Mako Hypersonic Missile: Compact weapon for stealth fighters

The Mako hypersonic missile, first presented at the Sea Air Space 2024 exhibition, has become one of the most discussed innovations in the world of military technology. Developed by Lockheed Martin, this missile is capable of speeds up to Mach 5 and is designed for use from various aerial platforms, including the most advanced fighter jets.

Its compact size and modular design attract special attention. Due to these characteristics, Mako can be placed in the internal armament compartments of the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters. This is an important breakthrough — previously, hypersonic weapons, due to their large size, could only be mounted on external suspension units, which reduced the stealth of aircraft and limited their use.

The ability to integrate Mako into the compartments of stealth fighters allows them to maintain low radar visibility and at the same time provides a powerful long-range strike. This combination makes the missile extremely valuable for operations in conditions of high air defense density.

Mako's development comes amid an intensifying race of hypersonic technologies between the world's leading powers. This missile could be a turning point in U.S. strategy, expanding the capability for fast and accurate strikes over long distances and consolidating operational air superiority.

South Korea has started developing a hypersonic missile for fighter jets

South Korea has officially confirmed the start of work on a new hypersonic air-launched ballistic missile. This project is designed to significantly enhance the strike capabilities of the country's aviation, especially in the face of growing regional threats.

According to available information, the missile under development will be designed to be installed on board the Russian multipurpose fighter KF-21 Boramae. It is planned that two such missile systems will be integrated into one aircraft, which will make it a powerful platform for high-precision strikes at long distances.

The technical basis for the new missile could be a series of intermediate-range tactical missile systems (KTSSM) already in service. However, unlike the basic models, the new rocket will have hypersonic characteristics and the ability to launch from the air, which makes it much more complex and efficient.

The weapon concept resembles existing foreign analogues, such as the Israeli Air LORA and ROCKS systems, as well as the American Mako hypersonic missile, which is being developed for similar tasks. This indicates South Korea's desire to reach the level of advanced technologies in the field of high-speed weapons.

The development is at an early stage, but its successful implementation will strengthen the country's strategic defense capability and expand the Air Force's ability to respond quickly to threats.

Waiting for the "Oreshnik": Russia closes the sky over Kapustin Yar, Medvedev threatens new steps

 

For the past day, observers have been closely monitoring the situation in the southern part of Russia. From August 4 to August 8, 2025, Russia closed the airspace over the Kapustin Yar military training ground located in the Astrakhan region. The restriction zone also affects a part of the Volgograd region. Such measures, as noted by the media, often precede major tests or missile launches.

This step is particularly alarming in Ukraine and in the West, because the Kapustin Yar test site is closely linked to the new Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile. It was from here, according to assumptions, that the first launch of this rocket was carried out. Recall that in February 2022, the airspace above the training ground was also closed before Russia attacked a military facility in Dnepropetrovsk with an Oreshnik missile. It is believed that the maximum flight range of the Oreshnik can reach 5,500 km, and its speed is up to 10-12 mach.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has not yet commented on the sky closure. However, these actions coincided with important political statements. On the same day, August 4, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced the lifting of a voluntary moratorium on the deployment of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles. In response, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said that further steps should be expected after this decision. He called the lifting of the moratorium a response to the anti-Russian policies of NATO countries and urged the West to "expect" the consequences.

It is possible that the closure of the zone above Kapustin Yar may indicate readiness for a new attack. While there is no official confirmation of the purpose of the current restrictions, the combination of the closure of the landfill and loud statements by Russian officials creates a tense atmosphere and makes us think about the possible consequences.

Turkey has entered the hypersonic weapons race: the Tayfun Block-4 missile is presented

 

 Tayfun Block-4

Turkey has declared itself in the most elite military technology club. At one of the major defense exhibitions, the country officially presented for the first time its hypersonic cruise missile called Tayfun Block-4. This is not just a new missile, it is a claim to the status of a regional superpower in the military sphere.

What do we know about Tayfun? It's a monster: it weighs more than 7 tons, which is a huge mass for a cruise missile. And all this weight is not just metal. Inside is a multi—purpose warhead capable of delivering a crushing blow.

