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U 71 hypersonic vehicle. The fastest hypersonic aircraft in the world. Russian hypersonic aircraft. Russian plans for the development of hyperweapons

It has long ended, the world has not become safer. The dangers of this century come not only from terrorist groups, relations between the leading world powers also leave much to be desired. Russia is blackmailing the United States with "radioactive ashes", while the Americans are surrounding Russia with a missile defense system, laying new strategic submarines and testing anti-missiles. Increasingly, high-ranking officials and multi-star generals of both countries are declaring the creation of new types of strategic weapons and the modernization of old ones. One of the directions of the new arms race has become the development of hypersonic aircraft that can be used as an effective means of delivering nuclear charges.

Recently, information has appeared about the testing in Russia of a new hypersonic unmanned aerial vehicle Yu-71 with unique characteristics. The news was noticed in the foreign press, it is extremely scarce, and we learned practically nothing about the promising complex. In Russian sources, the information is even more stingy and contradictory, and in order to understand in general terms what the new Yu-71 weapon could be, you need to remember why the military used hypersound in general.

History of hypersonic vehicles

Hypersound is far from a new direction in the development of means of attack. The creation of aircraft with a speed several times greater than the speed of sound (more than Mach 5) began in Nazi Germany, at the very beginning of the rocket era. This work received a powerful impetus after the onset of the nuclear age and went in several directions.

In different countries, they sought to create devices capable of developing hypersonic speed, there were attempts to create hypersonic cruise missiles, as well as suborbital aircraft. Most of these projects ended in vain.

In the 60s of the last century, the development of the North American X-15 hypersonic aircraft project, which could perform suborbital flights, began in the United States. Thirteen of his flights were considered suborbital, their height exceeded 80 kilometers.

In the Soviet Union there was a similar project called "Spiral", which, however, was never implemented. According to the plan of the Soviet designers, the jet booster was supposed to reach hypersonic speed (6 M), and then a suborbital vehicle equipped with rocket engines took off from its back. This device was planned to be used mainly for military purposes.

Work in this direction is being carried out today by private companies that plan to use such devices for suborbital tourism. However, these developments are already at the current level of technological development and, most likely, will end successfully. Today, to ensure the high speed of such vehicles, ramjet engines are often used, which will make the use of such aircraft or drones relatively cheap.

The creation of cruise missiles with hypersonic speed is also moving in the same direction. In the United States, the government program Global Prompt Strike (quick or lightning-fast global strike) is being developed, which is aimed at gaining the ability to deliver a powerful non-nuclear strike on any part of the planet within one hour. As part of this program, new hypersonic vehicles are being developed that can both carry a nuclear charge and do without it. As part of the Global Prompt Strike, several projects of cruise missiles with hypersonic speed are being promoted, but the Americans cannot yet boast of serious achievements in this direction.

Similar projects are being developed in Russia. The fastest cruise missile in service is the Brahmos anti-ship missile, developed jointly with India.

If we talk about spacecraft that develop hypersonic speeds, then we should remember reusable spacecraft that develop speeds many times greater than the speed of sound during descent. Such ships include American shuttles and the Soviet Buran, but their time has most likely already passed.

If we are talking about unmanned hypersonic aerial vehicles, then it should be noted hypersonic warheads, which are the warhead of ballistic missile systems. In fact, these are warheads capable of maneuvering at hypersonic speeds. They are also often referred to as gliders for their ability to glide. Today it is known about three countries in which they are working on such projects - these are Russia, the USA and China. It is believed that China is the leader in this direction.

The American AHW (Advanced Hypersonic Weapon) hypersonic warhead passed two tests: the first successfully (2011), and during the second, the rocket exploded. According to some sources, the AHW glider can reach speeds of up to Mach 8. The development of this device is carried out as part of the Global Prompt Strike program.

