Chinese hypersonic research

[55100864]

As matter of fact,china never disclose strategic weapon test, whether it's success or failure，it has always the Washington Free Beacon who disclose chinese strategic weapon test, Washington Free Beacon has become the spokesman of PLA.

 

[Jlaw]

cn should post least abt this. it should stay hidden and keep enemies with bad intention guessing. anyway well done with the sky show

US is spying on China 24/7 with spies and satellites. All the military tests done in China are first reported by US news media, never first by Chinese media.

 

[onebyone]

The U.S. Defense Department should invest heavily in an emerging class of high-speed platforms that could help the military overcome a variety of potential enemy defenses by hitting targets at several times the speed of sound, according to a new think tank report.

Hypersonic weapons are like missiles, but they’re capable of reaching speeds of 3,600 miles per hour or more. They promise to “revolutionize military affairs in the same fashion that stealth did a generation ago and the turbojet engine did a generation before,” argues a study released Tuesday by the Air Force Association’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

Related: Here’s the New, Secret Warplane Everyone Will Soon Be Talking About

Once realized, the incredibly fast projectiles would allow the U.S. to strike targets deep in enemy territory, even if it were defended by anti-air systems, simply because of their speed would cut hours-long transcontinental flights down to minutes. The weapons also could lessen the threat to U.S. airmen, since piloted aircraft like fighter jets or bombers would be able to do their job faster.

China and Russia are already investing in the technology, the report notes. Beijing has conducted at least five tests of its Wu-14 hypersonic strike vehicle in the last two years. That platform consists of launching a rocket to the upper atmosphere, then releasing a glider that reaches hypersonic speeds upon descent.

Meanwhile, Moscow plans to tests its new hypersonic weapon by 2020.

“These developments portend severe costs for the loser in this competition. The U.S. not only would cede decades worth of investment, test, research, and experimentation in this arena, but would also face strategic vulnerability if other nations field a successful hypersonic weapon first,” according to the study.

Related: The Air Force’s New Bomber Gets a Name: Meet the B-21

The U.S. isn’t coming at the problem cold, though.

Congress has appropriated millions for hypersonic tests and research and development. In a 2013 test, the X-51 Waverider, similar to a cruise missile and powered by a supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) engine, flew at speeds around 3,500 mph for over three minutes before it ran out of fuel and crashed in the Pacific Ocean.

Despite the seemingly successful test, another experiment, this time dubbed the Hypersonic Air Breathing Weapon Concept, isn’t slated for another four or five years.

The U.S. investment “is now at risk due to indecision and vacillation. Having pioneered hypersonic flight, the United States must redouble its efforts to retain its lead in hypersonics,” according to the Mitchell report.

Related: How the Air Force’s New Planes Could Bankrupt the Pentagon

The study pointedly aimed at Congress first recommends that lawmakers first recognize the potential of the blisteringly fast technology; second, it recommends lawmakers help the Pentagon chart a path “for moving forward based on maturing incremental, realistic and achievable technologies leading to practical hypersonic weapons.”

It also recommended putting the Air Force in the lead of all hypersonic research and development and making the Defense Department establish a “realistic” acquisition strategy.

The authors envision an air-launched medium-range hypersonic strike weapon in the 2020s; a more-capable offensive, intelligence-gathering weapon in the 2030s; and an “eventual goal of a persistent, reusable hypersonic” aircraft in the 2040s.

The Next Arms Race for the US, China and Russia: Hypersonic Weapons - Yahoo Finance

 

[onebyone]

When analyzing a country’s investment in expensive next-generation defense technologies, it is important to understand the driving forces behind its development. A useful lens to analyze new innovations is the technology-push and market-pull framework. Innovation literature traditionally defines a technology-push as an invention that is “pushed” through research and development (R&D) without consideration for the intended use, while a market-pull is defined as R&D arising from an identified market need (Managing Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Technology-Based Firms, 1994). When applying this model to the defense sector, it is also important to consider the principal-agent model. In this case, the defense economy is the agent, which acts in service of the military, the principal (China's Emergence as a Defense Technological Power, 2013). The recent and rapid development of China’s hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) technology presents an interesting case to apply these concepts. Because China’s HGV program is highly secretive, the motivations of its program can support both sides of the technology-push and market-pull dichotomy.