Tayfun's goals are the most important and protected:

* Air defense and missile defense systems are the very complexes that are supposed to shoot down missiles and airplanes.

* Control points are the brains of the enemy army.

* Military hangars, bases, command centers — everything that is critically important for warfare.

And now the main trump card is hypersonic speed. Although the exact speed has not yet been revealed (it's still a secret), the term "hypersonic" means that the rocket is flying at a speed of Mach 5 or higher (this is more than 6000 km/h!). This makes it extremely difficult to intercept. Modern air defense systems simply cannot keep up with such targets.

The missile is designed to hit targets at a distance of thousands of kilometers (the message says "several thousand kilometers"), which gives Turkey a powerful strategic leverage. Tayfun Block-4 is not just a step forward, it's a leap. The country is demonstrating that it can create weapons that were previously reserved only for the United States, Russia and China. The world of armaments is becoming more and more multipolar, and Turkey clearly wants to be among the leaders.

The US Army has allocated $25 million to integrate the Blackbeard GL hypersonic missile into the HIMARS system

In the U.S. fiscal year 2026 budget, the army allocated $25 million to support the development and integration of the Blackbeard Ground Launch (GL) hypersonic missile into the HIMARS highly mobile artillery missile system. This initiative is part of the HX3 project and marks the transition of the system into the engineering and production development phase.

The Blackbeard GL is designed to enhance HIMARS' ability to deliver medium-range precision strikes against mobile, fortified, and temporarily accessible targets. The missile provides about 80% of the capabilities of the advanced Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 4 at a significantly lower cost.

The system uses terminal guidance with an active search head unit, which makes it possible to effectively hit moving and hidden targets even in difficult conditions. The integration of the rocket into the modified launch containers of the Multiple Launch Rocket System Family of Munitions (MFOM) will ensure compatibility with the HIMARS and M270 platforms, expanding operational capabilities without significant changes in technology.

It is planned to complete software validation, conduct flight tests and prepare production samples by 2027, after which the delivery of systems to the troops will begin. The Blackbeard GL will be an important addition to the U.S. Army's arsenal, increasing the mobility and effectiveness of strike capabilities in the face of growing threats from Russian and Chinese hypersonic weapons.

Iran launches Fattah-1 hypersonic missile at Israel: a new era in ballistic technology

 

Fattah-1

Amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, Tehran has demonstrated a new achievement of its defense industry — the Fattah-1 hypersonic missile, fired directly at Israeli territory. This event was an important step in the development of Iranian military technology and raised concerns among a number of countries, especially those with experience in dealing with regional threats.

The Fattah-1 missile is a medium-range hypersonic weapon designed specifically to overcome modern missile defense systems such as the Israeli Iron Dome and Arrow. Its length is 12 meters, and the maximum flight range is up to 1400 kilometers, which allows it to hit targets at a considerable distance from the territory of Iran.

A special feature of the Fattah-1 is its equipment with a hypersonic gliding warhead (HGV) capable of speeds up to 17,900 km/h — almost  Mach 15. Such speed and maneuverability make intercepting a missile an extremely difficult task even for the most advanced missile defense systems.

The rocket is powered by a single-stage solid-fuel engine, which ensures rapid launch readiness and reduces dependence on complex infrastructure. A warhead weighing 200 kg of explosives is installed on board, which can be adapted to various types of targets, from stationary objects to mobile strategic hubs.

The telling moment was not only the test itself or the use of the system, but also the fact that Iran made a statement about its ability to bypass the most advanced air and missile defense technologies. This raises new questions for the international community regarding the effectiveness of current security systems and the possible proliferation of hypersonic technologies.

Although experts still disagree about the actual combat effectiveness of the Fattah-1, the very fact of its use indicates that hypersonic weapons are becoming an increasingly accessible and dangerous element of the global military landscape.

The U.S. Army plans to conduct its next hypersonic missile test in December

 

The US Army has scheduled another test of its long-range hypersonic Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) missile for December this year. This step is part of a program to develop and implement hypersonic weapons that can reach speeds above 5 sound speeds (Mach 5) and maneuver at various altitudes, making them virtually invulnerable to existing missile defense systems.