In 2014, China conducted the first successful tests of the new WU-14 hypersonic glider. There is evidence that this warhead can reach speeds of about Mach 10. It can be installed on various types of Chinese ballistic missiles, in addition, there is information that Beijing is actively working on creating its own hypersonic ramjet engine, which can be used to create vehicles launched from aircraft.

The Yu-71 (project 4202), which was tested at the beginning of this year, should become the Russian response to the developments of strategic competitors.

Yu-71: what is known today

In mid-2019, an article in the American edition of The Washington Free Beacon caused a great resonance. According to journalists, in February 2019, a new Yu-71 military hypersonic aircraft was tested in Russia. The material reported that the Russian apparatus can reach speeds of up to 11 thousand km / h, as well as maneuver on the trajectory of the descent. Such characteristics make it practically invulnerable to any modern missile defense systems.

Yu-71 is also called a glider. It was launched in near-Earth orbit, and the intercontinental ballistic missile SS-19 Stiletto (UR-100 N) delivered it there. It was launched from the deployment area of ​​the Dombarovsk formation of the Strategic Missile Forces. According to the same publication, it is this military unit that will be armed with similar warheads-gliders until 2025.

Experts believe that the Yu-71 is part of the top-secret Russian project 4202, which was launched in 2009 and is associated with the development of a new strategic weapon. There is very little information about the new warhead (which is quite understandable), only the speed and ability to maneuver at the final stage of the trajectory are called. However, even with such characteristics, the Yu-71 is no longer afraid of any anti-missile defense systems of our time.

Back in 2004, the Russian General Staff announced that they had tested an aircraft capable of developing hypersonic speed, while performing maneuvers both in altitude and in course. This time coincides with the launch of the UR-100N UTTKh ICBM from the Baikonur test site against a target at the Kura test site.

In 2011, information appeared about the test launch of a ballistic missile with special equipment capable of overcoming modern and advanced missile defense systems. Probably, one of the promising Russian ballistic missiles will be equipped with a new warhead, most often the new Sarmat missile (ICBM RS-28) is called.

The fact is that such warheads have a relatively large mass, so it is better to install them on powerful carriers capable of carrying several Yu-71s at once.

According to scant information from Russian sources, NPO Mashinostroeniya in the town of Reutov, near Moscow, is developing project 4202. In addition, the press reported on the technical re-equipment of the Strela Production Association (Orenburg), undertaken in order to participate in the 4202 project.

The warheads of modern ballistic missiles on the descent trajectory develop hypersonic speed and are capable of performing rather complex maneuvers. Experts believe that the main difference between the Yu-71 is an even more difficult flight, comparable to the flight of an aircraft.

In any case, the adoption of such blocks into service will significantly increase the effectiveness of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces.

There is information about the active development of hypersonic cruise missiles, which can become a new weapon for Russian combat aircraft, in particular the promising strategic bomber PAK DA. Such missiles represent a very difficult target for interceptor missiles of missile defense systems.

Projects like this can make the missile defense system as a whole useless. The fact is that objects flying at high speed are extremely difficult to intercept. To do this, interceptor missiles must have high speed and the ability to maneuver with huge overloads, and such missiles do not yet exist. It is very difficult to calculate the trajectories of maneuvering warheads.

Video about the Yu-71 hypersonic glider

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Russia has tested a hypersonic aircraft. This was reported by Western media, citing a report by analysts from the British edition of Jane's Intelligence Review.

According to the authors of the publication cited by The Washington Free Beacon (WFB), in February of this year, the Yu-71 apparatus was launched into low-Earth orbit, where it was delivered by an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) UR-100 N (SS-19 "Stiletto" ). Its launch was made from the position area of ​​the Dombarovsk formation of the Strategic Missile Forces in the Orenburg region. It is it that, as alleged, will receive 24 Yu-71 units by 2025, which, most likely, will be used as combat equipment for the new one.

