Why is the defense against hypersonic cruise missile so difficult?

(Picture 1)

Kimmo Huosionmaa

Hypersonic missile or cruise missile (HCM) is the new type of weapon, what uses technology that allows the weapon glide to the ground with the extremely high speed with gentle incoming trajectory. This would give the very big challenge for the defense, what must react this threat only in a couple of seconds. The launching of those extremely fast weapons may be done by submarines, surface warships or by aircraft. This weapon is the new type of solution for first strike missions.

Hypersonic cruise missiles are developed in many nations. The limitations of this kind of weapon are very difficult because they don't need warheads. And the kinetic energy what is boosted with microwaves is the devastating combination for aircraft carriers. The microwave-transmitter can installed to the nose of those missiles, and it can be got the necessary electric power from windmill turbogenerators.

The extremely high speed would give very powerful microwaves. The microwaves would be devastating for the target, and if they are not enough, would the kinetic energy terminate the structure, when the missile hits the target with speed above Mach 8. And those hypersonic cruise missiles can accelerate up to speed Mach 12. The kinetic energy would be very devastating at that speed. But the problem is, that those missiles can mask as the new superfast airplane-testbeds.

One of the greatest problems with hypersonic missiles is that they use so-called low observable technology. That means that the head of that missile is invincible for radars because the shape of the hypersonic body would be similar with B-2 Stealth-bomber. And the gentle shape what allows to avoid the radar-waves would also allow avoiding the friction of the atmosphere.

The final problem with those weapons is that some of them are equipped with similar ECM-systems, what makes the detecting and targeting the air defense missiles to this hypersonic target extremely difficult. Also, some of those missiles are equipped with microwave generators, what mission will be heat the target and make their armor softer, what gives the missile greater penetration. Another mission of those microwave systems is also terminate the electric systems of the target.

As I have written earlier, those hypersonic cruise missiles can destroy even the aircraft carriers by using kinetic energy. The nuclear warhead makes those weapons even more devastating. The gentle trajectory would allow striking against the doors of underground leading facilities. The weapon can strike against the door of those facilities. And it can detonate just outside the cave, what protects the command center. The only problem is that nuclear warhead must detonate in microseconds.

Sources:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3091715/Air-Force-bosses-reveal-want-hypersonic-missiles-five-years-technology-planes-travel-New-York-London-HOUR.html

http://thehill.com/sponsored/content/245420-no-longer-science-fiction-facing-global-threats-with-hypersonic-missiles

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/could-uss-new-hypersonic-missile-spark-world-war-3-1555182

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WU-14

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DARPA_Falcon_Project
Picture 1:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/05/21/21/28F4371C00000578-3091715-image-a-1_1432241560991.jpg

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