America's NEXT GENERATION of air-launched missiles

Summary

This video explores the cutting-edge advancements in U.S. air-launched weapon systems, emphasizing new missiles with extended ranges, advanced sensors, and AI capabilities. It discusses the evolution of air power, highlighting key milestones and the significance of air dominance in military strategy. The script introduces several new weapon systems, including the Stand-In Attack Weapon (SI AW), the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM-ER), the JASSM family of missiles, the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HCM), and the AIM-260 joint air-to-air missile. It also touches on the integration of these systems into existing military platforms and the potential impact on future warfare.

Takeaways

• 🇺🇸 The United States is developing new air-launched weapon systems with advanced capabilities such as longer ranges, better sensors, and AI for a variety of combat operations.
• 🚀 The U.S. Air Force is introducing the Stand-In Attack Weapon (SI AW), designed for internal carriage in the F-35A and capable of engaging a wide range of targets with multi-mode guidance.
• 🔍 The Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Extended Range (AARGM-ER) is a crucial weapon system for suppressing and destroying enemy air defenses, featuring new propulsion and advanced guidance systems.
• 🔥 The JASSM family of cruise missiles, including the JASSM-ER and LRASM, offers stealth, extended range, and AI-enabled coordination for engaging both land and sea targets.
• 🌐 The Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) is a scramjet-powered missile designed for speeds over Mach 5 and is intended to be the world's first operational hypersonic cruise missile.
• 💥 The AIM-174B is a new air-to-air missile that builds on the capabilities of the SM-6 surface-to-air missile interceptor, providing the Navy with a long-range interceptor for aircraft and missiles.
• 🔭 The A260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile is being developed to replace the AIM-120 AMRAAM, offering increased range and a multimode seeker for improved target engagement.
• 🤖 The LRASM's AI capabilities allow it to distribute targets among itself, enabling packs of missiles to hunt and engage enemy ships autonomously.
• 🎮 The video features a sponsored segment for 'Conflict of Nations,' an online PVP strategy game set during World War II, offering a deal for new players.
• 🔗 The development of these new weapons is part of a broader trend in air power, emphasizing the importance of technological advancements in maintaining air dominance.
• 🌐 The U.S. is focused on leveraging new technologies in propulsion, guidance, and targeting to maintain its air supremacy in the 21st century.

Q & A

What is the significance of the new era of air-launched weapon systems mentioned in the script?

The new era of air-launched weapon systems is significant because it introduces missiles with longer ranges, more advanced sensors, and onboard artificial intelligence. These advancements aim to make the weapons not only more lethal but also more versatile for a wide range of combat operations.

What is the main purpose of the Stand-In Attack Weapon (SI AW) being developed by the U.S. Air Force?

The main purpose of the SI AW is to engage a variety of stationary or moving targets on the ground or at sea, leveraging its multi-mode guidance capabilities. It is designed to be carried inside the internal weapons bay of the F-35A and is intended to counter anti-access area denial environments, such as those posed by China.

How does the AGM-88G AARGM-ER differ from its predecessor in terms of capabilities?

The AGM-88G AARGM-ER differs from its predecessor by incorporating multi-mode guidance, which includes GPS-assisted inertial guidance and an onboard millimeter wave radar seeker. This allows the missile to engage targets even when their radar arrays are offline or on the move, significantly enhancing its effectiveness against enemy air defenses.

What is the role of the JASSM family of cruise missiles in the context of air warfare?

The JASSM family of cruise missiles plays a crucial role in air warfare due to their stealth design, extended ranges, and the ability to coordinate between weapons using artificial intelligence. They can be launched in rapid succession from cargo aircraft, allowing the U.S. to engage multiple targets simultaneously with low risk and cost.

How does the LRASM missile utilize artificial intelligence in its operation?

The LRASM missile uses artificial intelligence to distribute targets among itself and other missiles in a pack, allowing them to hunt ships autonomously. It can also network via a two-way data link, enabling it to receive updated target information mid-flight and engage targets with precision.

What is unique about the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HCM) compared to other hypersonic weapons?

The HCM is unique because it is designed to be the world's first operational hypersonic cruise missile, flying along a lower, more horizontal flight path under power the entire time, similar to an aircraft or a suicide drone, rather than following a ballistic trajectory like hypersonic glide vehicles.

What advancements does the AIM-174B bring to the U.S. Navy's air-to-air missile capabilities?

The AIM-174B, based on the SM-6 surface-to-air missile interceptor, offers the Navy's F/A-18 Super Hornets the capability to intercept inbound ballistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as engage enemy aircraft or surface targets from ranges likely exceeding 200 nautical miles, making it the longest-reaching air-to-air missile in the U.S. arsenal.

What is the expected advantage of the A260 joint advanced tactical missile over the AIM-120 AMRAAM it is intended to replace?

The A260 is expected to offer a significant increase in range over the AIM-120 AMRAAM, as well as a multi-mode seeker that combines active radar homing and infrared optical sensors. This will enhance its ability to engage targets effectively, even in the face of advanced countermeasures.

How does the Rapid Dragon program enhance the capabilities of cargo aircraft like the C-130 and C-17?

The Rapid Dragon program allows cargo aircraft to launch a dozen or more stealthy cruise missiles in rapid succession from outside the reach of enemy air defenses. This enables the U.S. to engage a large number of targets almost simultaneously with low cost and risk.

What is the significance of the two-way data link in the operation of advanced air-launched weapons?

The two-way data link allows for real-time communication between the missile and other assets in the battlefield, enabling the relay of updated target information and coordination between multiple missiles. This enhances the weapons' ability to engage moving targets and adapt to changing conditions in the battlefield.