Analysts suggest that the development of the experimental device is carried out as part of a top-secret program with the designation "4202", carried out since 2009. Its goal is to create a super-new strategic strike weapon that will significantly increase the capabilities of the strategic missile forces and become the answer to any missile defense. Yu-71 will be able to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.

The trajectory of a hypersonic vehicle is unpredictable. It flies at speeds in excess of 11,000 kilometers per hour (7,000 miles per hour) and can maneuver, making it almost impossible for it to be intercepted by air defense or missile defense elements.

According to Jane's analysts, the Yu-71 was developed at the end of the 2000s, and its February tests were the fourth in a row. The first test launch took place in December 2011, the second - in September 2013, the third - in 2014. The authors of the publication name these dates on the basis of a number of documents related to the construction of new military facilities.

According to WFB, a Pentagon spokesman declined to comment on Jane's information. However, Mark Schneider, a former US Department of Defense official, told the publication that the US military is closely following Russian developments in this area.

According to him, Russia, unlike China, does not hide its intention to create hypersonic technology. The existence of such projects was repeatedly confirmed by Russian officials, who did not provide details. Schneider recalled that the first tests of hypersonic military facilities were carried out under the USSR in the 1980s. Then, according to available information, tests of such devices took place in 2001 and 2004.

Jane's analysts also did not rule out that one of the Yu-71 variants could be adapted for the promising PAK DA strategic bomber.

WFB notes that hypersonic vehicles are also being developed by China and several organizations in the United States. According to experts, so far it is the Celestial Empire, which has been actively launching experimental vehicles since 2014, that has managed to achieve the greatest results in this area.

Although the era of the Cold War is a thing of the past, today there are enough problems in the world that have to be solved with the help of the latest developments in the field of weapons. At first glance, the main world problems come from terrorist groups, the relations of some major world powers are also quite tense.

Recently, relations between Russia and the United States have become extremely aggravated. Using NATO, the US surrounds Russia with missile defense systems. Concerned about this, Russia has begun developing hypersonic aircraft, so-called "drones", that can carry nuclear warheads. It is with these projects that the secret supersonic glider Yu-71 is associated, the tests of which are carried out in the strictest secrecy.

History of the development of hypersonic weapons

The first tests of aircraft capable of flying at speeds exceeding the speed of sound began back in the 50s of the 20th century. This was due to the era of the Cold War, when the two strongest superpowers in the world (USA and USSR) tried to outdo each other in the arms race. The first Soviet development in this area was the Spiral system. It was a small orbital aircraft, and had to meet the following parameters:

  • The system was supposed to be superior to the American X-20 "Dyna Soar", which was a similar project;
  • The hypersonic carrier aircraft was supposed to provide a speed of about 7,000 km / h;
  • The system had to be reliable and not fall apart when overloaded.

Despite all the efforts of Soviet designers, the characteristics of the hypersonic carrier aircraft did not even come close to the cherished high-speed figure. The project had to be closed, as the system did not even take off. To the great joy of the Soviet government, the American tests also failed miserably. At that time, world aviation was still infinitely far from speeds exceeding several times the speed of sound.

Tests that were already closer to hypersonic technologies took place in 1991, then back in the USSR. Then the flight of "Cold" was carried out, which was a flying laboratory created on the basis of the S-200 missile system, based on the 5V28 missile. The first test was quite successful, as it was possible to develop a speed of about 1,900 km / h. Developments in this area continued until 1998, after which they were curtailed due to the economic crisis.

The development of supersonic technology in the 21st century

Although there is no exact information on the development of hypersonic weapons for the period from 2000 to 2010, having collected materials from open sources, one can see that these developments were carried out in several directions:

  • First of all, warheads for ballistic intercontinental missiles are being developed. Although their weight far exceeds conventional missiles of this class, due to the implementation of maneuvers in the atmosphere, they will not be able to be intercepted by standard missile defense systems;
  • The next direction in the development of supersonic technologies is the development of the Zircon complex. This complex is based on the Yakhont/Onyx supersonic missile launcher;
  • A missile system is also being developed, the missiles of which will be able to reach speeds that exceed the speed of sound by 13 times.

