The U.S. has its own plans to roll out hypersonic weapons. The technology is nearly at the point of development of rocket-boosted hypersonic glide vehicles. The next evolution will be producing air-breathing hypersonic vehicles, which can carry a heavier payload.

The science and research is being done collaboratively by the US Missile Defence Agency (MDA), Space Development Agency (SDA) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

Key to hypersonic weapons will be the development of thermal protection systems that protect the vehicles when they enter the earth’s atmosphere from space at high speed and heat up.

Russia and China are currently producing these. The Chinese hypersonic threat is severe and increasing. They outrun and outrange the US’s best radars.

A problem is tracking these weapons. The target acquisition, tracking and fire-control problem solution will have to come from the space domain. Sensors will have to be put into space to track these very dim targets against the clutter of earth background.

Japan Unveils Plans for Hypersonic Weapons

The Japanese blueprint reportedly stipulates the development of the Hypersonic Cruise Missile (HCM) and the Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile (HVGP) which are expected to enter service in the early 2030s.

The Japanese government has unveiled its research and development road map to create domestically-produced hypersonic weapons. Under the plan, there will be two classes of hypersonic weapon systems, including the Hypersonic Cruise Missile (HCM) and the Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile (HVGP). Powered by a scramjet engine, the HCM appears similar to a typical missile, albeit one that cruises at a much higher speed while capable of traveling at long ranges. The HVGP, it will reportedly feature a solid-fuel rocket engine capable of boosting its warhead payload and maintaining high velocity when gliding to its target. The blueprint stipulates using different warheads to tackle seaborne and ground targets, including one that will be specifically designed to penetrate the deck of an aircraft carrier.

The warhead’s land-attack version, in turn, will feature a high-density explosively formed projectile, or EFP, to be used for area suppression purposes. Both warheads, which will be navigated via satellites, are expected to enter service in the early 2030s.

As far as warhead guidance is concerned, the process will be achieved via either radio-frequency imaging converted from Doppler shift data – which the government agency said will be able to identify stealthy naval targets in all weather conditions – or an infrared seeker capable to discriminating specific targets.

Unarmed Hypersonic Missile Tested

The United States announced, on 20 March, that it has successfully tested an unarmed prototype of a hypersonic missile, a nuclear-capable weapon that could accelerate the arms race between superpowers. The Pentagon said a test glide vehicle flew at hypersonic speeds – more than five times the speed of sound, or Mach 5 – to a designated impact point. The joint Army-Navy test was carried out on March 19 from the Pacific Missile Range facility in Kauai, Hawaii. The test was for the military’s common-hypersonic glide body, or C-HGB weapon, designed to be launched from a rocket that could be land-, air- or sea-based.

The test followed the first joint US Army and Navy flight experiment in October 2017, when the prototype missile demonstrated it could glide in the direction of a target at hypersonic speed.

The Pentagon is pressing to catch up with rivals Moscow and Beijing in the race to develop hypersonics, even as it recognizes they could dangerously raise the risks of a nuclear conflict, as countries struggle to build defenses against them.

In its fiscal 2021 budget the US Defense Department requested $3.2 billion for hypersonic programmes, up from $2.6 billion in 2020. The goal is a deployable hypersonic capability by 2023, though that could be difficult.

Russia and China

In December 2019, Russia declared it had placed into service its first Avangard hypersonic missile, making it the first country to claim an operable hypersonic weapon. Russian officials claimed that in tests it had reached speeds of up to Mach 27, roughly 33,000 kilometers per hour.

China is also investing significantly in their development. Last October it displayed its DF-17 hypersonic glide vehicle in its national day military parade. The US military is meanwhile pouring money into advanced missile defense research to find ways to protect against hypersonics.

Layered Missile Defense

The MDA, in cooperative work with Israel and Japan, is planning to build next-generation interceptor and space-based sensors to track fast moving and fast maneuvering threats such as hypersonic weapons.

A system called Command and Control Battle Management Communications is being built that will allow operators to pass control or tracking information between various ballistic missile systems, such as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), Patriot, Standard Missile-6 and Aegis.

Sm3 Block 1B missiles are in production now. These are designed for midcourse engagement from ships and Aegis ashore sites. The SM3 Block 2A, going into production now will be tested later in 2020 against an intercontinental ballistic missile target. Upgraded early warning radars are being built in Alaska. The department is also seeking to produce a more capable THAAD design.

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India’s tactical and strategic defence capabilities got a boost with the DRDO establishing five laboratories, each in specialising in core area of futuristic technologies. The specialised areas of work for these laboratories are artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, cognitive technologies, asymmetric technologies and smart materials. These laboratories are located at Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad.