Recent Developments of Hypersonic Glide Vehicles:

The United States, China, and Russia have all invested copious amounts of time and money into developing different forms of hypersonic weapons, with one of the more recent advancements being the HGV. Hypersonic glide vehicles are a new generation weapon that have utilized ballistic missiles or strategic bombers as their launchers. After being separated from the launcher, a HGV is intended to sustain flight at Mach 5 (approx. 3,836 mph) or above. Recent HGV tests have used a ballistic missile or strategic bomber. Although all ballistic missiles travel at hypersonic speeds, HGVs are unique because of their low altitude trajectory and potential to sustain an unpredictable flight path. The vehicles are reported to have both a conventional and nuclear application, and they allow for a faster attack with fewer support requirements than a modern strike force (Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, January 2016). Currently, the U.S., Russia, and China are the only three countries that have knowingly tested HGVs, each with different engines, launch platforms, ranges, and speeds.

These three countries have spent the last six years testing and developing this new technology. The United States has used a B-52 bomber to test the Boeing X-51A Waverider a total of four times starting in May 2010. The overall budget for the Waverider program was reported to be $300 million, and its final test was in May 2013 (X-51 Scramjet Engine Demonstrator, 2013). Although the Waverider program has ended, the United States will use it as a base for the development and testing of new hypersonic weapons models. Russia, on the other hand, has tested the Yu-71 five times from a SS-19 intercontinental ballistic missile. The first known Yu-71 test was in 2011, its most recent test occurred on April 19, 2016. China, however, has tested its DF-ZF a total of seven times to date, presumably using a DF-21 as a launch platform (Sina Military News, June 2015). It is speculated that the PRC could also launch its HGV from DF-11, 15, 16, 21, and 26 variants. This design launches the boost-glide vehicle into the atmosphere along a trajectory similar to a traditional ballistic missile. After the vehicle re-enters the earth’s atmosphere, it boosts itself back into the upper atmosphere. It then performs a pull up maneuver to control speed and lower its altitude before gliding into the target. The most recent DF-ZF test occurred on April 22, 2016.

The multitude of Chinese tests show that the country is dedicated to the successful research and development of this weapon, regardless of the high cost and uncertainty of the technology. Information on Chinese defense expenditures is kept very general, so it is unknown exactly how much has been spent on HGV research, development, and testing. The cost of the DF-ZF program is most likely comparable to the U.S. spending on the Waverider. In addition to the cost, there are still unknown factors that have gone into China’s decision to pursue hypersonic weapons. There are arguments supporting both sides of the technology-push or market-pull dichotomy, making the main driver for development unclear.

The DF-ZF as a Technology-Push:
China has not been explicit about the goals for the DF-ZF and its intentions are widely open for interpretation. China’s recent and periodic testing of this technology could be an indicator that it is pursuing the HGV for “techno-nationalist” benefits. The PRC’s 15-year “Medium- to Long-Term Plan for the Development of Science and Technology,” highlighted the nation’s desire to promote indigenous innovation and become the world leader in science and technology by the year 2050. This document outlined many areas for increased development, including national defense-related R&D (China’s 15-Year Science and Technology Plan, December 2006). The DF-ZF uses a different launcher than the United States’ Waverider, which shows that China is using its own development approach for this weapon. Because China values the perception of its indigenous technological advancement, it may have pushed for the development of this particular weapon in order to be perceived as a global leader in this field.

The United States uses scramjet engine technology in the Waverider. This is a more experimental and advanced approach to hypersonic weapons development than what is known about the design of China’s DF-ZF. However when comparing HGV technology, the frequency and recency of the Chinese tests makes its program appear to be more active and in the lead, especially since the Chinese tests have been more successful. The PRC has tested its DF-ZF seven times, achieving an 86% success rate, while the U.S. has only tested 4 times, and has a 50% success rate. Russia, however, recently tested the Yu-71 for the fifth time, giving it a 20% success rate. Because HGV testing is very expensive, China’s insistence on testing every few months could indicate that the successful development of this technology is its main priority. The PRC may be prioritizing its goal to beat the United States in a high-technology arms race, rather than focusing on the intended use of this weapon. If the Chinese government’s main motivation is prestige, then it can be argued they are running their program in the technology-push framework.

