The United States must bolster funding and support for the advancement of hypersonic weapons programs to effectively counter similar initiatives underway in China and Russia, according to Mark Lewis, a former Defense Department official and expert in hypersonic technologies.
Lewis anticipates that the current administration will prioritize this crucial area of defense technology.
“I am very optimistic about hypersonics. I believe we will observe consistent and substantial funding,” Lewis stated on March 24 during a live SpaceNews webinar.
Lewis is currently the president and CEO of the Purdue Applied Research Institute, a nonprofit organization.
Hypersonic weapons—missiles or vehicles capable of achieving speeds of Mach 5 or greater, which is at least five times the speed of sound—are increasingly recognized as vital components of contemporary military strategy. This is largely due to their capacity to bypass traditional defense systems.
The Pentagon projects that China and Russia could potentially target U.S. and allied forces using hypersonic glide vehicles. These weapons are launched by rockets and glide towards their targets, utilizing atmospheric forces for maneuvering. Their combination of high velocity and agility presents significant challenges for interception by existing defense systems.
As these nations progress in their hypersonic missile development, the Pentagon is under growing pressure to expedite its own efforts, Lewis indicated. To safeguard the U.S. homeland from these threats, the administration also intends to develop a multi-layered defense system of sensors and interceptor missiles, known as Golden Dome.
Lewis highlighted the strong support within the Pentagon for investments in hypersonic weapon technology. This is partly driven by opportunities to leverage private sector investments in commercial test vehicles, which could accelerate the development of next-generation missiles.
A key proponent of these programs is Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, co-founder and former CEO of Cerberus Capital Management. This private equity firm has acquired companies involved in hypersonic flight testing, including Stratolaunch, which operates a reusable hypersonic test vehicle, and North Wind, a wind tunnel company.
“We have crucial individuals assuming roles in government who recognize the significance of hypersonics,” Lewis commented.
Support for hypersonic research also extends to Capitol Hill, where Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) is a prominent advocate. Indiana is the location of both Purdue University and the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, both of which are deeply engaged in hypersonics research and development.
“Our peer competitors have clearly stated their intentions to develop and deploy hypersonic weapons, and we are aware that we are in a position of catching up,” Lewis cautioned.
Defensive Challenges
The development of the proposed Golden Dome defense system presents substantial technological challenges. Hypersonic missiles are “very difficult to intercept,” Lewis acknowledged, while also asserting that they are “not impossible to stop.”
Successfully intercepting hypersonic threats will necessitate a network of space-based sensors and advanced missiles capable of sophisticated maneuvers. “A general rule suggests that a defender attempting to intercept an attacker must possess approximately three times the maneuverability of the attacking weapon,” Lewis explained. “Therefore, it is technically demanding, but achievable.”
Alternative strategies could include directed energy weapons, such as high-power lasers, designed to impair missile sensors rather than directly destroying the missiles.
Lewis emphasized that Golden Dome must be a layered defense system capable of countering not only isolated weapons but also coordinated assaults. “They will not be launching single missiles; they will be launching salvos,” he stated, noting the diverse range of potential threats, including “large boost gliders, smaller boost gliders, tactical boost gliders, and air-breathing systems like cruise missiles.”
“It is essential to continue investigating all of these diverse options before establishing a definitive system architecture,” Lewis concluded.