Americans want to learn how to intercept enemy hypersonic missiles. Yesterday, November 21, the portal defensenews.com He reported that the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has signed contracts with Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Missiles and Defense for the development of hypersonic weapons interceptors.
As part of the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) program, each of the contractors received $21 million for the initial phase of work. Each of the companies already has experience in developing offensive hypersonic weapons. Now, ready-made developments are planned to be deployed to create interceptor gliders.
Launch of the Zircon rocket from the Admiral Groshkov frigate
Image source: function.mil.ru
The MDA believes that GPI will be able to intercept the planning hypersonic blocks upon their return to the atmosphere. So, the troops will have time to track the launch of the launch vehicle, the separation of the hypersonic module and shoot it down when planning at an altitude of about 70 km. Initially, GPI is planned to be installed on ships equipped with the Baseline 9 Aegis combat system, later interceptors can be adapted for installation in ground systems.
Hypersonic aircraft are called, the speed of which is five times the speed of sound. The development of hypersonic weapons has been underway for several decades — the United States, China and Russia have achieved the greatest success in this.