 

[onebyone]

The DF-ZF as a Market-Pull:
China has expressed its frustration with U.S. BMD in the East Asian region for the past decade (PRC MOD, 2015). Furthermore, other regional powers such as Russia, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea have also invested heavily in ballistic missile defense, making any sort of larger-scale engagement in the region quite challenging for China’s missile forces (Congressional Research Service, April 2015). Since HGVs potentially have the application to limit or prevent ballistic missile defense, it comes as no surprise that China has invested in a technology that has the potential to ameliorate these issues. If China chose to pursue HGV technology with this goal in mind, then the DF-ZF program can be seen as operating in direct service of a strategic military goal, thus, falling into the market-pull category.

This theory is supported by the nature of China’s HGV tests. Most have attempted to travel distances up to 1,750 km (1,087 miles) and have been launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province (China News Online, December 2014). If launched from basing headquarters, the DF-11A and DF-15B are able to reach Taiwan, while the DF-21 is able to reach Taiwan, the Philippines, southern Japan, South Korea, and North Korea. However, all of China’s DF model launchers are road-mobile and are not limited to being launched from specific missile bases. The reach of these weapons is also extended between 500 and 1,000 km by the glide vehicle, but it is unclear if this distance is accounted for in the Chinese tests or choice of launch vehicles (Tencent News, November 2015). If the additional distance was not accounted for in published distances, the HGV could have the ability to cover even the furthest parts of the South China Sea and potentially the Second Island Chain, which includes Guam. The reported test distances indicate that the PRC is priming these weapons to address its own perceived regional threats. If China successfully designs an operational medium-range HGV, it will have a better chance of delivering successful missile strikes against regional adversaries and key strategic targets. Given its regional focus—particularly on developing the ability to defeat the Taiwan militarily—a medium-range HGV lines up with China’s more immediate needs. These actions are indicative of a market-pull situation that has driven the PRC to develop and test a weapon that will meet its specific needs.

Bringing it All Together:


It can be argued that China’s development of the HGV is both driven by a technology-push and a market-pull. China’s main motivation to develop the hypersonic glide vehicle could be to reach this technological goal before any other country. But, on the other hand, China could be developing this weapon with clear military goals in mind. If the DF-ZF is being pursued as a technology-push, it is likely that the hypersonic arms race with the United States and Russia could deepen and become more pronounced. As a result, China will most likely maintain frequent testing of its HGV in order to keep up the appearance of technological achievement and superiority. If the HGV is being developed from a market-pull, then increased BMD in the region is a clear driver for China’s development. We can then assume that China is actively seeking out ways to improve its strike capabilities in the region. Whether or not China’s program is a pull, a push, or a mix of the two frameworks, it is important to try and increase our understanding of its motivation to actively pursue such an expensive and provocative weapons program.

Karen Montague is a Research Fellow at the Potomac Foundation, where she assists in war gaming and simulation development efforts and supports the research efforts on the "China’s 21st Century Strategic Arsenal"project. She earned her B.A. in International Studies from Texas A&M University in 2011 and M.S. in Defense and Strategic Studies from Missouri State University in 2013.

Erika Solem is a Ph. D. Fellow at the Potomac Foundation where she supports the research efforts onthe "China’s 21st Century Strategic Arsenal"project. She is a first year Ph. D. student at George Washington University with a focus on Chinese Space Policy and Defense. She has extensive experience both living and studying in China.

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/th...sonic-weapons-technology-push-or-16215?page=3

 

[seven7seven]

This article in essence says "China is doing better than us in HGV tech so they are just show offs"

 

[خره مينه لګته وي]

• Air Force study says US is falling behind in the hypersonic weapons race

• Experts warn that the 'leisurely pace' could leave US vulnerable to attacks

• Chinese J-16 strike fighter test-fired its giant missile earlier this month

• It came just days after Russia fired its Object 4202 hypersonic rocket

The United States is falling behind in the race to develop hypersonic weapons, experts have warned.

In the last month alone, both China and Russia claimed they’ve test fired high-speed missiles that could destroy targets hundreds of miles away.

And according to a new study from the Air Force, the ‘relatively leisurely pace’ of US hypersonic developments leaves the country vulnerable to such attacks.

Scroll down for video

Experts for the Air Force Studies Board at the National Academies of Science concluded that the US may face a threat from this ‘new class of weapons.’ This graphic from the report shows operational flight information for high-speed maneuvering weapons



Hypersonic missiles move at more than five times the speed of sound and can evade detection and defensive tactics with frequent manoeuvres and by travelling along the edge of Earth’s atmosphere.

