Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGV) are weapons capable of flying at Mach 20, gliding through the upper atmosphere before reaching their target.

Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) are advanced military devices capable of hypersonic speeds of over 24,000 km/h, after being launched by rocket thrusters. After separating from the booster, these vehicles hover at an altitude of between 30 and 80 km before diving towards their target. Their capabilities enable them to overfly conventional defenses while maintaining an unpredictable trajectory, making them extremely difficult to intercept. This article explores the characteristics of HGVs, how they work, and their strategic implications.

What is a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle?

Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) are devices capable of speeds in excess of Mach 20, or more than 24,000 km/h. These devices are being developed for military purposes, as part of a global competition for strategic superiority. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, HGVs do not follow a conventional parabolic trajectory; they are propelled by rockets before separating from the booster and gliding non-propelled into the upper atmosphere.

HGVs fly at an altitude of between 30 and 80 km, putting them beyond the reach of conventional air defense systems. Their ability to maneuver during descent makes their trajectory unpredictable, complicating their interception by missile defense systems. What’s more, their extremely high speed considerably reduces the reaction time of opposing forces, making HGVs a formidable threat in modern conflicts.

The first HGV developments were driven by countries such as Russia, the USA and China, each seeking to gain a strategic advantage over their competitors. For example, the Russian Avangard is capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 27, or almost 33,000 km/h, while also being able to carry nuclear warheads.

How Hypersonic Glide Vehicles work

HGVs are launched using rocket thrusters, which bring them to a very high initial altitude and speed. Once the propulsion phase is complete, the HGV separates from the booster and begins to glide through the atmosphere. Unlike ballistic missiles, which follow a predictable trajectory, HGVs have the ability to maneuver, making their trajectory difficult to anticipate.

This maneuverability is one of the major assets of HGVs. It allows the vehicle to change direction at any time, making it extremely difficult for missile defense systems to intercept it. What’s more, their hypersonic speed enables them to cover long distances in a very short time. For example, an HGV can cover a distance of 10,000 km in less than 30 minutes.

The materials used in HGV design are another crucial aspect. Due to extreme speeds and friction with the atmosphere, vehicles have to withstand very high temperatures, sometimes in excess of 2,000°C. Advanced refractory materials, such as carbon-based composites, are used to guarantee the vehicle’s structural integrity throughout its flight.

Strategic implications of HGVs

Hypersonic Glide Vehicles represent a major change in the field of strategic weapons. Their ability to reach hypersonic speeds, combined with their maneuverability, makes them particularly difficult to counter with current defense systems. Conventional anti-missile systems, such as the Patriot or THAAD, are designed to intercept ballistic missiles whose trajectory is predictable, which is not the case with HGVs.

Major military powers such as the USA, Russia and China are investing heavily in the development of HGVs to ensure their strategic deterrence. For example, China’s hypersonic program includes the DF-ZF, an HGV capable of being launched from a ballistic missile and maneuvering at very high speeds to avoid interception.

These weapons also change the dynamics of nuclear deterrence. HGVs can be equipped with conventional or nuclear warheads, enabling them to threaten strategic targets with greater precision. This increases the risk of a pre-emptive strike, as a country might choose to launch a hypersonic strike to neutralize a threat before the adversary has time to react.

The difficulty of intercepting these devices is forcing countries to rethink their defense systems. New technologies, such as high-power lasers and space-based defense systems, are being studied to counter this hypersonic threat. However, these developments are costly and require substantial investment in research and development.

Technological challenges and prospects

The development of Hypersonic Glide Vehicles presents major technical challenges. The first is the design of materials capable of withstanding the high temperatures generated by friction with the atmosphere. These temperatures can reach 2,000°C, requiring the use of highly advanced refractory materials. Researchers are working on carbon-based composites and special metal alloys to guarantee the HGV’s resistance to extreme conditions.

Another challenge is flight stability at hypersonic speeds. Controlling an HGV at speeds of Mach 20 or more is complex, due to extreme aerodynamic forces and turbulence. Guidance systems must be extremely precise to ensure that the vehicle reaches its target with a minimum margin of error.

Finally, the cost of developing and producing HGVs is high. For example, the US hypersonic program has already cost several billion euros, and each HGV test requires significant investment in terms of human and material resources. Despite these costs, the major powers continue to invest in these technologies to maintain their strategic advantage.

Countries developing HGVs

Several nations are actively investing in the development of Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs), recognizing their strategic potential. The main players in this field are:

• United States: The USA has made significant progress with programs such as the HAWC (Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept), which recently completed a successful flight test.
• Russia: Russia has developed the Avangard, an HGV capable of speeds up to Mach 27 (around 33,000 km/h), with in-flight maneuvering capability.
• China: China has successfully tested hypersonic vehicles, including the DF-ZF, demonstrating its ability to develop and deploy HGVs.
• France: France recently carried out the first test firing of its V-MaX hypersonic glider, marking its entry into the circle of nations mastering this technology.
• India: India is working on hypersonic technologies, with projects underway to develop indigenous HGVs.
• Japan: Japan is investing in hypersonic vehicle research, seeking to strengthen its defense capabilities.
• Germany and Norway: These two countries are collaborating to develop hypersonic weapons, recognizing the strategic importance of this technology.
• North Korea: North Korea has claimed to have tested a missile equipped with a hypersonic glider, although details remain limited.

Hypersonic Glide Vehicles are revolutionary weapons that are redefining modern military strategy. Their ability to combine extreme speed, maneuverability and unpredictability makes them particularly difficult to counter, posing a major challenge to current defense systems. The major powers, aware of the importance of this technology, continue to invest heavily in the development of HGVs to ensure their strategic superiority.

However, the high costs and technological challenges involved in the development of these machines show that the hypersonic race is far from over. Future advances in materials, guidance systems and countermeasures will largely determine the effectiveness of HGVs and their impact on the global balance of power.

We offer a fighter jet rides in France – come fly with us! And you can even take the controls!