Currently, all the leading countries of the world are developing advanced weapons based on hypersonic technologies. Recently it became known that a similar project is being created in Germany. While the German hypersonic program is in its earliest stages, real results are expected for the foreseeable future. The official reason for the start of such work is of particular interest.
Since last year
Information about the German hypersonic project was first published a few days ago by Welt. Peter Heilmeier, the head of the sales department of the MBDA concern, spoke about the availability of such works. A representative of the developer organization disclosed some information about the new project, but did not disclose unnecessary details.
The hypersonic program was launched last year at the initiative of the Armaments and Technology Directorate Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw). The reason for the start of this project is called "specific threats" in the form of the latest Russian developments. An analysis of Russia's new and promising weapons has shown that the existing German systems can no longer deal with them. This requires the creation of completely new samples.
The program is currently in its earliest stages of research and technology discovery. Germany operates independently and has not yet involved any other countries in it. The first prototypes of the new program will appear and will be tested over the next three years.
P. Heilmeier did not specify the nature of the new project and the basic requirements for future weapons. At the same time, he pointed out that a promising development is exclusively defensive in nature and is aimed at protecting against threats from foreign weapons.
Possible unification
The MBDA spokesman pointed to the defensive nature of the new development and clarified the possible scope of its application. So, a promising model hypersonic missile can find application in the field of air defense. She is quite capable of becoming one of the ammunition for the promising anti-aircraft missile system Taktische Luftverteidigungssystem (TLVS).
Currently, the MBDA concern together with Lockheed Martin are working on the technical appearance of the future TLVS air defense system. Completion of such work is expected this month, after which the Bundeswehr will be able to approve the technical proposal or make its own amendments. From the latest statements it follows that a missile with radically improved characteristics may indeed appear in the composition of a promising air defense system.
Weapons for defense
There is still very little information about the German hypersonic program, but the available data are of great interest. First of all, it follows from them that Germany does not plan to repeat the experience of other countries and create its own projects similar to others. On the contrary, modern technologies will be introduced in other areas.
Currently, hypersonic weapons are usually understood as systems of two classes. These are attack cruise missiles capable of developing high speed, as well as hypersonic gliding warheads, accelerated by a special missile. The MBDA spokesman's statements suggest that a completely different system is being created at BAAINBw's request.
NS. Heilmeier said that the new project is intended for defense, and its appearance is associated with the latest foreign developments. In addition, data are provided on the possible introduction of hypersonic ammunition into the new air defense system. All this can be regarded as a very transparent allusion to the essence and objectives of the new German project.
It seems that we are talking about the development of an anti-aircraft complex with a hypersonic guided missile or the creation of a similar missile defense system for implementation in the air defense missile system under development. Impact systems have not yet been mentioned. However, having mastered the necessary technologies and tested them within the framework of the SAM project, German enterprises will be able to create offensive weapons.
Hypersonic air defense system
The idea of defensive weapons based on hypersonic technology is of great interest to the military. Moreover, such ideas have already found application in practice and have confirmed the ability to solve assigned combat missions. Thus, Germany and MBDA cannot be considered fully pioneers, but in this case, the result of the new project will be more than interesting.
The definition of hypersonic flight implies a speed of at least M = 5. Such performance characteristics give the missile defense obvious advantages. The missile is able to quickly intercept a target flying at high speed, and in the event of a miss, the air defense system will have time to re-launch. With the right approach to design, you can also ensure the high maneuverability of the missile defense system, further increasing its effectiveness.
Rockets with hypersonic flight speed have already found application in practice. So, as part of the Russian missile defense system, the PRS-1 / 53T6 anti-missile is used, capable of accelerating to 5-5.5 km / s and maneuvering with a longitudinal overload up to 210. The latest modifications of the American SM-3 anti-missile show a speed of 4-4.5 km / s with high maneuverability and accuracy of defeat. Germany may become the creator of another weapon of this purpose and with similar characteristics in the future.
It is argued that new Russian developments were the reason for the launch of the German hypersonic program. Indeed, a certain part of the newest strike systems of the Russian army is an extremely difficult target or completely invulnerable to modern foreign defense systems. To counter them, you need a fundamentally new weapon with high performance.
Development ways
Based on the available data, a rough forecast of the further development of the German hypersonic program can be made. First of all, MBDA and related organizations must complete a general study of hypersonic topics and search for the necessary technologies. After that, it will be possible to start developing full-fledged weapons projects.
The first to appear is some kind of defensive missile system. SAM of a new type can be introduced into the developed air defense system TLVS, but it is also possible to create a completely new complex specifically for it. The finished anti-aircraft system will be intended for the Bundeswehr, but in the future it is possible to enter the international market. It is to be expected that a successful SAM project of this kind will attract the attention of potential buyers.
The military and political leadership of Germany has specific views on the development of the defense sector, which may hinder the further development of hypersonic systems. However, it cannot be ruled out that a defensive complex will be followed by a strike system based on already proven technologies.
Having serious experience in the missile field, MBDA and other German enterprises are quite capable of creating both a hypersonic cruise missile with a power plant and a complex with a gliding warhead. However, so far the topic of such weapons has not been raised, which gives some reasons for optimism.
Big plans
Germany's hypersonic program started last year, and further work will take several more years. Thus, tests are scheduled to begin within the next three years. Probably, this means testing of individual components, while testing of the complex as a whole will begin later. It turns out that even with a favorable development of events, the new weapon will enter service with the Bundeswehr no earlier than the mid-twenties. After that, the combat effectiveness of the German air defense and missile defense will noticeably increase.
A fundamentally new weapon of Germany is capable of affecting the strike potential of third countries. Thus, states that Berlin views as a potential adversary need to heed the latest news and plan a response. First of all, this concerns Russia - it was its latest developments that became the formal reason for the launch of the German hypersonic program.
