"The One Who Shoots First Wins"... 'Game Changer' Hypersonic Weapon Race

On May 28 (local time), Russia's hypersonic cruise missile 'Tsirkon' was test-fired from the guided missile frigate 'Admiral Gorshkov' in the Barents Sea. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Sumi Hwang] The global competition for hypersonic weapons is heating up. There are analyses suggesting that hypersonic weapons, which are difficult to intercept, could change the dynamics of the battlefield.

China recently achieved successive successful test launches of its domestically developed hypersonic launch vehicles. Earlier, the United States conducted a delayed hypersonic weapon launch in May. Russia became the first country to use hypersonic missiles in the war against Ukraine. As a result, the arms race is intensifying, raising concerns that miscalculations and retaliatory attacks could occur.

Hypersonic weapons are also called "game changers" that can alter military security order and battlefield dynamics. Their maximum speed exceeds Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound), and they can fly at low altitudes, making them difficult to intercept with current missile defense systems. Their deterrent power, which prevents attacks due to fear of retaliation, is comparable to that of nuclear weapons.

Because of this, competition among countries to develop and deploy hypersonic weapons is fierce. According to a report by the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 10th (local time), Russia and China are currently leading this competition, while the United States is relatively behind.

Russia, which invaded Ukraine, became the first country to use hypersonic missiles in war by launching them in May. At that time, the Southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa's regional military command reported that three hypersonic missiles "Kinzhal" launched from Russian fighter jets bombed tourist facilities. It is also known to have deployed the Mach 20 "Avangard" missile in actual combat. On the 28th of the same month, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the successful test launch of the hypersonic cruise missile "Tsirkon," hitting a target about 1,000 km away.

On the 6th, the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that researchers from Northwestern Polytechnical University in China successfully conducted a test flight of the hypersonic aircraft 'Feitian 1' the previous day.
[Photo by SCMP capture]

China has already deployed the Mach 10 hypersonic missile Dongfeng (DF)-17 in actual combat and is reportedly preparing to deploy the anti-ship missile called CH-AS-X-13. On the 6th, SCMP reported that the previous day, researchers at Northwestern Polytechnical University in China successfully launched the hypersonic launch vehicle Feitian-1, which they developed independently.

This launch vehicle uses technology that combines a rocket with an air-breathing engine. The air-breathing engine combusts fuel using air drawn from outside, allowing it to fly farther and at low altitudes compared to existing hypersonic launch vehicles. Analysts suggest that this technology could enable the development of hypersonic cruise missiles that fly under their own power.

On the other hand, the United States has only recently accelerated its development. On May 14, the U.S. Air Force announced the successful launch of the AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) by a B-52H strategic bomber off the southern coast of California. The Mach 20 "AGM-183A ARRW" is expected to become the first hypersonic weapon that the U.S. can operate in actual combat. Additionally, even North Korea claims to be developing hypersonic missiles, indicating that competition surrounding hypersonic weapons is becoming increasingly intense.

The main reason for the hypersonic weapons development race is analyzed to be the enhancement of deterrence. According to SCMP, Timothy Heath, a senior researcher at the U.S. RAND Corporation, said, "Currently, there is no defense system to stop these weapons, so Western countries are building their capabilities to deter countries like China and Russia." Malcolm Davis of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) said, "We are witnessing the beginning of the hypersonic weapons race," adding, "In the case of hypersonics, it could be a fight of preemptive strikes. The one who shoots first wins." There are also forecasts that the spread of hypersonic weapons will accelerate the pace of modern warfare.

Some express concerns that hypersonic missile attacks could trigger retaliatory strikes. Because hypersonic missiles fly at high speeds and are difficult to shoot down, if they are launched due to miscalculations by China or Russia, the defending countries could face retaliatory attacks. Timothy Heath emphasized, "Tensions between China, the United States, and their allies are rising, so everyone must seek ways to ease tensions and improve crisis management structures to reduce risks."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.