In the new report, produced by experts for the Air Force Studies Board at the National Academies of Science, the committee concluded that the US may face a threat from this ‘new class of weapons,’ according to the the Washington Free Beacon

‘The People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation are already flight-testing high-speed manoeuvring weapons (HSMWs) that may endanger both forward-deployed US forces and even the continental United States itself,’ an executive summary of the report explains.

‘These weapons appear to operate in regimes of speed and altitude, with maneuverability that could frustrate existing missile defense constructs and weapon capabilities.’

__________________

THE HYPERSONIC RACE ​

__________________

Russia, China and the US are all racing to develop
hypersonic craft, which experts say could revolutionise
travel - and war.

Russia is believed to have recently tested its 'Object 4202' hypersonic
rocket, and the Us Air Firce has tested its 'WaveRider' hypersonic craft..
And, Chinese J-16 strike fighter test-fired the giant missile earlier this​

month, successfully destroying the target drone at a very long range.​

​

dailymail

 

[Foxtrot Delta]

Pentagon studies ways to counter hypersonic missile threat from China, Russia

By Bill Gertz - - Wednesday, February 22, 2017
The Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency has launched a study of innovative ways to counter advanced missile threats such as ultra-high-speed maneuvering hypersonic missiles.

“MDA understands the emerging threat posed by hypersonic glide vehicle and maneuvering ballistic missile warheads and is evaluating programs and technologies to address this threat,” MDA spokesman Chris Johnson told Inside the Ring.

The agency recently released a request for information that will seek to identify weapon concepts for defense against future advanced threats such as hypersonics, he said. The responses are due Friday and will be used to develop an “analysis of alternatives” planned for 2017.

Hypersonic missiles are under rapid development in China and Russia as a way to penetrate advanced air and missile defenses such as those developed by the Army and Navy. A major problem for current U.S. missile defenses is that all were designed from the ground up to target missiles with predictable and unchanging trajectories.

China’s DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle has been tested at least seven times, and Russia’s Yu-71 hypersonic strike weapon also has been tested several times. The gliders are launched atop ballistic missiles and travel along the edge of the atmosphere at speeds from Mach 5 to Mach 10 — 3,800 to 7,600 miles per hour.

The maneuvering strike vehicles can defeat all current U.S. missile defenses, including ground-based interceptors in California and Alaska, sea-based Aegis anti-missile systems and the land-based Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD.

Congress has been pushing the Pentagon to deal with the threat. The most recent defense authorization bill signed into law in December requires the Pentagon to create a dedicated office for emerging hypersonic missile threats.

The MDA disclosed the advanced missile threat study in a brief federal notice published last month.

A recent study by a panel of Air Force experts warned last fall that the U.S. is falling behind in the hypersonic missile race.

“The People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation are already flight-testing high-speed maneuvering weapons (HSMWs) that may endanger both forward-deployed U.S. forces and even the continental United States,” the study said. “These weapons appear to operate in regimes of speed and altitude, with maneuverability that could frustrate existing missile defense constructs and weapon capabilities.”

The study concluded that there was “no formal strategic operational concept or organizational sense of urgency” regarding the threat. It also faulted what it called the Pentagon’s “lack of leadership” in developing countermeasures and defense solutions

Source : http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/feb/22/china-russia-hypersonic-missile-threat-under-revie/

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

Two articles appeared in Aviation Week regarding Chinese hypersonic research.

Does anyone have access to Aviation Week?

I would love if someone can share the articles here.

http://aviationweek.com/technology/china-reveals-key-test-progress-hypersonic-combined-cycle-engine

http://aviationweek.com/technology/china-takes-wraps-national-hypersonic-plan

@cirr @cnleio @Shotgunner51

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

Somebody from Indian side:

@anant_s @Nilgiri

Anybody has access to Aviation Week?

 

[samsara]

And here are the short bait lines for paid subscription...

China Reveals Key Test Progress On Hypersonic Combined-Cycle Engine
http://aviationweek.com/technology/china-reveals-key-test-progress-hypersonic-combined-cycle-engine

Chinese engineers say ambitious turbo-aided rocket and scramjet are on track for 2025 flight tests
Apr 10, 2017 Guy Norris | Aviation Week & Space Technology

Chinese engineers will test a prototype combined-cycle hypersonic engine later this year that they hope will pave the way for the first demonstration flight of a full-scale propulsion system by 2025. If successful, the engine could be the first of its type in the world to power a hypersonic vehicle or the first stage of a two-stage-to-orbit spaceplane. Combined-cycle systems have long been studied as a potential means to access to space and long-range hypersonic vehicles because they use ...


