Air Force fast approaching development of Hypersonic Weapon. What are your thoughts?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 May 2015 11:16:35 -0400

What are the potential future developments of this technology besides weaponization? Transport capabilities? Imagine being able to transport supplies or troops that fast.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 11:23 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 May 2015 11:23:31 -0400

I'm looking forward to photon and quantum torpedoes. Phasers (not to be confused with Lasers) too...

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made May 19 at 2015 3:41 PM

SrA Daniel Hunter — Tue, 19 May 2015 15:41:06 -0400

While interesting I doubt it is viable for vehicles with large mass and decreased aerodynamic drag coefficient such as transport of supplies and troops (2nd & 3rd Laws of Motion).

Response by MSgt Jamie Lyons made May 19 at 2015 9:27 PM

MSgt Jamie Lyons — Tue, 19 May 2015 21:27:14 -0400

"...Nothing'll stop the US Air Force!" Go Blue!

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2015 8:04 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 May 2015 08:04:59 -0400

Lightning in five stops us everytime.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2015 5:59 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 May 2015 17:59:23 -0400

But what I want to know is, when do we get pictures of it in action to make memes with?!?

I "NEED" to be able to tell someone on the Internet, "I have a hypersonic weapon. Your argument has been nullified." Because that's . . . "important."

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made May 21 at 2015 6:01 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Thu, 21 May 2015 18:01:06 -0400

Lot of high end technology that then has be be battle proof. The question will be if it's worth the cost and what extra does it do? The Navy has been tinkering with a Rail Gun which if successfully deployed, does reduce the per shot cost substantially. However, that means we'd need some big time conflicts and expend gobs of rounds for that equation to pan out.

Regarding the AF effort. I haven't seen anything that tells me what kind of range we can expect. Interesting thing about the SR-71. It's the size of a 727 and would consume a similar fuel rate at speed. It was horrible on fuel any other time.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made May 23 at 2015 11:45 PM

SrA Matthew Knight — Sat, 23 May 2015 23:45:06 -0400

My thoughts, I uh...I cannot confirm nor deny rumors of this weapon or it's potential existence. Please contact Public Affairs for any other info. B|

Really that weapon sounds bad ass. Enemies won't have any idea that anything is coming. One minute they are playing cards or building bombs, the next they are a new crater in the surface of the Earth.

Response by A1C Charles Hagen made May 24 at 2015 8:23 PM

A1C Charles Hagen — Sun, 24 May 2015 20:23:49 -0400

Excellent for rapid response reconnaissance

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Jun 3 at 2015 11:40 AM

Capt Brandon Charters — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 11:40:56 -0400

Hypersonic delivery is a real challenging ballgame that we've been working on for decades. I'm really excited to see the X-51 breaking some ground here. Kind of ironic to see one of the oldest flying fortresses (B-52) launching one of the newest pieces of USAF technology. Airpower!

Response by TSgt Gwen Walcott made Jun 3 at 2015 2:06 PM

TSgt Gwen Walcott — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 14:06:55 -0400

horizontal IRBM === Army equipment

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2015 2:35 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 14:35:04 -0400

"Off we go into the hypersonic yonder, climbing high faster than most ...

A work in progress ... GO BLUE!!!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 12:21 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 00:21:39 -0400

The potential weapons applications are cool, but I'm more interested to see how this can be applied to space sciences and reaching that "final frontier"... eventually.

Response by TSgt Chip Dollason made Jun 4 at 2015 12:24 AM

TSgt Chip Dollason — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 00:24:08 -0400

I don't care how fast a it goes as long as it is accurate! What kind of guidance does it use? What are the hit to miss ratio's. What kind of payload is it delivering?

Response by Capt Paul Subbie made Jun 10 at 2015 2:27 PM

Capt Paul Subbie — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 14:27:56 -0400

This new weapon will usher in a new age of civilian rapid transit all around the world. Just imagine being a business man, and flying from Los Angeles, or another city to Tokyo to do business, and returning the same day. A lot of our civilian advances, came from military testing and development. Like your GPS? The advanced technology of your new car? Likely it is a result of military research and development. Our new defense bomber aircraft will benefit from R&D technology. It will takeoff using a hybrid engine, first as a turbojet, will turn into a ramjet, and then into a scramjet engine. Amazing the technological advances, and with these, even more will be understood, and developed. What a wonderful world. Many medical advances, metalurgical, and atmospheric lessons will be learned, and overcome as well. We all will benefit in the future, from Air Force developments today. Go Air Force !!