If all these projects are united in one holding, then the missile, which will be created by joint efforts, can be both ground-based and air- or ship-based. If the American project "Prompt Global Strike", which provides for the creation of supersonic weapons capable of hitting anywhere in the world within one hour, is successful, Russia will be able to protect only intercontinental supersonic missiles of its own design.

Russian supersonic missiles, the tests of which are recorded by British and American specialists, are capable of reaching speeds of about 11,200 km/h. They are almost impossible to shoot down and even extremely difficult to track. There is very little information about this project, which often appears under the name Yu-71 or "object 4202".

The most famous facts about Russia's secret weapon Yu-71

The secret Yu-71 glider, which is part of Russia's supersonic missile program, is capable of flying to New York in 40 minutes. Although this information has not been officially confirmed, based on the fact that Russian supersonic missiles are capable of reaching speeds in excess of 11,00 km / h, such conclusions can be drawn.

According to the few information that can be found about him, the Yu-71 glider is capable of:

  • Fly at speeds over 11,000 km/h;
  • Possesses incredible maneuverability;
  • Able to plan;
  • During the flight, it can go into space.

Although the tests have not yet been completed, everything suggests that by 2025 Russia may have this supersonic glider armed with nuclear warheads. Such a weapon will be able to appear almost anywhere in the world within an hour and deliver a precision nuclear strike.

Dmitry Rogozin said that Russia's defense industry, which was the most developed and advanced during the Soviet era, fell far behind in the arms race in the 1990s and 2000s. Over the past decade, the Russian army has begun to revive. Soviet equipment is being replaced by modern high-tech models, and fifth-generation weapons, which have been “stuck” in design bureaus in the form of paper projects since the 1990s, are beginning to take on quite specific shapes. According to Rogozin, the new Russian weapons could surprise the world with their unpredictability. Under the unpredictable weapon, most likely, they meant the Yu-71 glider, armed with nuclear warheads.

Although this device has been developed since at least 2010, information about its tests came to the US military only in 2015. The Pentagon fell into complete despondency because of this, because in the case of the use of the Yu-71, the entire missile defense system, which is installed along the perimeter of the territory of Russia, becomes absolutely useless. In addition, the United States of America itself becomes defenseless against this secret nuclear glider.

Yu-71 is able not only to deliver nuclear strikes against the enemy. Due to the presence of a powerful cutting-edge electronic warfare system, the glider is capable of in a few minutes, flying over the territory of the United States, to disable all detection stations equipped with electronic equipment.

According to NATO reports, from 2020 to 2025, up to 24 Yu-71-type devices may appear in the Russian army, any of which is capable of crossing the enemy border unnoticed and destroying an entire city with a few shots.

Russian plans for the development of hyperweapons

Although no official statements have been made in Russia regarding the adoption of the Yu-71, it is known that development began at least in 2009. Back in 2004, a statement was made that the spacecraft, which is capable of developing hypersonic speed, has successfully passed the tests. It is also known that the test vehicle is capable of not only flying along a given course, but also performing various maneuvers in flight.

The key feature of the new weapon will be precisely this ability to perform maneuvers at supersonic speeds. Doctor of military sciences Konstantin Sivkov claims that modern intercontinental missiles are capable of reaching supersonic speeds, although they only act as ballistic warheads. The flight path of these missiles is easy to calculate and prevent. The main danger for the enemy is precisely controlled aircraft, which are able to change direction and move along a complex and unpredictable trajectory.

