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Probably just us flexing that we have them too. Likely have had them, but kept it quiet as no need to declare our capabilities. Since others are crowing about i
by nathanyz 4y ago
Probably just us flexing that we have them too. Likely have had them, but kept it quiet as no need to declare our capabilities. Since others are crowing about it, just letting them know we also have same.
- jaywalk 4y agoAbsolutely. I also don't believe that they "only" go 5x the speed of sound. That's most likely just the speed they're willing to disclose, and the actual speed is classified.
- Zandikar 4y agoI mean, our X-15 was a manned hypersonic aircraft (by a good margin of the minimum 5x speed) in the 1960's, and ICBM's have been guided unmanned long range hypersonic munitions since a similar era, just to name a few. We have plenty of experience with hypersonics, and we almost certainly have continued research and experimentation into the field. The real technological linchpin isn't so much the speed, but would be things like guidance, precision and manuevering at those speeds, or perhaps other things like stealth, heat management materials (lot of friction from the air when you're ripping through it at those speeds), transatmospheric flight, advancements in hybrid (sc)ramjet engines, etc. Going hypersonic in and of itself is nothing new. We've been doing that since the 60's. Shit we made a manhole cover go hypersonic before the Russian's ever launched sputnik. It's what something can do after its moving at hypersonic speed that's of real consequence.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- rib3ye 4y agoYes, but only because our Congress is trying to make political theater of the topic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz_2r6rWgY8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz_2r6rWgY8