Hypersonic Glide Vehicles: The New Arms Race in Design
This article explores hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs), which merge the rapidity of ballistic missiles with the agility of cruise missiles, achieving speeds of Mach 5 or more to bypass defense mechanisms. It draws a connection to the exhibition 'Broken Nature: Design Takes on Human Survival' at Triennale di Milano, curated by Paola Antonelli. Russia's Avangard HGV is reported to be operational by 2020, with Putin presenting it in March 2018 as 'invulnerable to interception.' The US earmarked $2.6 billion in its 2020 Pentagon budget for HGV initiatives, having conducted tests in 2010, 2011, 2014, and 2017. Since 2014, China has executed nine tests of the DF-ZF HGV. HGVs pose challenges to arms control agreements, as they are not addressed by the INF Treaty, with the New START treaty awaiting renewal in 2021.
Key facts
- Hypersonic glide vehicles combine ballistic missile speed with cruise missile precision.
- Russia's Avangard HGV is claimed to be ready by 2020, showcased by Putin in March 2018.
- US has allocated $2.6 billion for HGV development in the 2020 Pentagon budget.
- US tested wedge-shaped HGV in 2010 and 2011, and cone-shaped designs in 2011, 2014, and 2017.
- China tested DF-ZF HGV at least nine times since 2014 and built the world's fastest wind tunnel.
- China published 716 papers on HGVs in 2017, compared to 207 from the US and 76 from Russia.
- Australia, India, France, and Japan have started HGV development.
- HGVs are not covered by the INF Treaty, and New START is pending renewal in 2021.
Entities
Artists
- Paola Antonelli
- Yuval Noah Harari
Institutions
- Triennale di Milano
- Pentagon
- Artribune
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Russia
- United States
- China
- Australia
- India
- France
- Japan