At a meeting of the military-industrial commission, which was held in Tula on September 19, 2012, Dmitry Rogozin made a statement that we should expect the emergence of a new holding that will take over all aspects of the development of hypersonic technologies. Also at this conference, enterprises were named that should be part of the new holding:

  • NPO Mashinostroeniya, which is now directly involved in the development of supersonic technologies. To create a holding, "NPO Mashinostroeniya" must leave Roskosmos;
  • The next part of the new holding should be the Tactical Missiles Corporation;
  • The Almaz-Antey Concern, whose sphere of activity currently lies in the field of anti-missile and aerospace spheres, should also be actively assisted in the work of the holding.

Although, according to Rogozin, this merger has long been necessary, due to some legal aspects, it has not yet taken place. Rogozin stressed that this process is precisely a merger, and not a takeover of one company by another. It is this process that will significantly accelerate the development of hypersonic technologies in the military field.

Director of the Center for Analysis of the World Arms Trade, military expert and chairman of the Public Council under the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation Igor Korotchenko supports the merger ideas voiced by Rogozin. According to him, the new holding will be able to fully concentrate its efforts on the creation of new promising types of weapons. Since both enterprises have great potential, together they will be able to make a significant contribution to the development of the Russian defense complex.

If by 2025 Russia will be armed with not only hypersonic missiles with nuclear warheads, but also Yu-71 gliders, this will be a serious bid in negotiations with the United States. Due to the fact that America is accustomed to acting from a position of strength in all negotiations of this type, dictating to the other side only favorable conditions for itself, full-fledged negotiations with it can only be carried out with new powerful weapons. Forcing the United States to listen to the words of the opponent is possible only by seriously frightening the Pentagon.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the Army-2015 conference, noted that the nuclear forces will receive 40 of the latest intercontinental missiles. Many understood that they meant hypersonic missiles, which are able to overcome all known missile defense systems. The president's words are indirectly confirmed by Viktor Murakhovsky (a member of the expert council under the chairman of the military-industrial commission), saying that Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles are being improved every year.

Russia is developing cruise missiles that are capable of flying at hypersonic speeds. These missiles are capable of reaching targets at ultra-low altitudes. All modern missile defense systems that are in service with NATO are not able to hit targets flying at such low altitudes. In addition, all modern missile defense systems are capable of intercepting targets that fly at a speed of no more than 800 meters per second, so even if you do not count the Yu71 glider, Russian supersonic intercontinental missiles will be enough to render NATO missile defense systems useless.

According to the latest data, it is known that the United States and China are also developing their own analogue of the Yu-71, only Chinese development can compete with Russian development. The Americans, to their deepest sorrow, have not yet been able to achieve serious success in this area.

The Chinese glider is known as the Wu-14. This device was officially tested only in 2012, but as a result of these tests, it was able to reach speeds of over 11,000 km / h. Although the general public knows about the speed qualities of the Chinese development, there is not a word anywhere about the weapons that the Chinese glider will be equipped with.

The American supersonic drone Falcon HTV-2, which was being tested several years ago, suffered a crushing fiasco - it simply lost control and crashed after 10 minutes of flight.

If supersonic weapons become the standard armament of the Russian Space Force, then the entire missile defense system will become practically useless. The introduction of supersonic technologies will make a real revolution in the military sphere around the world.

An ordinary passenger plane flies at a speed of about 900 km/h. A jet fighter jet can reach about three times the speed. However, modern engineers from the Russian Federation and other countries of the world are actively developing even faster machines - hypersonic aircraft. What are the specifics of the respective concepts?

Criteria for a hypersonic aircraft

What is a hypersonic aircraft? By such it is customary to understand an apparatus capable of flying at a speed many times higher than that for sound. Researchers' approaches to determining its specific indicator vary. There is a widespread methodology according to which an aircraft should be considered hypersonic if it is a multiple of the speed indicators of the fastest modern supersonic vehicles. Which are about 3-4 thousand km / h. That is, a hypersonic aircraft, if you follow this methodology, should reach speeds of 6 thousand km / h.

