"Artist's impression of a hypersonic missile launched from an Indian Navy destroyer. The missile would have a launch booster to get it up to the speed where the scramjet can take over". (Forbes.com/India Goes Hypersonic: New Missile Technology May Be Answer To China’s Navy)
Indian new hypersonic BrahMos missile uses similar components to the Zircon missile. BrahMos can reach a speed of Mach 9. The reason why there is a race for hypersonic missiles is that they are flying lower than regular ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) -missiles. But those hypersonic missiles are flying higher than regular aircraft. And that makes them hard targets for air defense.
There are two types of hypersonic missiles. Regular rockets that are using gliders. And the systems that are using scramjet engines. The fact is that those systems can be hit by using smooth trajectories. They can have nuclear or conventional warheads. But also the kinetic energy of the missile that flies speed of Mach 9 is enough for causing vital damage to even large targets.
But there is the possibility that the hypersonic missiles are connected to ICBM. That means when the missile returns to the atmosphere the hypersonic scramjet-driven missile can start its engine. And that makes this missile more able to reach its target than regular cruise missiles.
Those missiles are using high altitudes because their control levels are facing very high temperature and pressure stress. And thin air gives lower friction and helps to keep the temperature lower. There is also the possibility that a scramjet-driven carrier vehicle will make the ballistic jump out from the atmosphere and release the cargo or small shuttle to the orbiter. That shuttle will release at the maximum altitude, where it starts its rocket engines.
The aerodynamic hypersonic technology is quite a new thing. That means there are some problems to change the course of those missiles. But the development work continues. And the first of those weapons are already entered into service.
When we are thinking that Russians are delivering technology, that makes BrahMos possible we must ask what India gave to Russians. In the article below this text is mentioned that BrahMos-2 uses similar components to Zircon. But which part is made by Indians and which part is made by Russians is not mentioned straight. But there is a possibility, that the Russians made vital scramjet components for that missile. Without that component, hypersonic flight is not possible.
The published data about BrahMos tells that it developed along with Zircon. Those missiles both use scramjet engines. And they can attack targets that are quite far away. The scramjet-driven missiles are pathfinders for the use of that technology.
The developers can use the information that BrahMos and Zircon along with many other missiles and missile projects give in higher-scale projects like manned hypersonic aircraft and hypersonic drones. Those systems are more multi-use than some missiles. And they can be more deadly than people can even think. But making reusable hypersonic aircraft is more difficult than people expect. The temperature and pressure stress causes damage to the body and control levels of the aircraft.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/hisutton/2020/09/08/india-goes-hypersonic-new-missile-technology-may-be-answer-to-chinas-navy/?sh=4be6074cd937
https://idrw.org/why-does-india-need-russian-zircon-tech-for-brahmos-2/
Image:) https://www.forbes.com/sites/hisutton/2020/09/08/india-goes-hypersonic-new-missile-technology-may-be-answer-to-chinas-navy/?sh=4be6074cd937
https://networkedinternet.blogspot.com/
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