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Super-fast Hypersonic Weapon Tested By U.S. Army

The U.S. military has unveiled a hypersonic flying missile that can strike a target anywhere in the world in just 30 minutes, according to the Daily Mail. The Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW), which travels five times the speed of sound, was successfully tested yesterday. It was launched by rocket from Hawaii at 11.30am, glided south westwards through the upper atmosphere over the Pacific at ‘hypersonic speed’ before hitting its target on the Kwajalein atoll in the Marshall Islands – some 2,500 miles away.

The development comes hot on the heels of the U.S. Air Force announcement that it has taken delivery of eight, 15-ton bunker buster bombs, called the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, that can blow apart 200ft of concrete. If the advanced AHW technology is successful, it will mean America will no longer have to rely on stationing missiles in foreign countries.  Although, the Pentagon did not reveal exactly how fast the AHW, which unlike traditional ballistic missiles can be manoeuvred, reached, spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Melinda Morgan said the test was aimed at gathering data on ‘aerodynamics, navigation, guidance and control, and thermal protection technologies’.

The U.S. Army’s AHW project is part of the ‘Prompt Global Strike’ programme which seeks to give the U.S. military the means to deliver conventional weapons anywhere in the world within an hour. Scientists classify hypersonic speeds as those that exceed Mach 5 – or five times the speed of sound – 3,728 miles per hour. On August 11, the Pentagon is reported to have test flew another hypersonic glider dubbed HTV-2, which is capable of flying 16,776 miles per hour. The AHW’s range is less than that of the HTV-2, the Congressional Research Service said in a report, without providing specifics.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2063117/U-S-Army-tests-hypersonic-weapon-travels-times-speed-sound–ANYWHERE-earth-30mins.html#ixzz1e49b2i6N

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12 Comments

12 Comments

  1. Anita

    November 19, 2011 at 12:45 am

    I hope this brings global peace and not the lingering threat of a global destruction.

    • Mike

      November 19, 2011 at 10:43 am

      I also hope that it doesn’t lead to an American-domonated world; greed and ruthlessnes are unacceptable to most Faiths! However, it is good that there is no reason for U.S. bases in other Countries.

  2. Stephan Hilson

    November 19, 2011 at 2:21 pm

    I wonder if what kind of target it is that the US army test this super fast hypersonic weapon. It is because it will definitely create a damage on whatever place they are going to be tested upon. I hope that Kwajalein won’t contain any huge damage from the rocket. I just wish that there will be no more war or differences in the future so that this kind of weapon won’t be used.

  3. Eugene

    November 20, 2011 at 6:00 am

    I’m afraid to live further on because every 30 minutes there’s a possiblity of me being hit by missile. But seriously – are they going to dominate the world?

  4. Nishadha

    November 21, 2011 at 3:15 am

    The only good thing to come out of this is that there might be reduced US bases in other parts of the world. I suppose you should always be prepared for, but I think other countries would soon be arming themselves after seeing this.

  5. CorinneC

    November 21, 2011 at 1:09 pm

    Wow, that’s pretty scary.. what if it went rouge and hit a different target? 30 mins?

  6. Maja

    November 21, 2011 at 7:32 pm

    It is display of advance technology. Us is forwarding towards destruction and it is threat for US opponents.

  7. Joseph

    November 23, 2011 at 1:57 am

    They are really advancing in war technology. One thing I hope is that it doesn’t fall in the wrong hands. That could lead to a very big disaster.

  8. Danny

    November 24, 2011 at 4:52 am

    This is very impressive but I’m sure it will piss China off.
    It kind of feels like there is already a cold war going on between the U.S. and China.
    U.S. afraid to lose their physical dominance after losing their economical dominance. Now already showing their naval muscles by stationing a big part of the American fleet near the Chinese seas.

  9. Josh

    December 18, 2011 at 3:56 am

    That is a very scary weapon. But it is always good to be prepared for the worst. It will be a good thought that the US will not have to depend on other countries to have missle bases in though .

  10. Numero RIO

    June 22, 2012 at 2:13 pm

    his is very impressive but I’m sure it will piss China off.
    It kind of feels like there is already a cold war going on between the U.S. and China.
    U.S. afraid to lose their physical dominance after losing their economical dominance. Now already shotest Numero RIO Orange

  11. Donald quixote

    March 4, 2014 at 11:52 pm

    I’m always amazed when I hear about technology like this. This is absolutely amazing. I hope we never are put in the situation where we are using something like this though.

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