China Takes Wraps Off National Hypersonic Plan
http://aviationweek.com/technology/china-takes-wraps-national-hypersonic-plan

Major investments, test facilities and swift achievements underpin China’s rapid rise in hypersonics
Apr 10, 2017 Guy Norris | Aviation Week & Space Technology

For many years, any coherent view of China’s highly ambitious hypersonic research program, just like its mist-shrouded coastline, has been all but impossible to see from the outside world. However, following the apparent decision to reveal more about its latest hypersonic research activities, the fog is lifting for the first time over at least some of China’s test and development efforts in high-speed flight. What has come into view is a cohesive, nationwide hypersonic research ...

Please subscribe to read more...

 

[cirr]

Two articles appeared in Aviation Week regarding Chinese hypersonic research.

Does anyone have access to Aviation Week?

I would love if someone can share the articles here.

http://aviationweek.com/technology/china-reveals-key-test-progress-hypersonic-combined-cycle-engine

http://aviationweek.com/technology/china-takes-wraps-national-hypersonic-plan

@cirr @cnleio @Shotgunner51

Forget about hypersonic research and know that

CAS is close to developing China's first quantum computer.

Genuine quantum computer, not D-WAVE like pretender.

中科院正研制中国首台量子计算机 有望几年内成功

2017-04-10

关键字:中科院量子计算机中国首台量子计算机

据中新网10日报道，中国科学院院长白春礼10日透露，中科院正在研制中国首台量子计算机。在会后接受中新网记者采访时表示，预计量子计算机最近几年有望研制成功。

中科院院长白春礼作报告。中新网记者 李金磊 摄

4月10日，中国旅游协会六届二次理事会暨旅游产业转型升级发展论坛在河北廊坊召开。中国科学院院长白春礼在论坛上作了“中国科技发展前沿应用”的主题报告。

白春礼表示，科学家已经能够对单粒子和量子态进行调控，开始从“观测时代”走向“调控时代”。量子通信、量子计算机等将产生变革性突破。

据介绍，使用亿亿次的“天河二号”超级计算机求解一个亿亿亿变量的方程组，所需时间为100年。而使用一台万亿次的量子计算机求解同一个方程组，仅需0.01秒。

白春礼指出，去年中国成功发射全球首颗量子通信卫星，中国在量子通信方面已经走在世界前列。

(记者 李金磊)

http://www.guancha.cn/Science/2017_04_10_402918.shtml

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

Forget about hypersonic research and know that

CAS is close to developing China's first quantum computer.

Genuine quantum computer, not D-WAVE like pretender.

中科院正研制中国首台量子计算机 有望几年内成功

2017-04-10

关键字:中科院量子计算机中国首台量子计算机

据中新网10日报道，中国科学院院长白春礼10日透露，中科院正在研制中国首台量子计算机。在会后接受中新网记者采访时表示，预计量子计算机最近几年有望研制成功。

中科院院长白春礼作报告。中新网记者 李金磊 摄

4月10日，中国旅游协会六届二次理事会暨旅游产业转型升级发展论坛在河北廊坊召开。中国科学院院长白春礼在论坛上作了“中国科技发展前沿应用”的主题报告。

白春礼表示，科学家已经能够对单粒子和量子态进行调控，开始从“观测时代”走向“调控时代”。量子通信、量子计算机等将产生变革性突破。

据介绍，使用亿亿次的“天河二号”超级计算机求解一个亿亿亿变量的方程组，所需时间为100年。而使用一台万亿次的量子计算机求解同一个方程组，仅需0.01秒。

白春礼指出，去年中国成功发射全球首颗量子通信卫星，中国在量子通信方面已经走在世界前列。

(记者 李金磊)

http://www.guancha.cn/Science/2017_04_10_402918.shtml

From what I read in your article, using Google translate, I can't understand why you are saying that they are close to developing.

 

[cirr]

From what I read in your article, using Google translate, I can't understand why you are saying that they are close to developing.

For quantum computer, "close to developing" means "a few years away from having".

Be patient, you will hear more and more about this project in the next couple of years.

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

For quantum computer, "close to developing" means "a few years away from having".

Be patient, you will hear more and more about this project in the next couple of years.

From what I understand, the two pieces that I quote were heavily based on a recent Hypersonic Conference held in Xiamen.

Can you please give some sources?

I am too eager to read the first two articles. It would be awesome if I can some how get access to those articles.