The LRHW, also known as the Dark Eagle, is a ground-based missile system equipped with a Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) hypersonic glide unit. In December, an “end-to-end” test is planned, in which the rocket will be launched using a transport and launch vehicle (TEL) and an operational battery center. This will be the second successful AUR (All Up Round) test run this year.

The goal of the program is to integrate hypersonic missiles into the armament of the US Army and the US Navy. The U.S. Navy also plans to use a modification of the C-HGB called Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) for its ships and submarines. If the tests are successful, the US Army expects to begin deploying LRHW units in 2025.

Hypersonic missiles are considered breakthrough technologies in military affairs, as their speed and maneuverability allow them to strike highly protected and time-critical targets with high efficiency. The United States is actively developing and testing hypersonic systems in competition with other world powers such as China and Russia, which have also demonstrated their achievements in this field.

Pentagon Faces Uncertainty Over Lethality of Dark Eagle Hypersonic Missile

The U.S. Department of Defense continues to grapple with uncertainties regarding the lethality and survivability of its highly anticipated hypersonic missile, the Dark Eagle. Despite significant investments in the development of this cutting-edge weapon, limited test data has left the Pentagon questioning its effectiveness and reliability on the battlefield.

The Dark Eagle is part of the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) program, designed to deliver rapid, long-range strikes against high-value targets. As a gliding hypersonic weapon capable of flying at speeds exceeding Mach 5, it represents a major advancement in military technology. Its ability to evade traditional air defense systems makes it a critical component of the U.S. arsenal for countering near-peer adversaries.

However, the lack of comprehensive testing has raised concerns about whether the missile can meet its intended objectives in real-world scenarios.

Hypersonic weapons operate in extreme conditions, requiring advanced materials, guidance systems, and propulsion technologies. These complexities make them challenging to develop and test effectively. The Dark Eagle's performance under combat-like conditions remains largely unproven due to the limited number of tests conducted so far.

"The available data does not yet provide a clear picture of the missile's lethal effect or its survivability against modern air defenses," said a senior Pentagon official. "While we are confident in the theoretical capabilities of the system, more rigorous testing is needed to validate these assumptions."

Two primary areas of concern have emerged during the evaluation process:

1. Lethality: Questions remain about the destructive power of the Dark Eagle's warhead. While hypersonic speeds enhance kinetic energy, the exact impact on hardened targets such as bunkers or command centers has yet to be fully demonstrated.

2. Survivability: Advanced enemy air defense systems pose a significant threat to hypersonic missiles. Ensuring that the Dark Eagle can penetrate sophisticated defenses without being intercepted is crucial to its operational success.

These uncertainties highlight the challenges inherent in developing new generations of weaponry. Hypersonic technology is still in its infancy, and bridging the gap between theoretical models and practical application requires extensive testing and refinement.

The effectiveness of the Dark Eagle is vital to maintaining U.S. strategic superiority in an era of intensifying global competition. Potential adversaries, particularly China and Russia, are aggressively pursuing their own hypersonic programs, creating an arms race that could redefine modern warfare.

"If the Dark Eagle fails to deliver on its promises, it could leave a critical capability gap in our arsenal," warned a defense analyst. "This underscores the importance of accelerating testing efforts to ensure the weapon is ready when needed."

To address these concerns, the Pentagon plans to increase the frequency and scope of Dark Eagle tests over the coming months. Additional funding has been allocated in the fiscal year 2025 budget to support expanded trials and address any technical shortcomings identified during evaluations.

As the United States continues to invest in hypersonic technology, the success of the Dark Eagle will serve as a litmus test for the viability of this emerging class of weapons. Achieving certainty about its lethality and survivability is essential to fulfilling its role as a cornerstone of future national security strategies.

In conclusion, while the Dark Eagle holds immense promise as a game-changing weapon, the Pentagon must overcome current uncertainties through rigorous testing and development. Only then can the U.S. military confidently deploy this advanced capability to safeguard national interests in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.