New and futuristic area of asymmetric technologies, which will change the way wars are fought, will be based out of campus of Jadavpur University in Kolkata. The research in hot and critical area of smart materials and their applications will be based out of Hyderabad. Research in the area of rapidly evolving artificial intelligence will be carried out at Bengaluru, while the all-important area of quantum technology will be based out of IIT Mumbai. The future is dependent on cognitive technologies and IIT Chennai will house the lab embarking in this area of research.

Directed Energy Weapons

Directed energy weapons (DEWs), like high-energy lasers and high-powered microwaves, will become strategic game-changers in the not-too-distant a future. DRDO was working on laser-based DEWs, which can disable missiles without debris.

DRDO/BARC’s KALI (Kilo Ampere Linear Injector) is a directed-energy weapon designed to work in such a way that if an enemy missile is launched towards India, it will quickly emit powerful pulses of Relativistic Electron Beam (REB) and destroy the target.

In contrast, the ASAT or anti-satellite missile that the DRDO tested on March 27, killed an orbiting Indian target satellite and left hundreds of small pieces as debris for a few months.

The DRDO’s Hyderabad-based lab, Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS) is the node for all related activities. In February 2014 the government sanctioned Rs 115 crore for development of “experimental technology modules for directed energy laser systems” by CHESS.

DRDO has an ongoing development of a 10-kilowatt DEW against UAV like targets, with “the establishment of critical technologies of precision tracking/pointing and laser beam combination”. The “system” has been tested up to a range of 800 meters at CHESS.

Development of DEWs and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons has been identified as a top-priority area in the 15-year TPCR chalked out by the defence ministry.

But the real challenge will be in achieving the declared aim to develop solid-state laser DEWs for aircraft and warships, which can destroy enemy ballistic missiles in their “boost phase itself.”.

The DRDO’s Laser Science & Technology Centre is working on an array of systems from “chemical oxygen iodine lasers” to “high-power fiber lasers” for strategic uses, which includes a 25-kilowatt laser to take on a ballistic missile du-ring its “terminal phase” at a distance of 5-7 km.

Current megawatt-class systems emphasize free-electron and diode-pumped alkali laser technologies. Recent developments in solid-state and fiber lasers, designed primarily for tactical engagement, feature lower-power systems tailored for forward-deployable platforms. They effectively meet technical challenges including power-scaling, beam quality and thermal management and packaging for use on appropriate operational platforms.

Microwave Energy Weapons

The modern explosively and electrically driven high-power microwave devices produce non-nuclear EMP effects. High-power microwave weapons have proven capable of gigawatt-class power output that can disrupt or even destroy modern electronics, but at comparatively short range. They can also be employed for counter-personnel applications such as crowd control or perimeter security.

Electronic effects that can be generated by radiofrequency systems can be characterised in Four main types :

• Upset – Altering the electrical state of a node (Jamming)
• Lock-Up – Electrical reset is required (System Reboot)
• Latch-Up – Electric Power to a node is cut-off (Blown fuse )
• Burnout – Physical damage to the electronics (Melting of Circuit Boards)

DRDO has developed High Power Microwave (HPM) modules and Terahertz devices.  The Microwave Power Module (MPM) was developed by MTRDC. This compact RF Power Module is capable of giving continuous RF Power in very wide frequency  band and could be used as transmitter for naval defence and civilian radars, communication and Electronic Warfare systems.

Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle

The HSTDV is an unmanned scramjet demonstration aircraft for hypersonic speed flight. It is being developed as a carrier vehicle for hypersonic and long-range cruise missiles, and will have multiple civilian applications including the launching of small satellites at low cost.

HSTDV is intended to attain autonomous scramjet flight for 20 seconds, using a solid rocket launch booster. The research will also inform India’s interest in reusable launch vehicles. The eventual target is to reach Mach 6 at an altitude of 32.5 km.

In the June 12, 2019 test, the cruise vehicle was mounted on an Agni-I solid rocket motor to take it to the required altitude. After the required altitude was reached and the Mach was achieved, the cruise vehicle was ejected out of the launch vehicle. Mid-air the Scramjet engine was auto-ignited, and propelled the cruise vehicle at Mach 6.

Due to technology denial of material for the scramjet engine, a new program was initiated and the materials were developed in-house. This led to self-sufficiency in the area and the scramjet engine was ground tested successfully for 20s instead of the initial 3s.

Hexapod by CAIR

The Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) has excelled in design and development of cutting edge technologies in the domains of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Command and Control, Networking, Information and Communication Security leading to development of mission critical products for secure battlefield information systems, communication, and management systems.

A key vertical at CAIR is ‘Intelligent Mobile Robotics’, which works on multi-disciplinary design and development of mobile robots and the associated intelligent algorithms.

