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The objective of Thursday's test was to collect data on technologies that boost the hypersonic vehicle and allow it to glide. The Army was also testing how the vehicle performed in long-range flight. - Reuters photo
HONOLULU: The Army on Thursday conducted its first flight test of a new weapon capable of traveling five times the speed of sound.
The Army launched the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon from the military’s Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai at about 1:30 a.m. The weapon’s ”glide vehicle” reached Kwajalein Atoll – some 2,300 miles away – in less than half an hour, said Lt. Col. Melinda Morgan, a Pentagon spokeswoman.
Earlier this year, the Congressional Research Service said in a report the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon is part of the military’s program to develop ”prompt global strike” weapons that would allow the U.S. to strike targets anywhere in the world with conventional weapons in as little as an hour. The Air Force and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, are developing a similar vehicle.
The Pentagon said the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon, or AHW, vehicle is designed to fly long ranges within the earth’s atmosphere at speeds that are at least five times the speed of sound.
The objective of Thursday’s test was to collect data on technologies that boost the hypersonic vehicle and allow it to glide. The Army was also testing how the vehicle performed in long-range flight.
The Congressional Research Service report said the AHW would be able to maneuver to avoid flying over third party nations as it approached its target. The weapon would use a precision guidance system to home in on the target, it said.
No one can put Pakistan in trouble, we are the best at it! We have our entire Military, Civil and religious leadership and they are the best.
Wow, a better, more accurate killing machine made for killing the innocent at lightening speed. Well, at least no one will ever know what hit them? They will all be dead instantaneously.
A great piece of collaboration by the American Military Industrial Complex and the American Government. Bravo…
Billions of dollars in profits and high paying American jobs soaked in the blood of millions of innocent civilians like Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Humanity and value of innocent human life has really come a long way since the end of World War II.
This is what is so great about the U.S. military and the U.S. military industrial complex.
They are always looking for new ways to reach out and touch somebody. Feel the love!
The mixture of USA sinking economically and geopolitically and these supersonic weapons could be very toxic for the world. Different countries must react appropriately now against this menace.
The only response to Uncle's Sam threat is, every nation should have Nuclear capability to avoid any foul game from Uncle Sam.
Having a nuclear threat is of no consequence now Syed, if the US can launch these missiles and obliterate any spot in the world within 1/2 hour or less. There's no deterrent better than a first strike capability. Allowing some aggressive countries to gain a nuclear capacity would only invite the US need to utilize these missiles.
Sounds like a future drone. Faster and more lethal. Another gift from Uncle Sam.
I think this Uncle Sam will very soon put all of us in big trouble.