Boeing has received an order from Darpa to develop and test a prototype for creating a prototype A interceptor of hypersonic missiles in the upper atmosphere as part of the four-year program Glide Breaker.
The ongoing arms race between offensive and defense technologies continues in the military sector. As new attacking technologies are invented, protective technologies are being developed to neutralize them and vice versa. The latest advancement in military affairs is the development of hypersonic missiles, which can fly at speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound. This capability makes them potentially revolutionary, as they can penetrate traditional air defense systems before they can be detected and outrun most air missiles, except under the most favorable conditions.
In response to the threat posed by hypersonic weapons, organizations such as Darpa are seeking ways to intercept them. The Glide Breaker program aims to develop technology for capturing and intercepting hypersonic missiles during their vulnerable gliding phase. This phase occurs when certain types of hypersonic devices reach maximum speed, ascend to high altitudes, and then accelerate with gravity.
Under the current contract with Boeing, the company will analyze the hydrodynamics and conduct aerodynamic tests of the Glide Breaker prototype. They will also assess the effects of aerodynamic interaction of jets during flight tests. The findings will be used to develop operational interceptors for the gliding phase.
Gil Griffin, Executive Director of Boeing Phantom Works Advanced Weapons, emphasized the significance of hypersonic devices as a rapidly developing threat to national security. The focus of Boeing is to understand the necessary technology for the further development of national counter-gum capabilities and protection against future threats.
Regarding the Glide Breaker program, Griffin stated that factors such as hypersonic airflow and the use of jet engines to control the device will be assessed to determine their impact on system performance at extreme speed and altitude in a digital environment. Boeing is working on advanced technology to intercept extremely fast objects in incredibly dynamic environments.