Which country has better anti-hypersonic missile technology: US or Russia?
I just read an article about the differences in the way Russian Kinzhal and Zircon hypersonic Missile are deployed.
Quoted:
Kinzhal is a solid fuel rocket-propelled missile, not dissimilar from the great part of air to surface, air to air and surface to surface missiles actually in production.
You ignite the rocket charge and it will burn very fast all in one time accellerating a missile until it reach its maximum possible velocity, at this point it will continue for a certain period to burn but at a certain point (quite fast in reality) it would have no fuel left and would begin to decelerate.
Khinzal in particular is a modified version of the ISKANDER short range ballistic missile that is carried on a modified version of the long range MiG-31 interceptor.
Being able to reach a mach 2.35 maximum velocity and a quote of 20000+ meters it allow to increase drammatically the range and velocity of such missile, giving that it start from a way more convenient position than the zero velocity/zero quote of the surface to surface version
Zircon is a air breathing scramjet i.e. an evolution of the Oniks/Bhramos ramjet actually in service both in Russia than India.
Such tech is based on the fact that above a certain velocity the air flow passing through a cavity is automatically compressed and so could act as an jet engine without actually having the need to install one. You just need to inject jet fuel and ignite it.
Only difference is that a ramjet could not reach an hypersonic velocity, a scramjet allow it instead.
It’is however necessary to reach a minimum velocity to allow the air to came compressed , so both of them need a booster rocket (or in a more used alternative to have the some booster charge installed in the above mentioned cavity: once burned out it leave it clear) to reach such speed.
The main tactical difference is that they, unlike rockets, need not to have an oxidant (i.e. an oxigen generating component) mixed with the fuel to function, as they take it from air, so they can reach greater distance but also being able to maneuver during almost all of their own flight path while rocked propelled ones are much more limited in this regard, as they cannot regolate their own propulsion system so to regain speed lost making turns, just keep on pushing until they burn out all their own propulsion charge.
Per ChatGPT:
The Kinzhal and Zircon are both hypersonic missiles developed by Russia. However, they have different characteristics and intended uses.The Kinzhal is an air-launched missile that is launched from a MiG-31K aircraft. It is a nuclear-capable missile that can reach speeds of up to Mach 10, and has a range of over 2,000 kilometers. It is intended for use against ground and naval targets.The Zircon, on the other hand, is a sea-launched missile that can be launched from ships and submarines. It is also nuclear-capable and can reach speeds of up to Mach 8, but has a shorter range of around 600 kilometers. It is intended for use against ground and naval targets, as well as aircraft carriers.In terms of deployment, the Kinzhal would likely be used for strategic strikes against ground and naval targets, while the Zircon would be used for tactical strikes against specific targets, such as aircraft carriers. Additionally, the Kinzhal would likely be deployed in the air, while the Zircon would be deployed at sea.
I have no clue but I’m guessing US