U.S. Air Force 5th-generation aircraft is working on the capability to launch air-based hypersonic missiles that can destroy targets at distances five times the speed of sound. Reports from the US specialized publications say the capability will soon be available. This weapon development is likely to lead to new tactics and operational concepts in air attacks.
MAKO
MAKO is a missile developed by Lockheed-Martin, designed to strike enemy ships, ground vehicles, or air defense systems by using its attack speed as a paradigm-shifting advantage to avoid detection. The missile has already been tested on various aircraft, including F-22, F-35, F/A-18, F-16, F-15, and P-8 Poseidon fighters.
At the Sea Air Space 2024 exhibition, the representative of the manufacturer Lockheed Martin, Rob Osterhood, told the audience that the characteristics of the Mako are described by the number 13. Its length is 13 feet (4 meters), its diameter is 13 inches (33 cm), its weight is 1300 pounds (600 kg), and the weight of the warhead is 130 pounds (60 kg). The dimensions allow the missile to be placed in the internal weapon bays of the F-35 aircraft, so as not to compromise its stealth. It is powered by a solid-fuel rocket engine, and according to Osterhood, the missile is capable of exceeding Mach 5 speeds, which is why it is called hypersonic. The exact range of the missile is unknown, but based on data from related projects, it may be around 300 km or more.
The main exhibit at the stand was the Mako’s body. Its aerodynamic fins are located at the tail, and there is a small horizontal stabilizer at the front. The body has a generally rounded cross-section but a complex shape: at the very least, a ridge is visible on the upper part. The purpose of the ridge is unclear, and the stabilizer (a small fixed “wing”) is likely intended to increase gliding range and improve maneuverability.
Initially, the Mako was developed under the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) program, which aims to create a weapon capable of targeting rapidly moving threats that create anti-access zones. This means that the intended targets are ballistic missile launchers, long-range anti-aircraft missiles, anti-ship missiles, as well as associated radars and other systems.
Developers explain that one of MAKO’s advantages is that it is being created using a digital engineering process, meaning interfaces, technical standards, software, and integration features can be coordinated through computer modeling. With advances in digital engineering, key weapon parameters and characteristics can be precisely replicated through computer simulations, allowing for a wide range of variations and adaptations based on a single design model. Essentially, there’s no need to create multiple independent variants since software and computer adjustments can be made to tailor the weapon to specific mission requirements.
Various warheads, homing devices, guidance technologies, and even explosives can be digitally adapted and configured, then manufactured for use in the weapon. This scenario accelerates production and variety, giving commanders a broad range of options. Like many weapons, software and hardware updates can be carried out digitally and then quickly produced and integrated to adapt the weapon to new threats as they emerge.
Given that it is built using digital technology, MAKO can also be configured to be fired from bombers, providing commanders with a broader range of potential attack options. Advances in computer modeling have allowed for the assessment of weapon characteristics in the digital realm before manufacturing, creating conditions where mass use of technology accelerates the production curve and increases operational versatility.
MAKO vs. China’s YJ-21
The arrival of MAKO is significant considering the emergence of China’s YJ-21 hypersonic missile, as it suggests that the U.S. may be closing the gap with China in the ongoing hypersonic arms race.
YJ-21 is considered a carrier killer, and its adoption into service marks a significant step in China’s efforts to shift the balance of Naval forces in its favor. The speed of this hypersonic missile reaches Mach 10, and its maximum range is 932 nautical miles (1726 kilometers), making it a threat to the U.S. Navy. At such speeds, the YJ-21 can pose challenges to the Aegis combat system, which protects American aircraft carriers and their escort ships.
China has not only launched a ship-based variant of the YJ-21 Naval but also armed its H-6K bomber with the air-launched YJ-21 hypersonic weapon. This development represents a serious threat. If MAKO performs as intended, and there are indications it will, it is quite possible that this weapon could match or even surpass the rapidly advancing Chinese hypersonic arsenal.