Unmanned and controlled vehicles

The approaches of researchers may also differ in terms of determining the criteria for classifying a particular apparatus as an aircraft. There is a version that only those machines that are controlled by a person can be considered as such. There is a point of view according to which an unmanned vehicle can also be considered an aircraft. Therefore, some analysts classify machines of the type in question into those that are subject to human control and those that function autonomously. Such a division can be justified, since unmanned vehicles can have much more impressive technical characteristics, for example, in terms of overload and speed.

At the same time, many researchers consider hypersonic aircraft as a single concept, for which the key indicator is speed. It does not matter whether a person is sitting at the helm of the apparatus or the machine is controlled by a robot - the main thing is that the aircraft is fast enough.

Takeoff - independent or with outside help?

The classification of hypersonic aircraft is widespread, which is based on classifying them as those that can take off independently, or those that involve placement on a more powerful carrier - a rocket or a cargo plane. There is a point of view according to which it is legitimate to refer to the vehicles of the type under consideration mainly those that are able to take off independently or with minimal involvement of other types of equipment. However, those researchers who believe that the main criterion characterizing a hypersonic aircraft, speed, should be paramount in any classification. Whether it is classifying the device as unmanned, controlled, capable of taking off independently or with the help of other machines - if the corresponding indicator reaches the above values, then it means that we are talking about a hypersonic aircraft.

The main problems of hypersonic solutions

The concepts of hypersonic solutions are many decades old. Throughout the years of development of the corresponding type of vehicles, world engineers have been solving a number of significant problems that objectively prevent the production of "hypersound" from being put on stream - similar to organizing the production of turboprop aircraft.

The main difficulty in the design of hypersonic aircraft is the creation of an engine that can be sufficiently energy efficient. Another problem is the alignment of the necessary apparatus. The fact is that the speed of a hypersonic aircraft in the values ​​that we considered above implies a strong heating of the hull due to friction against the atmosphere.

Today we will consider several samples of successful prototypes of aircraft of the corresponding type, the developers of which were able to make significant progress in terms of successfully solving the problems noted. Let us now study the most famous world developments in terms of creating hypersonic aircraft of the type in question.

from Boeing

The fastest hypersonic aircraft in the world, according to some experts, is the American Boeing X-43A. So, during testing of this device, it was recorded that it reached a speed exceeding 11 thousand km / h. That is about 9.6 times faster

What is special about the X-43A hypersonic aircraft? The characteristics of this aircraft are as follows:

The maximum speed recorded in the tests is 11,230 km / h;

Wingspan - 1.5 m;

Hull length - 3.6 m;

Engine - direct-flow, Supersonic Combustion Ramjet;

Fuel - atmospheric oxygen, hydrogen.

It can be noted that the device in question is one of the most environmentally friendly. The fact is that the fuel used practically does not involve the release of harmful combustion products.

The X-43A hypersonic aircraft was developed by the joint efforts of NASA engineers, as well as Orbical Science Corporation and Minocraft. created for about 10 years. About 250 million dollars were invested in its development. The conceptual novelty of the aircraft under consideration is that it was conceived to test the latest technology for ensuring the operation of motive thrust.

Developed by Orbital Science

Orbital Science, which, as we noted above, took part in the creation of the X-43A, also managed to create its own hypersonic aircraft, the X-34.

Its top speed is over 12,000 km/h. True, in the course of practical tests it was not achieved - moreover, it was not possible to achieve the indicator shown by the X43-A aircraft. The aircraft in question is accelerated by the use of the Pegasus rocket, which operates on solid fuel. The X-34 was first tested in 2001. The aircraft in question is significantly larger than the device from Boeing - its length is 17.78 m, the wingspan is 8.85 m. The maximum flight altitude of the hypersonic vehicle from Orbical Science is 75 kilometers.

Aircraft from North American

Another well-known hypersonic aircraft is the X-15, produced by North American. Analysts refer to this apparatus as experimental.

It is equipped, which gives some experts reason not to classify it, in fact, as an aircraft. However, the presence of rocket engines allows the device, in particular, to perform So, during one of the tests in this mode, it was tested by pilots. The purpose of the X-15 apparatus is to study the specifics of hypersonic flights, evaluate certain design solutions, new materials, and control features of such machines in various layers of the atmosphere. It is noteworthy that it was approved back in 1954. X-15 flies at a speed of more than 7 thousand km / h. Its flight range is more than 500 km, its altitude exceeds 100 km.

The fastest production aircraft

The hypersonic vehicles we studied above actually belong to the research category. It will be useful to consider some serial samples of aircraft that are close in characteristics to hypersonic or are (according to one methodology or another) hypersonic.

Among these machines is the American development of the SR-71. Some researchers are not inclined to classify this aircraft as hypersonic, since its maximum speed is about 3.7 thousand km / h. Among its most notable characteristics is its takeoff weight, which exceeds 77 tons. The length of the device is more than 23 m, the wingspan is more than 13 m.

One of the fastest military aircraft is the Russian MiG-25. The device can reach speeds of more than 3.3 thousand km / h. The maximum takeoff weight of the Russian aircraft is 41 tons.

Thus, in the market of serial solutions, close in characteristics to hypersonic ones, the Russian Federation is among the leaders. But what can be said about Russian developments in terms of "classic" hypersonic aircraft? Are engineers from the Russian Federation capable of creating a solution that is competitive with machines from Boeing and Orbital Scence?

Russian hypersonic vehicles

At the moment, the Russian hypersonic aircraft is under development. But she is quite active. We are talking about the Yu-71 aircraft. Its first tests, according to media reports, were carried out in February 2015 near Orenburg.

It is assumed that the aircraft will be used for military purposes. Thus, a hypersonic vehicle will be able, if necessary, to deliver striking weapons over considerable distances, monitor the territory, and also be used as an element of attack aviation. Some researchers believe that in 2020-2025. the Strategic Missile Forces will receive about 20 aircraft of the corresponding type.

There is information in the media that the Russian hypersonic aircraft in question will be placed on the Sarmat ballistic missile, which is also at the design stage. Some analysts believe that the Yu-71 hypersonic vehicle being developed is nothing more than a warhead that will have to separate from the ballistic missile in the final flight segment, so that, thanks to the high maneuverability characteristic of an aircraft, it will overcome missile defense systems.

Project Ajax

Among the most notable projects related to the development of hypersonic aircraft is Ajax. Let's study it in more detail. The Ajax hypersonic aircraft is a conceptual development of Soviet engineers. In the scientific community, talk about it began back in the 80s. Among the most notable features is the presence of a thermal protection system, which is designed to protect the case from overheating. Thus, the developers of the Ajax apparatus proposed a solution to one of the "hypersonic" problems we have identified above.

The traditional scheme of thermal protection of aircraft involves the placement of special materials on the body. The Ajax developers proposed a different concept, according to which it was supposed not to protect the device from external heating, but to let heat into the car, while increasing its energy resource. The main competitor of the Soviet apparatus was the Aurora hypersonic aircraft, created in the United States. However, due to the fact that designers from the USSR significantly expanded the capabilities of the concept, the widest range of tasks, in particular, research, was assigned to the new development. We can say that Ajax is a hypersonic multi-purpose aircraft.

Let us consider in more detail the technological innovations proposed by engineers from the USSR.

So, the Soviet developers of Ajax proposed to use the heat that arises as a result of the friction of the aircraft body against the atmosphere, to convert it into useful energy. Technically, this could be implemented by placing additional shells on the apparatus. As a result, something like a second building was formed. Its cavity was supposed to be filled with some kind of catalyst, for example, a mixture of combustible material and water. The heat-insulating layer made of a solid material in Ajax was supposed to be replaced with a liquid one, which, on the one hand, was supposed to protect the engine, on the other hand, would promote a catalytic reaction, which, meanwhile, could be accompanied by an endothermic effect - the movement of heat from the outside body parts inside. Theoretically, the cooling of the external parts of the apparatus could be anything. Excess heat, in turn, was supposed to be used in order to increase the efficiency of the aircraft engine. At the same time, this technology would make it possible to generate free hydrogen as a result of the reaction of fuel and species.

