Next-Generation Advanced Weapons of the Trump Administration [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

Uncertainty in Stealth Fighter Replacement Project Amid Elon Musk Opposition
Final Stages of Advanced Weapon Development Including Next-Generation Rifle and Strategic Bomber

As the second term of the United States Donald Trump administration approaches, interest in the U.S. military's next-generation weapons is increasing. The U.S. defense budget is $800.6 billion (approximately 1,042 trillion KRW). This amount exceeds the combined defense budgets of China, ranked second ($293.3 billion), through South Korea, ranked tenth ($50.2 billion). With its economic power, the U.S. is leading the development of future weapons, making it inevitable for countries around the world to pay close attention.

Changes in next-generation weapons are expected under the upcoming Trump administration. A representative project is the U.S. Air Force fighter jet program. The U.S. Air Force had planned to select the contractor for the ‘Next Generation Air Dominance’ (NGAD) fighter jet, which will replace the existing F-22 stealth fighter, by the end of this year. However, the decision has been postponed to the next administration.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has had a significant influence. At the end of last year on X (formerly Twitter), Musk stated, "Manned fighters are useless in the drone era," arguing that reusable drones can do everything a fighter jet can without the costs associated with having pilots. The F-35 fighter jets currently operated by the U.S. military have been plagued by production delays, cost overruns, and design and software issues.

XM7 rifle developed by Swiss-German company SIG Sauer. (Photo by Namuwiki)

However, for next-generation weapons already under development, deployment is likely as they are nearing completion. Since 2017, the U.S. Army has been conducting the Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program. It also includes Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF), Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV), Future Vertical Lift (FVL), networks, air defense, and missile defense, but the NGSW program has been prioritized as the top task. To develop this weapon system, the U.S. military established the Army Futures Command (AFC) in October 2017, a command led by a general officer.

XM7 Ammunition Replacement... Enhanced Range and Penetration

The company ultimately selected for the NGSW project is the U.S. subsidiary of the Swiss company SIG Sauer. The test designation for the NGSW project is XM5, which was later renamed XM7. Compared to the M4 rifle, it was developed to be about 400g heavier but with increased destructive power. The ammunition was changed. Instead of 5.56mm rounds, 6.8mm ammunition was adopted. It is designed to have a range two to three times longer than existing firearms and to penetrate most currently available body armor, causing lethal injuries to the human body.

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) also announced plans to mount the XM7 automatic rifle on Ghost Robotics' quadruped robot (Vision 60 Q-UGV). The U.S. Army has already completed tests mounting the M4A1 carbine on a quadruped robot, explaining that it is fully feasible. The Vision 60 is a quadruped unmanned ground vehicle (Q-UGV) used primarily for military purposes, commonly referred to as a robot dog. The U.S. Air Force has purchased Ghost Robotics' Vision 60 for base perimeter patrols, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is reportedly conducting pilot use for monitoring illegal border crossings.

AFP Yonhap News

There are also ground weapons already deployed. The M1A2C Abrams tank is one of them. In 2020, the U.S. Army first deployed this tank to the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. The M1A2C, the latest model among the M1A2 series tanks, is equipped with Next Generation Armor Protection (NGAP) that enhances defense capabilities. The remote fire control system uses the latest thermal imaging equipment. It uses the 120mm Advanced Multi-Purpose (AMP) tank round. AMP is a new type of ammunition replacing the 120mm high-explosive anti-tank rounds currently used by the U.S. Army. Notably, the tank is equipped with electronic warfare equipment capable of neutralizing improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a new threat to tanks. The electronic warfare system on the M1A2C disrupts radio signals to block detonation signals of IEDs triggered by wireless devices such as cell phones.

Enhanced Abrams Tank... Possible Deployment to U.S. Forces Korea

Taiwan and Australia have also decided to introduce the M1A2C. Considering this, some speculate that it could be deployed to U.S. Forces Korea. If deployed, it is expected to be assigned to the 3rd Armored Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division stationed in the front line.

The U.S. Air Force has also completed the development of next-generation weapons. In February 2022, the U.S. Air Force unveiled the next-generation stealth strategic bomber B-21 ‘Raider’ at Northrop Grumman’s plant in Palmdale, California. The following November, it completed its first test flight. The B-21 is the U.S. military’s stealth bomber appearing for the first time in over 30 years since the B-2 Spirit bomber’s first flight in 1989. The U.S. has invested $1 trillion (approximately 1,300 trillion KRW) in this project to counter China’s nuclear capabilities. It is the first strategic weapon introduced in the nuclear deterrence restructuring effort and is expected to serve as a strategic asset for deterrence against North Korea in the future.

Next-Generation Stealth Strategic Bomber B-21 'Raider'

The B-21 is smaller than the current main stealth strategic bomber, the B-2, but incorporates advanced technology. Its stealth performance has improved compared to over 30 years ago, allowing it to strike anywhere in the world secretly. It can carry nuclear weapons as well as conventional precision-guided munitions. It is also capable of unmanned operation. The U.S. Air Force plans to produce and operate at least 100 units, with deployment expected in the late 2020s. The production cost per unit is approximately $700 million (about 924.3 billion KRW).

Next-generation transport aircraft ‘X-BWB’ (Photo by U.S. Air Force website)

Next-generation transport aircraft will also be deployed. The next-generation transport aircraft equipped with aerial refueling capabilities was developed by the Los Angeles-based startup Jet Zero. The project is named ‘X-BWB.’ Jet Zero, teamed with defense contractor Northrop Grumman, outcompeted the Boeing-Airbus consortium and received up to $235 million (approximately 315 billion KRW) in funding from the U.S. Air Force to lead military aircraft development.

Modified Airframe Increases Range and Adds Stealth Features

The next-generation transport aircraft was developed based on a blended wing body (BWB) design, where the wing and fuselage are integrated. This is different from the traditional tube-and-wing (TAW) design, reducing fuel consumption by half and drag by more than 30%. This means the operational range of the transport aircraft is significantly extended. The exterior is also unique, with engines mounted on top of the fuselage. This reduces noise and allows for the application of stealth technology. It is planned to be equipped with General Electric’s GE90-76B high-bypass engine, and the cargo capacity is reported to reach 95 tons.