Pentagon tests long-range hypersonic weapon

[Christel]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15790620

"The US has test-fired a new weapon which can travel at five times the speed of sound, the Pentagon says."

"Its aim is to allow the US military to strike targets anywhere in the world within an hour."

Indeed a small world we live in...

[ShootingSight]

Actually, the goal is to strike the anywhere within an hour, and not have it look like a nuke launch that might accidentally start WW III.

We already had the capability to strike anywhere within an hour using ICBMs, the problem is that the Russians and Chinese are monitoring launches, and if we launched at some target, using a regular missile, the ballistic trajectory would look exactly like a nuke launch, and make a LOT of people very nervous while wondering if they should launch a retalliatory attack.

This new technology uses a rocket that goes vertical, rather than ballistic, and then the glider gives a longer horizontal range after it reaches altitude.

[judders]

From the article: However, defence analysts Global Security.org say the aim of the programme is to be able to strike a target 3,700 miles (6,000km) away in 35 minutes, with an accuracy of 10m.

An accuracy of 10 miles? That doesn't sound very accurate to me. :shock:

[Sandgroper]

From the article: However, defence analysts Global Security.org say the aim of the programme is to be able to strike a target 3,700 miles (6,000km) away in 35 minutes, with an accuracy of 10m.

An accuracy of 10 miles? That doesn't sound very accurate to me. :shock:

10 metres not 10 miles!

[judders]

10 metres not 10 miles!

I knew that.

[dromia]

Will they be competing at Bisley from the US?

[rox]

Will they be competing at Bisley from the US?

I hope not. Remember when they sent a B52 to flypast Farnborough, and it ended at the wrong airfield in the wrong county? The air show coincided well with the Imperial that year, and during the National match we were treated to a brilliant formation flypast by the Red Arrows that practically skimmed the top of the century butts; I think the Inter Services match was going on at the time, so the RAF must have put in a call for them to arrive just as we were about to resume after falling back.

..

[ShootingSight]

From the article: However, defence analysts Global Security.org say the aim of the programme is to be able to strike a target 3,700 miles (6,000km) away in 35 minutes, with an accuracy of 10m.

An accuracy of 10 miles? That doesn't sound very accurate to me. :shock:

10 metres not 10 miles!

No, no , no. It's 10 minutes. 35 minutes, plus or minus 10 minutes .... ;-) Sometimes they run a little late when the have a headwind.

[R.G.C]

From the article: However, defence analysts Global Security.org say the aim of the programme is to be able to strike a target 3,700 miles (6,000km) away in 35 minutes, with an accuracy of 10m.

An accuracy of 10 miles? That doesn't sound very accurate to me. :shock:

10 metres not 10 miles!

No, no , no. It's 10 minutes. 35 minutes, plus or minus 10 minutes .... ;-) Sometimes they run a little late when the have a headwind.

Art,

35 minutes at extreme range = 62 metres...No?. Think you can forget about the plus/minus 10 minutes for wind drift!!!!

Happy thanksgiving

R.G.C

[Blackstuff]

An accuracy of 10 miles? That doesn't sound very accurate to me. :shock:

Depends on how powerful the bomb is