http://www.military.com/news/articl...onic-glider-test-fails.html?col=1186032320397
The Article talks about future USAF planning..
The Article talks about future USAF planning..
Failure of Hypersonic Glider..Future plans of USAF?
- Thread starter MANT!
- Start date
What would be the intended purpose of such a craft?
It's cargo capacity would probably be fairly limited, wouldn't be suitable for air to air combat, possible used as bomber but I'm lost as to it's role?
There's a lot of working being done on ramjets (or maybe it's scramjets I can't remember) including some test flight for proof on concept done at the Woomera Rocket range in South Australian - maybe this would be a more viable approach. Might not get you there at Mach 20 but I think it would result in a much more usable aircraft.
It's cargo capacity would probably be fairly limited, wouldn't be suitable for air to air combat, possible used as bomber but I'm lost as to it's role?
There's a lot of working being done on ramjets (or maybe it's scramjets I can't remember) including some test flight for proof on concept done at the Woomera Rocket range in South Australian - maybe this would be a more viable approach. Might not get you there at Mach 20 but I think it would result in a much more usable aircraft.
Honestly I think the only reason to develop a bomber like this is for world domination...
Indeed, a couple of those and you won't need subs or stealth bombers any more.
Subs are great in that they can silently travel to a pre-determined spot, launch a ballistic missile, and then scurry away undetected.
Planes can still be shot down, so saying subs wouldn't be needed is not an accurate statement.
And subs can be detected or sunk, or minefields prevent them from getting close. What's your point? Would think that at Mach 20, probably pretty difficult to shoot down, and can probably 'scurry away' a little faster
Subs don't have to be close to land to launch, so mines are irrelevant. A plane at Mach 20 will have inherent advantages and disadvantages, just like a sub, but rendering them obsolete? Nah
Trekkidane,
Exactly
Exactly
I don't think a Mach 20 plane would provide us with that much tactical advantage. Why?
You can spy better from space, so it won't be a spy plane.
You can bomb better with a stealth bomber or cruise missle.
You can transport troops better with a cargo plane.
What would this plane's mission be? Its also not to get into space since it would need to go Mach 25 (which we already have a Mach 25 plane - for at least the next 6 months).
The only advantage I could possibly see is this being an evolutionary concept where this plane would demonstrate the ability of a ramjet to throttle over that large of a speed - which has previously been a challege due to the changes in air properties over that speed range. If our next space vehicle could get to at least Mach 20 without the need for an oxidizer, then cargo capacity could be greatly increased and as such lift cost per ton would be greatly decreased.
You can spy better from space, so it won't be a spy plane.
You can bomb better with a stealth bomber or cruise missle.
You can transport troops better with a cargo plane.
What would this plane's mission be? Its also not to get into space since it would need to go Mach 25 (which we already have a Mach 25 plane - for at least the next 6 months).
The only advantage I could possibly see is this being an evolutionary concept where this plane would demonstrate the ability of a ramjet to throttle over that large of a speed - which has previously been a challege due to the changes in air properties over that speed range. If our next space vehicle could get to at least Mach 20 without the need for an oxidizer, then cargo capacity could be greatly increased and as such lift cost per ton would be greatly decreased.
The orbits of reconasance satellites are pretty predictable though. It's not to difficult to schedule the movement of military equipment for times all our satellites are below the horizon. A hypersonic reconnaissance plane could be over the interesting site while an SR-71 is still getting an aerial refueled for the long flight.
A hypersonic bomber could get bombs over or cruise missiles near a distant target while regular supersonic planes are still getting refueled.
A hypersonic bomber could get bombs over or cruise missiles near a distant target while regular supersonic planes are still getting refueled.
But to launch/release them it's going to have greatly reduce it's speed unless you released them straight out the tail I would image that the effect of open a bomb bay at mach 20 would have pretty devestating effect on the aircraft.
Would image you'd also have to decelerated some-way back from your drop point in order to slow down enough plus you'd have to look at how you were going to slow down.
I have been following this story since it broke. Most people seem to think it is a key part of the military's goal to be able to strike any target on the globe in under an hour. It is not meant to replace anything on your list, but would clearly get the military another step closer to the quick strike goal.
Exactly. It's a First Strike platform that interferes with the enemy until stronger forces can arrive.
