Congressional think tank calls into question the need for hypersonic weapons and their enabling technologies

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Congressional Research Service is calling into question the U.S. military need for hypersonic weapons and how they should be used in the future. USNI News reports. Continue reading original article

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

12 May 2021 -- Specifically, the Congressional Research Service -- the congressional think-tank -- is asking:

-- what are the missions for hypersonic weapons;

-- given their lack of defined mission requirements, how should Congress evaluate funding requests for hypersonic weapons programs, enabling technologies, and supporting test infrastructure;

-- how will fielding hypersonic weapons affect strategic stability; and

-- is there a need for new multilateral hypersonic arms-control agreements?

Top U.S. military commanders say hypersonic weapons could enable long-range, strike options against distant, defended, and/or time-critical threats like road-mobile missiles when other forces are unavailable, denied access, or not preferred.

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John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics