Hypersonic Weapons: Overhyped or Superweapons? - threats, challenges & has the USA fallen behind?

Besides atomic ordnance, perhaps no weapon system commands public and media attention like hypersonics. No other weapon, when used in Ukraine, is basically guaranteed to command a news cycle.

And yet their importance is hotly debated. There are those who argue the US has fallen behind in an absolutely critical field of military technology - and likewise others who argue the entire class of systems represent an overhyped waste of money.

In this episode I try and provide at least an introduction to that multi-billion dollar question...

Patreon:
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Caveats and corrections:
All usual caveats with an additional note that we're talking about ongoing, often deeply classified programs, so information quality is notably spotty

Sources & Reading:

Congressional Budget Office on Hypersonics:
https://www.cbo.gov/publication/58255

CRS on hypersonic weapons:
https://sgp.fas.org/crs/weapons/R4581...

CRS on Hypersonic Defence:
https://s3.documentcloud.org/document...

Georgetown Journal of International Affairs:
https://gjia.georgetown.edu/2021/01/2...

RT on Avangard:
https://www.rt.com/news/476985-avanga...

ARRW cancellation:
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone...

2022 Missile defence Review
https://media.defense.gov/2022/Oct/27...

TASS on Killjoy range:
https://tass.com/defense/1013794

Putin says Russia leading hypersonics
https://apnews.com/article/vladimir-p...

Missile Defence Project listing the range:
https://missilethreat.csis.org/missil...

Raytheon Glide-Phase-Interceptor
https://www.raytheonmissilesanddefens...

Fars News on IRGC missile claim:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14011...

Bulletin of Atomic Scientists on Hypersonics:
https://thebulletin.org/2020/01/hyper...

CSIS - Complex air defence
https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaw...

Northrop Grumman HBTSS
https://www.northropgrumman.com/wp-co...

Lora Saalman Ph.D - PROMPT GLOBAL STRIKE:
CHINA AND THE SPEAR
https://dkiapcss.edu/wpcontent/upload...

Phoenix Testbed project:
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/h...

Media saying the US is behind on hypersonics:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davedept...

CSIS - Chinese FOBS capability
https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/...

Alan Cummings - Hypersonic weapons tactical uses and goals
https://warontherocks.com/2019/11/hyp...

Reporting on cost of CPS rounds:
https://defensescoop.com/2023/03/22/n...

S-500 Reporting:
https://www.janes.com/amp/russia-begi...

Reporting on HALO:
https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/...
https://defensescoop.com/2023/04/03/n...

CPS Reporting:
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/0...
https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/...

Russian media on Sarmat:
https://sputnikglobe.com/20220522/rus...

PRC team claim reliable communications with Hypersonic object:
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/scien...

DOT&E Report 2022
https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/p...

Timestamps:
00:00:00 — Hypersonic Weapons
00:01:24 — What Am I Talking About?
00:02:33 — What Are They?
00:11:44 — Advantages & Defensive Challenges
00:19:26 — The Problems & Costs (Technical)
00:28:08 — The Problems & Costs (Mission)
00:38:01 — Defensive Options
00:45:15 — National Programs: Russia
00:55:06 — National Programs: PRC
00:58:43 — National Programs: USA
01:06:07 — The State of Competition
01:10:45 — Conclusions
01:11:51 — Channel Update