The real news here is the new launch vehicle.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/04/first-minotaur-iv-launch-with-hypersonic-test-vehicle/
Remember, this is the USAF guys--they have been screwing up spaceflight for years.
NASA wanted the Saturns, the Air Farce wanted Titan III
NASA wanted a smaller shuttle, the USAF scaled it up
NASA wanted Ares, the USAF wanted EELVs. (except that some of them really don't--in that a man rated EELV that really did close out black zones would need a new line--and with the backlog--well, the Blue Suiters can't have that.)
Typical fighter-jock meddling.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/04/first-minotaur-iv-launch-with-hypersonic-test-vehicle/
Remember, this is the USAF guys--they have been screwing up spaceflight for years.
NASA wanted the Saturns, the Air Farce wanted Titan III
NASA wanted a smaller shuttle, the USAF scaled it up
NASA wanted Ares, the USAF wanted EELVs. (except that some of them really don't--in that a man rated EELV that really did close out black zones would need a new line--and with the backlog--well, the Blue Suiters can't have that.)
Typical fighter-jock meddling.
Once the ordinance is released you wouldn't be in such a rush and can travel at a more conventional speed to meet the refueling tanker or reach a landing base.
There might also be a reason for a hypersonic plane to be an unmanned aircraft that would self destruct after dropping its payload. The whole "plane" might be a precision guided missile/bomb that could reliably destroy a single building instead of destroying a whole city with a nuclear bomb to insure that the target was destroyed.
constovich,
The reason is the ability to rapidly hit a target anywhere in the world with impunity. At Mach 20, assuming you possess maneuverability and jamming technology you're virtually impossible to hit.
As for surveillance, while satellites make very effective surveillance platforms, they follow predictable trajectories which make it very easy for your opponent to know when they will pass over. They can often deliberately cover up what they're doing when they know the satellite will pass over, or can even engage in misinformation to screw with you. Aircraft do not follow such easily predictable trajectories, and can appear with little warning allowing one to catch one's enemy with their pants down.
If I was the head of a country with serious ambitions of power, I'd want the ability to rapidly strike an enemy with complete and utter impunity, such an airplane would give me this capability. If I wanted to be able to spy on an enemy with virtually no predictability and impunity, I would want an aircraft like this. An unmanned aircraft is even more preferable because I wouldn't have to risk any of my own men, nobody on my side has to risk their life, and there is nothing to lose, except the lives of my opponent who I have no regard for.
CuttingEdge100
The reason is the ability to rapidly hit a target anywhere in the world with impunity. At Mach 20, assuming you possess maneuverability and jamming technology you're virtually impossible to hit.
As for surveillance, while satellites make very effective surveillance platforms, they follow predictable trajectories which make it very easy for your opponent to know when they will pass over. They can often deliberately cover up what they're doing when they know the satellite will pass over, or can even engage in misinformation to screw with you. Aircraft do not follow such easily predictable trajectories, and can appear with little warning allowing one to catch one's enemy with their pants down.
If I was the head of a country with serious ambitions of power, I'd want the ability to rapidly strike an enemy with complete and utter impunity, such an airplane would give me this capability. If I wanted to be able to spy on an enemy with virtually no predictability and impunity, I would want an aircraft like this. An unmanned aircraft is even more preferable because I wouldn't have to risk any of my own men, nobody on my side has to risk their life, and there is nothing to lose, except the lives of my opponent who I have no regard for.
CuttingEdge100
I doubt very much this aircraft would have any maneuverability at that speed. Any given aircraft will have a maneuvering speed somewhat less than its maximum smooth-air speed, and far less than its maximum structural speed. That probably applies doubly for supersonic aircraft.
Lindley,
There have been proposals for hypersonic aircraft designs that could pull high-g even whilst hypersonic.
There have been proposals for hypersonic aircraft designs that could pull high-g even whilst hypersonic.
Lindley,
Most airplanes designed for hypersonic speeds generally cruise at hypersonic speed as well. If they are designed to maneuver effectively, they will be designed to maneuver at hypersonic speed.
Most airplanes designed for hypersonic speeds generally cruise at hypersonic speed as well. If they are designed to maneuver effectively, they will be designed to maneuver at hypersonic speed.