun. (via Twitter)" (EurasianTimes.com/China Tests ‘Hypersonic Bullets’ On Live Target; Can Travel At 4000M Per Second & Hit The Opponent From Miles Away)

One type of hypersonic weapon is a hard target even for laser systems. Those hypersonic weapons are rifle-caliber hypersonic weapons. Those systems can shoot even millions of bullets against their targets. The speed of each bullet can be over Mach 6. 

China is testing a new hypersonic weapon. The hypersonic bullet travels with a speed that over 4000 meters per second. The hypersonic bullet is a new type of weapon that can destroy tanks and armored vehicles. The hypersonic bullet is the thing that makes personal armor like bullet-proof vests useless. The hypersonic bullets are the thing that is making the Scifi-superweapons true. 

Navies are testing railguns that are using hypersonic bullets. Those hypersonic bullets are meant to destroy incoming missiles. But they can also use rail guns to sweep the beach and make a road for landing troops. Those railguns can also use as "super-sniper" systems. But the military industries are developed handguns whose muzzle velocity is over 2000 m/s (Roughly Mach 6). 

These kinds of weapons are a new type of solution for the military. Lightweight, man-portable hypersonic rifles that are using intelligent aiming technology can be used in both, offensive and defensive roles. Theoretically, hypersonic handguns can use to replace multiple lightweight anti-aircraft systems. 

https://eurasiantimes.com/china-may-gain-another-edge-over-its-adversaries-as-its-testing-hypersonic-bullets/

https://eurasiantimes.com/defenseless-against-hypersonic-missiles-us-navy-turns/

Image:) https://eurasiantimes.com/defenseless-against-hypersonic-missiles-us-navy-turns/

Image 2:)https://eurasiantimes.com/china-may-gain-another-edge-over-its-adversaries-as-its-testing-hypersonic-bullets/

China has increased its ECM power near its borders.

  

 China has increased its ECM power near its borders.

China increased its ECM (Electronic Counter-Measure) systems at artificial islands near its borders. The fixed countermeasure stations can deny the use of most modern US weapons. But the more interesting things are details that the Chinese are kept away from people. China has developed many new weapon systems. And there is almost certainly the DEW (Directed Energy Weapons). 

The problem is that those EM stations are on-ground stations. And that means. There could be even a megawatt-class microwave or radio system in those stations. The powerful radio waves can cause the synthetic EMP-pulse that destroys the computers. 

The countermeasure stations can cut the communication links that are integrated ground, sea, and airborne troops in one entirety. Those communication links are playing a vital role in communication between satellites and US systems. If the communication between troops is not working the main tactics of the US are useless. 

That thing can cause at least problems for troops. But another thing is that. The real power of those systems depends on the power and type of those countermeasure systems. The high-power microwave and radio systems can even kill people if they are targeting their radiation to a certain point. Even the low-power electric arcs are dangerous. But high-power militarized systems are even worse.

Crossing high-power radiowaves can form destructive electric arcs which temperature is high enough to melt steel. If the system uses turning transmitting antennas. The crew can aim the electric arc exactly where operators want. 

And those systems are destructive also for other things than some computers. Electric arcs are easy to create by using crossing radio waves. Can start the fire, detonate ammunition and burn fuel storage. 

The high-power electric arc simply detonates targets by causing heat expansions. Thre is planned to use crossing radio waves as weapons. And if those radio waves are hitting humans that causes the shockwave in the body. The internal burn injuries might not be seen outside and they can also be deadly. But the powerful electric arc simply detonates the victim. 

The gound-based counter-measure systems can be very powerful. The power of those radio-and microwave systems can be even megawatts. And that means they can melt metals. This type of powerful electromagnetic system can destroy targets. The microwaves are hitting living cells can also cause the situation that liquids in cells are starting to vaporize. 

https://networkedinternet.blogspot.com/

Why are X-37B and “Global Hawk” drones built?

X-37B
(Picture 1)

Kimmo Huosionmaa

X-37B represents new kind of thinking about military devices. Its mission is to fix the problems of intercontinental ballistic missiles. The main problem of those extremely powerful weapons is actually that when they would be launched, the strike cannot be delayed, even if the opponent wants to talk. This is the problem with all nuclear devices. When the strike has begun, nothing could stop those weapons.


Sometimes I have asked, why the cruise missiles would not have wheels, that they could be returned to the base if the strike would be unnecessary. Wheels under the belly of cruise missile would allow using this weapon by any road in the world. This makes those weapons extremely dangerous, because those weapons don’t need any launchers, and they could deliver from any truck in the world.


They can also store in any warehouse in the world. Cruise missiles are actually one type of drones, and that equipment can be connected together. Same drones can be used as the normal duties of strike and reconnaissance. But in the global crises, they can also equip with nuclear warheads. That kind of drones can also use DEW (Directed Energy Weapons) to shut down enemy satellites or destroying airplanes. Those microwave and laser weapons are similar, what is used in metal industry. They would get their power from the solar panels, or if the drone flies lower it can use windmill turbogenerators to create necessary electric power.  Those weapons simply cut off the satellites solar panels or wings from other aircraft or they might melt the body of the aircraft.

RQ-4 "Global Hawk"
(Picture II)

Space drones like X-37B might be also working as a cruise missile. I have sometimes earlier wrote about this thing, but that equipment can be launched to the orbital, and it can wait in there the order to begin the attack. But when we are thinking about extreme high altitude flying drones like “Global Hawk, could those drones attack any target on the world by using GPS-guided bombs. Those weapons are very sharp, even they would drop from 20 kilometers above the target. They also might carry laser weapons, what can use against the targets, what are below this vehicle. The laser itself is laying inside the drone, and the ray would be pointed to the target by using turning mirror.


This kind of drones can carry smart weapons in internal bomb bays. But they also can equip with nuclear weapons. Nuclear bombs can also use GPS-guidance for precision targeting. Modern warfare is quite different than ever before. Drones and manned bombers can operate together, and also B-52 size bombers can be hybrid. They might have the capacity to operate as UCAV- drones or manned bombers. And they can drop the more dangerous equipment, what human ever could imagine.



In those bombs might have the robots, what might look like snakes, rats or mice. The artificial mice are actually the devices, what mission is to slip in the ammunition and fuel warehouses and they might be equipped with explosives. But those mice can also have the microwave- or laser devices, what they can use for warming grenades. Those electromagnetic weapons allow for avoiding the explosive detectors.


That makes those DEW (Directed Energy Weapons) so dangerous. If somebody would slip the microwave device with battery inside some airplane,  the results could be devastating. That magnetron might warm the structure of the airplane to very high temperature. And the problem is that this device is unseen by the bomb detectors. Also, the firepower of those weapons could not be limited, what makes possible the scenario, that some operator forgets that weapon in use, and that could cause the very dangerous situation if the microwave would be targeted to civil aircraft or other infrastructure.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_RQ-4_Global_Hawk

Picture 1

https://img.newatlas.com/x-37b-lands.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&ch=Width%2CDPR&crop=entropy&fit=crop&h=347&q=60&w=616&s=020c3dbd714e3805e49ab685f92b68d2

Picture 2

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Global_Hawk_1.jpg/1200px-Global_Hawk_1.jpg

https://crisisofdemocracticstates.blogspot.fi/

http://crisisofdemocracticstates.blogspot.fi/p/why-are-x-37b-and-global-hawk-drones.html