US Putting Stealth Before Speed In Hypersonic Missile Race

However, the Harpoon Block II+ upgrade package overcomes these disadvantages by adding a new GPS receiver and flight control system to aid the missile in locating targets in challenging coastal settings. It also features a two-way datalink for mid-flight retargeting and a potential infrared seeker for all-weather functionality.

Still, the Harpoon might not have the necessary range and penetration capabilities for aircraft and warships to remain outside China's anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) zone.

The Harpoon's main drawback is its short range of 128 kilometers for standard versions and limited availability on compatible launch platforms apart from carrier-based aircraft, which may require US Navy carriers to operate closer to the main battle area, exposing these valuable ships to risk.

Furthermore, its limited range and non-stealthy design may reduce its effectiveness against advanced adversaries in specific environments. Additionally, its active radar seeker and lack of stealth features could make detecting it easier for enemy ship defenses.

While the Tomahawk has a long range and a powerful warhead, its non-stealth design and subsonic speed make it vulnerable to increasingly advanced air defenses fielded by US near-peer adversaries such as China and Russia.

The US decision to build a stealthy, subsonic anti-ship missile amidst an ongoing hypersonic weapons race with China and Russia may show that the US has adopted a completely different design philosophy for such advanced ship-killing munitions.

In an October 2021 article for the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), Fabian Hoffman and Douglas Barrie discuss a debate between speed and stealth in anti-ship missile design.

Hoffman and Barrie mention that while China and Russia favor high-speed missiles such as the hypersonic YJ-21 and Zircon, others, including the US and Europe, prioritize subsonic missiles with advanced maneuverability and low signatures.

In an April 2023 article for Air & Space Forces Magazine, David Roza explains why the US took the latter approach in designing its next-generation anti-ship missiles. Roza says the extreme speeds of hypersonic weapons create unique phenomena, such as plasma wakes and chemical reactions, which could make them easier to detect.

He mentions that these weapons leave behind distinctive plumes and wavelengths of light that advanced sensors could potentially track. Roza also notes that deploying a diverse array of sensors encompassing space-based sensors with hyperspectral and ultraviolet detection leverages the unique vulnerabilities of hypersonic weapons to enhance missile defense capabilities.

In contrast to hypersonic weapons, Micah Hanks points out in an April 2024 article for The Debrief that stealthy anti-ship missiles have a low radar cross-section and minimal infrared signature, making it difficult for enemy defenses to detect and intercept.

Hanks says semi-autonomous guidance systems reduce dependency on external intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, ensuring effectiveness in intense electromagnetic warfare environments.

He adds that the capability to coordinate attacks through data sharing among multiple missiles provides swarm capabilities, allowing for coordinated, high-precision strikes.

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Despite these advanced capabilities possibly being aboard the AGM-158 XR, the US may not be able to produce enough of these munitions to have a decisive impact on potential regional conflicts in the Taiwan Strait or South China Sea.

Asia Times pointed out this month that the US is encountering numerous significant obstacles in manufacturing precision-guided munitions (PGM), with JASSM missiles and Tomahawk Block Vs taking up to two years to produce.

Further, the US defense industry struggles to increase production due to workforce and supply chain limitations. Companies need steady contracts and clearer demand indications to invest in production, but the irregular orders from the US Department of Defense (DOD) exacerbate the issue.

The US defense industry faces challenges due to its dependence on single-source dependencies for essential components like rocket motors and missile energetics. Additionally, there are vulnerabilities in the global supply chain, especially concerning the reliance on China for rare-earth metals.

Regulatory obstacles, including restrictive Foreign Military Sales (FMS) policies and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), hinder the sale of arms to important allies, affecting the US defense industry's capacity to increase production effectively.

And while coordinating the production of advanced weapons with allied nations can increase output, aligning their industrial capabilities with US military standards may create challenges in synchronizing production and lead to potential operational delays.

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