At the recent Eurosatory defense exhibition, US defense contractor Northrop Grumman sounded the urgent need for increased investment in hypersonic weapons.
Bridget Slayen, a senior communicator for Northrop Grumman's international program, stressed the critical importance of not lagging behind global competitors in the development of advanced military technology (via South China Morning Post).
Global Competition on Hypersonic Weapons
Despite not naming any countries in the statement, Northrop Grumman's call to action comes as the United States faces stiff competition from geopolitical rivals China and Russia, both of which have made major advancements in hypersonic weapon technology in the last few years.
Slayen pointed out that threats around the world are driving interest from European and Asia-Pacific partners in the company's air defense and missile products.
"If another country [has] hypersonic missiles... we would want to [make] sure we have the best we can for deterrence factors," Slayen stated, emphasizing the necessity for the US to maintain superiority in advanced weapons.
One of the key projects Northrop Grumman is involved in is the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) program. Launched in 2022, the HACM is an air-breathing, scramjet-powered cruise missile capable of flying at speeds greater than Mach 5.
The US Air Force aims to field this weapon by 2027, with flight test activities expected to mature by the financial year 2025.
In March, the US Air Force completed testing of its hypersonic AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW). Chinese think tanks suggested this development sent a 'strong message' to Beijing.
EAST COAST, SOUTH KOREA - JUNE 6: In this handout image released by the South Korean Defense Ministry via Dong-A Daily, a missile is fired during a joint training between the United States and South Korea on June 6, 2022 in East Coast, South Korea. Photo by South Korean Defense Ministry/Dong-A Daily via Getty Images
Rising Demand for Defense Systems
The increased investment in hypersonic technology is part of a broader trend in defense spending spurred by ongoing global conflicts and rising geopolitical tensions.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent missile exchanges between Moscow and Kyiv have significantly impacted the demand for advanced defense systems.
Additionally, tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea are further driving the need for robust air and missile defense capabilities in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
China and Russia's Superiority on Hypersonic Weapons
Northrop Grumman's push for more investment in hypersonic weapons is set against a backdrop of significant advancements by China and Russia.
China's DF-17, a medium-range missile system equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle, has been operational since 2019 and is capable of striking targets up to 1,600 kilometers away.
Furthermore, China is developing a 3,000-kilometer range air-launched ballistic missile version of the DF-21, projected to be in service next year.
In March, China also unveiled a hypersonic missile with a 2,000 km range, surpassing existing aerial defense capabilities. The new missile is a long-range, solid-fueled, air-to-surface missile (SAM) targeting early-warning aircraft and bombers.
In Ukraine, Russia used its Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic air-launched missiles in March 2022, a month after its invasion began.
