[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Increasing Number of Hypersonic Missile Developing Countries

Iran is expected to be included among the countries developing hypersonic missiles as it unveiled its domestically developed hypersonic missile. Hypersonic missiles are considered 'game changers' on the battlefield, especially if equipped with nuclear warheads, as they are difficult to defend against with existing air defense systems.

China's supersonic missile Dongfeng (DF)-17 [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 6th, Iran revealed its domestically developed hypersonic missile, the 'Fattah' (Persian for 'Conqueror'). Subsequently, Nasser Kanaani, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated in a press release, "Western interventionist remarks and criticisms regarding the development of hypersonic missiles are unfounded," adding, "Iran's missiles are entirely legal activities based on international law."

The speed of hypersonic missiles exceeds five times the speed of sound (1.7 km/s, Mach 5). Existing air defense systems are helpless against hypersonic missile attacks. Even the U.S. Missile Defense (MD) system struggles to intercept these missiles. This is why countries are fervently pursuing hypersonic missile technology.

Hypersonic missiles are divided into Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGV) and Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCM). HGVs fly outside the atmosphere like ballistic missiles, then glide freely to target their objectives, reaching speeds up to Mach 20. HCMs fly at low altitudes like cruise missiles and can reach speeds up to Mach 15.

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The first country to develop hypersonic missiles, though somewhat controversial, is China. The hypersonic missile Dongfeng (東風·DF)-17 was first unveiled at the National Day military parade on October 1, 2019, marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The DF-17 is a hypersonic missile flying at Mach 10 (ten times the speed of sound, approximately 12,240 km/h). It is classified as a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) with a maximum range of 2,500 km.

In August last year, ahead of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army, China Central Television (CCTV) publicly released footage of a missile launch believed to be the DF-17. The 81-second video showed a missile, presumed to be the DF-17, launched from a transporter erector launcher (TEL) stationed on a desert highway. This was interpreted as a show of force by China in response to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

Subsequently, China developed the advanced hypersonic missile 'Dongfeng (東風·DF)-27,' based on the DF-17, capable of striking major U.S. military bases in the Asia-Pacific region such as Hawaii and Guam. It is reported to have been deployed operationally for over four years since 2019. The DF-27 is a state-of-the-art weapon featuring a single hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) and the capability to carry multiple warheads.

Russia announced the operational deployment of its hypersonic missile 'Avangard' at the end of 2019. The Avangard, a type of intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), reportedly reaches speeds exceeding Mach 20 and has a range of over 6,000 km. It can carry up to 16 independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs) with nuclear warheads, each with a yield ranging from 100 to 900 kilotons (equivalent to 1000 tons of TNT).

Among the six 'next-generation weapons' revealed by President Vladimir Putin in his March 2018 speech is the Kinzhal, meaning 'dagger' in Russian. The Kinzhal can reach speeds of Mach 10 (approximately 12,240 km/h), can be equipped with nuclear warheads, and can be mounted on fighter jets or bombers. Russia has reportedly used the Kinzhal in attacks on Ukraine, including bombing an underground ammunition depot in Melatyn, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, southwestern Ukraine.

Along with the sea-based 'Zircon,' the Kinzhal is a representative hypersonic missile of the Russian military. It can fly at altitudes of 30 to 40 km at speeds up to Mach 9 and can strike both land and sea targets up to 1,000 km away. It is known to be capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads.

The United States is lagging behind China and Russia. Currently, the U.S. Army is developing four types of HGVs, the Navy is developing one type of Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM), and the Air Force is developing four types of HCMs, all nearing operational deployment. The U.S. Army plans to deploy the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) next year. The U.S. Navy intends to equip Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyers with hypersonic missiles by 2025, with submarine deployment scheduled for a later date. Earlier this year, the U.S. Air Force successfully conducted a test launch of a hypersonic missile from a B-52 strategic bomber.

North Korea appears to have made some progress in developing hypersonic missiles. On January 5 and 11, it claimed to have launched hypersonic missiles into the East Sea from the Jagang Province area. It asserted that the HGV-type Hwasong-8 successfully struck a target 1,000 km away. However, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense stated that "the missile range and lateral maneuvering capabilities claimed by North Korea are exaggerated."

South Korea has also begun developing hypersonic vehicle propulsion technology. The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) completed the foundational technology for liquid ramjet engines, the core technology for scramjet engines used in HCM propulsion, in 2007. Currently, researchers are reviewing detailed designs and manufacturing equipment to verify the designs. Based on current progress, missile assembly is expected to begin in the second half of this year, with test launches possible next year. The Ministry of National Defense began formally expressing its commitment to hypersonic missile development in 2020, and the Air Force decided to initiate development of hypersonic air-to-ground missiles as a new requirement at the end of 2021.