One of the key technologies for realisation of Intelligent Mobile Robots is the capability of the robot to understand its environment and react in a context sensitive manner.

CAIR is presently developing Multi Agent Robotics Framework (MARF) through a multilayered architecture for enabling collaboration amongst a team of robots. The heterogeneous composition and collaboration capability can effectively contribute to a myriad of military applications, such as surveillance, exploration and mapping, search, and rescue, etc.

CAIR has developed six and four legged robots. These robots have three degrees of freedom legs giving them omni-directional motion capability. The robots have been equipped with ultrasonic sensors for obstacle detection and avoidance. The hexapod, six-legged robot, has reptilian leg configuration while the quadruped, four legged robot, has mammalian leg configuration. The quadruped has additionally been provided actuated wheels to enable hybrid locomotion capability. These platforms have given an insight into the implementation of stable gaits for legged locomotion.

CBRN Mini UGV by VRDE

Vehicle Research and Development Establishment developed CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear) Mini UGV is used for detection, sample collection and marking of CBRN contaminated (Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear) zones without risk of exposing personnel. UGV being unmanned/ tele-operated vehicles have upper edge over conventional manned NBC recce vehicles, specifically, in terms of personnel safety for the armed forces.

MUNTRA-M Unmanned Armoured Vehicle by CVRDE

Muntra-M is an unmanned armored vehicle developed by Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE). The name stands for “Mission Unmanned Tracked.”

While referred to as a “tank” by the Indian media, it is a conversion of the Soviet BMP-2 armored personnel carrier. Current variants are unarmed. Three variants exist: Muntra-S for surveillance, Muntra-M for mine clearing, and Muntra-N operating in nuclear or chemical contaminated zones.It has a minimum level of autonomous navigation through GPS waypoints with obstacle detection and avoidance.

Liquid Armour to Protect Troops

DRDO is developing “liquid armour” for use in bullet-proof jackets. Liquid armour is a material that remains in a state of a thick liquid or jelly under normal conditions, but changes its viscosity – it hardens under pressure or impact. Also called shear thickening fluid, it is composed of synthetic and nano particles of silica and metallic elements.

The project is being undertaken by DRDO’s Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in collaboration with National Chemicals Limited (NCL), a laboratory based in Pune under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi.

E-bombs

DRDO is developing an E-bomb which will emit electromagnetic shock waves on the communication networks of enemy forces. These shock waves will destroy electronic circuits and cripple communication networks in the field. These GPS enabled E-bombs can shoot at mobile targets, air defence systems, mobile or static radars, naval vessels with communication systems and even ill-shielded communication or electronic systems at a military base.

These bombs can be delivered by combat aircraft equipped to deliver guided munitions and cruise missiles.

AURA Combat UAV

AURA or Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft is an Indian initiative at building an Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) with special preference given to the stealth features. The AURA program is also meant to compete with the other programs like fifth-generation aircraft to provide the IAF with the best technically advanced UCAV which will form the backbone of the air force in the next decade .

One of the basic difference between the AURA & Rustom program is that the former is a stealth UCAV powered by a jet engine while the latter is a prop-based engine.

Nano Technologies

DRDO has endeavoured to take long term initiatives for advanced systems to employ them for force multiplication by utilizing nanotechnology through its multi-faceted human resource. Soldiers would make use of multifunctional nanostructures in future with mechanical, opto-electronic, chemical and biological functions and will have biotic/abiotic interface between body and equipment.

The DRDO labs have made concerted efforts for the development of defence oriented applications of nanotechnology, like biosensors, smart textiles with capability of self-cleaning, antimicrobial, NBC protection, water repellency and flame retardancy, etc. The efforts have resulted in successful development of nanotubes/nanowires based dry electrodes for remote physiological monitoring. DRDO is also engaged in development of nanoparticle based contrast molecular imaging agents and multimodal imaging probes for specifically targeting oncological and neurological disorders. Development of human and environmental safe novel nanocarriers for drug delivery, nano-inhalation therapy and nano-neutraceuticals are the prospective areas of DRDO.

DRDO has planned to set up nano materials research and production facilities at Hyderabad, Delhi and Kanpur to realise the potential of nano technology in modern warfare.

• Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL) has identified two applications of defence interest, namely cold cathode for vacuum microelectronics in collaboration with MTRDC and gas sensors for chemical agent detection along with DRDE.
• Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior has developed a biosensor for detection of pathogens (Malaria, Brucella & Typhoid) based on electrochemical principle.
• Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE), Dehradun has initiated work on Metamaterials, Photonic Crystals and Silicon Photonics. Metamaterials will allow us to tailor properties of materials or create materials with properties which are non-existing in natural materials. They can be used to make miniaturized antennas and communication systems; precise imaging systems in manufacturing, defense, and medicine as well as being used in military and space applications.
• Defence Materials and Stores Research & Development Establishment (DMSRDE), Kanpur has worked on growth of ZnO, In2O3, ZrO, undoped nanowires and doped nanowires (In with Zn etc.) for oxygen sensing.
• Microwave Tube Research and Development Center (MTRDC), Bangalore has taken up development of enabling technologies for vacuum microelectronic devices along with SSPL, SITAR, ARCI and Pune University as partners. Vacuum microelectronic devices are micrometer-scale devices with nano field emitters. They inherit the best properties of vacuum electronic devices like high, intrinsic radiation hardness and high-temperature operation compared with SSPAs. They find several military and civilian applications like active array radar, EW and communication.
• Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi has worked towards pentacene based FET and processable nanofibres as active material.
• Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL), Ambernath is working on composites of Poly (3-methyl thiophene)-Carbon Nanotubes for Solid Electrolyte Supercapacitors.
• Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL), Bangalore is progressing in the field of nano-sensors with Semiconducting Metal Oxide Nanomaterial based Gas Sensors, and is further planning to develop Gas Sensor Array based on Semi conducting Metal Oxide Nanomaterials for monitoring gases in defence environment.

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In 2013, DARPA announced the advanced One Shot XG program to substantially increase the efficiency of the military snipers. The program revolves around a small, mountable scope system that can either be placed on its spotting scope or on weapon’s barrel. The scope is designed to automatically calculate a number of decisive variables, such as wind conditions, weapon alignment etc., using an internal OS.

Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance

The Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance Program is a project initiated by DARPA, in which they are developing a class of smart and self guided bullets that can change their projected path during the flight to align with the movement of the target or due to any external factors that may drive the bullet off course.

It has an advanced real-time optical guidance systems that lets you track and direct projectiles – bullets to their targets by adjusting for weather, wind, target movement and other factors. In 2016, Russia also revealed that they are already working on a similar “smart bullet” designed to hit targets at a distance of up to 10 km.

Cornershot

This can be the biggest life saver of all in urban combat, where soldiers have to navigate buildings, walls and other obstacles, and if they could shoot their opponents without leaving the cover of a wall, then the risk involved will be greatly reduced. Of course, a bend barrel wouldn’t be such a good idea, so they had to improvise. And the Cornershot is what it led to. A nozzle mounted video camera relays a video feed to a screen on which soldiers can analyze the battleground and take on enemies with no risk of bringing harm to themselves.

Sonic Guns

Sonic and ultrasonic weapons (USW) are weapons of various types that use sound to injure, incapacitate, or kill an opponent. Some sonic weapons are currently in limited use or in research and development by military and police forces. Some of these weapons have been described as sonic bullets, sonic grenades, sonic mines, or sonic cannons. Some make a focused beam of sound or ultrasound; some make an area field of sound.

Extremely high-power sound waves can disrupt or destroy the eardrums of a target and cause severe pain or disorientation. This is usually sufficient to incapacitate a person. Less powerful sound waves can cause humans to experience nausea or discomfort. The use of these frequencies to incapacitate persons has occurred both in anti-citizen special operation and crowd control settings.

Laser Induced Plasma

Effect Weapon

The Pentagon is working on a weapon that uses lasers and plasma to transmit sound files, even human speech, directly to individual people at great distances. The lasers could be beamed down from military planes or other vehicles to issue instructions or disperse crowds of protestors or otherwise disgruntled people in the area. Individuals begin to hear strange, disembodied voices and see bright lights that come seemingly from nowhere, while others duck for cover from phantom machine gun fire or begin to feel a burning sensation.

This specific project, called Non-Lethal Laser Induced Plasma Effects (NL LIPE), aims to have a perfected a beam that can produce audible instructions and commands to an individual or a small group of people within three years and maybe have a practical prototype system ready in five years.

The Pentagon’s central less-than-lethal weapon office, called the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate (JNLWD), is working on it.

Russia’s Filin 5P-42

The Filin 5P-42, a new non-lethal light-based optical interference system designed for military and law enforcement use, is capable of effectively suppressing enemy optical systems including, sniper sights, laser rangefinders, guidance systems and thermal imagers in low light conditions.

By increasing or decreasing the number of emitters in a single system, and combining components with a lower or greater power output, it’s possible to create both strong stations for military and special purpose use and weaker ones for the civilian market, including use by large companies for security or for guarded facilities.

Filin is not so much a weapon as it is a system of protection against weapons. The system interferes with the enemy rifleman or gunner’s ability to aim correctly, to the extent that it may cause some hallucinatory symptoms. While lasers emits a rather powerful beam of light, and can damage both optics and a gunner’s sight, Filin does not blind the adversary.

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