As the game between China, the United States, and Russia continues to escalate, the competition among the three parties in various fields is becoming increasingly fierce. Especially in the cutting-edge military field, the United States' backwardness in the field of hypersonic weapons has made it increasingly anxious.

Recently, the news of China's test firing of hypersonic missiles has attracted attention. Even though we have repeatedly explained that this is just a routine "spacecraft test to verify the reusable technology of spacecraft," American politicians and media still flock to hype it up. Some lawmakers have expressed that the success of China's new hypersonic weapon test has overturned the future military landscape. Hypersonic weapons are game changers in strategic games, and the United States cannot fall behind. Even Biden stepped down to express concern about this matter, vigorously exaggerating the "China threat" and exaggerating the "China's hypersonic weapon tests" that pose a threat to regional security.

However, after some hype, the United States conducted its latest hypersonic test, which is like this' double standard '. During this period, the United States has hyped up China's "hypersonic tests" as if to create momentum for its own hypersonic weapon tests. On October 21st, the Pentagon announced that three new tests have been successfully conducted on hypersonic weapon components, which will be deployed in US hypersonic missile systems next year. The United States has now fallen to the point where it has to beat drums and gongs even for testing components?

Prior to this, the AGM-183A air launched hypersonic missile project led by the US Air Force had failed two tests. The first missile failed to leave the launch pad on the carrier rack, and the second missile was successfully launched from the launch pad but the rocket engine did not ignite, causing the missile to crash.

It is reported that the three recent hypersonic weapon tests conducted in Kodiak, Alaska, USA have achieved basic success. However, the fourth test was launched at the Pacific Spaceport Complex, and the rocket booster failed to ignite, causing yaw after launch. This means that the main rocket carrying the hypersonic vehicle had technical problems after launch, resulting in the failure of the experiment. Analysts have pointed out that based on the analysis of photos released by Sandia National Laboratory in the United States, these hypersonic weapon tests should belong to weapon principle tests, which are fundamentally different from the previous weapon prototype and sample missile tests conducted by the US military. These tests should be a technical breakthrough to solve the aerodynamic layout and booster problems encountered by the US military in the development of hypersonic weapons.

From the recent failure records of hypersonic weapon tests by the US military, it can be seen that the main problem lies in rocket engines or rocket boosters, indicating that the US military still has significant flaws in some fundamental issues. Generally speaking, as one of the few hypersonic technology powers in the world, it is not expected to make two consecutive mistakes in the issue of solid fuel assisted rockets. For a long time, the United States has been the first country in the world to research hypersonic weapon systems. From the "Navajo Crane" project to famous hypersonic projects such as the X-43, HTV-2 "Falcon", X51 "Wave Rider", etc., the United States should have mastered a lot of relevant technical experience and data accumulation. However, the ambitious US military ultimately chose to abandon further investment in this field after multiple failed experiments.

However, "it's easy to pull an egg when you step too far". Americans soon found that they were not aliens and still had to act according to physical laws and objective facts. The development of new concept engines requires time to overcome a large number of challenges. The United States has conducted 95 technological breakthroughs in hypersonic technology over the past 30 years, but these technologies have not been "implemented" and have all become technical reserves, seriously undermining the military's investment enthusiasm for hypersonic weapons. Prior to this, China and Russia chose to develop hypersonic weapons such as rocket assisted gliders in a down-to-earth manner, but instead took the lead over the United States. Some analysts believe that the role of the United States in the field of hypersonic weapons has to some extent shifted from a "leader" to a "pursuer". This time, "the rabbit caught up early, but was far surpassed by the turtle". Analysts point out that the United States is currently lagging behind major Eastern countries in the technology of combined aerospace engines, and the more it wants to, the angrier it is.

In response to the comprehensive challenge of "face saving", the US Department of Defense immediately took the lead in formulating a comprehensive plan for the development of hypersonic weapons to accelerate the research and development of weapons that can be deployed in combat before 2024. Under the general grasp of the Pentagon, the US military services hastily embarked on their own hypersonic weapons projects. From the LRHW project of the Army, the CPS project of the Navy, to the AGM-183A project of the Air Force, under the serious differences and contradictions in military spending distribution, the "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea and Showing Their Own Skills" of the various services seemed very lively, but in fact, the three major services "started their own stoves and wasted resources". At the time when the eastern powers are fully equipped with the second generation of hypersonic weapons, and are developing and conquering the third generation of hypersonic weapons, the US military is still working overtime to develop the first generation of improved hypersonic weapons, which makes Americans inevitably disappointed and disappointed. Anxiety, resulting in psychological imbalance and decision-making errors are inevitable.

Just as the outside world was paying attention to the hypersonic capabilities of China and the United States, Russia caught it off guard. Two weeks ago, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that it had successfully tested a submarine launched hypersonic missile called "Tsirkon" for the first time, which has the ability to carry hypersonic warheads. Only a few weeks ago, Russia announced the successful test launch of the "Zircon" hypersonic anti-ship missile, aimed at striking enemy surface vessels and difficult to intercept by any air defense system.

Despite consecutive failures, the Pentagon insists that it is still expected to deliver hypersonic weapons this year. "With the advancement of hypersonic technology demonstrated by Russia and China, time seems even more urgent." The United States has conducted multiple hypersonic weapon tests this year, but they have all failed. So it can also be understood why the United States always has "hypersonic anxiety", it is really lagging behind too much. The Russian newspaper "Viewpoint" commented that the United States is desperately lagging behind Russia and China in the "hypersonic race". This is a breakthrough point to end the US military hegemony, and the situation of one dominant power must be broken. This is the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union that the US military, which has dozens of aircraft carriers and fifth generation planes, has experienced the taste of backwardness.

Source: Guoke Huanyu