At the moment, there is no information available to the general public about the continuation of the development of Ajax, but researchers consider it very promising to put Soviet concepts into practice.

Chinese hypersonic vehicles

China is becoming a competitor to Russia and the United States in the hypersonic solutions market. Among the most famous developments of engineers from China is the WU-14 aircraft. It is a hypersonic glider mounted on a ballistic missile.

An ICBM launches an aircraft into space, from where the vehicle dives sharply down, developing hypersonic speed. The Chinese apparatus can be mounted on various ICBMs with a range of 2,000 to 12,000 km. It was found that during the tests, the WU-14 was able to reach speeds in excess of 12 thousand km / h, thus turning into the fastest hypersonic aircraft according to some analysts.

At the same time, many researchers believe that it is not quite right to attribute the Chinese development to the class of aircraft. So, the version is widespread, according to which the device should be classified precisely as a warhead. And very effective. When flying down at a marked speed, even the most modern missile defense systems will not be able to guarantee the interception of the corresponding target.

It can be noted that Russia and the United States are also developing hypersonic vehicles used for military purposes. At the same time, the Russian concept, according to which it is supposed to create machines of the corresponding type, differs significantly, as evidenced by data in some media, from the technological principles implemented by the Americans and the Chinese. So, developers from the Russian Federation are concentrating their efforts in the field of creating aircraft equipped with a ramjet engine capable of being launched from the ground. Russia is planning cooperation in this direction with India. Hypersonic devices created according to the Russian concept, according to some analysts, are characterized by lower cost and a wider scope.

At the same time, the Russian hypersonic aircraft, which we mentioned above (Yu-71), suggests, according to some analysts, just the same placement on ICBMs. If this thesis turns out to be true, then it will be possible to say that engineers from the Russian Federation are working simultaneously in two popular conceptual areas in the construction of hypersonic aircraft.

Summary

So, probably the fastest hypersonic aircraft in the world, if we talk about aircraft, regardless of their classification, this is still the Chinese WU-14. Although you need to understand that real information about him, including those related to tests, can be classified. This is consistent with the principles of Chinese developers, who often strive to keep their military technology secret at all costs. The speed of the fastest hypersonic aircraft is over 12,000 km/h. It is "catching up" with the American development of the X-43A - many experts consider it to be the fastest. Theoretically, the X-43A hypersonic aircraft, as well as the Chinese WU-14, can catch up with the development from Orbical Science, designed for speeds of more than 12 thousand km / h.

The characteristics of the Russian Yu-71 aircraft are not yet known to the general public. It is possible that they will be close to the parameters of the Chinese aircraft. Russian engineers are also developing a hypersonic aircraft capable of taking off not on the basis of ICBMs, but independently.

The current projects of researchers from Russia, China and the United States are somehow connected with the military sphere. Hypersonic aircraft, regardless of their possible classification, are considered primarily as carriers of weapons, most likely nuclear ones. However, in the works of researchers from around the world there are theses that "hypersound", like nuclear technology, may well be peaceful.

The point is the emergence of affordable and reliable solutions that allow organizing the mass production of machines of the appropriate type. The use of such devices is possible in the widest range of branches of economic development. The greatest demand for hypersonic aircraft is likely to be found in the space and research industries.

As the cost of manufacturing technologies for the corresponding machines becomes cheaper, transport businesses may begin to show interest in investing in such projects. Industrial corporations, providers of various services may begin to consider "hypersound" as a tool to increase the competitiveness of business in terms of organizing international communications.