Foreign media: This month, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will convene contractors to advance the "next-generation hypersonic cruise missile" program, with the core objective of catching up with China in air-breathing propulsion technology.
Different from traditional rocket engines, air-breathing hypersonic missiles utilize oxygen from the air as an oxidizer, reducing their onboard weight and thereby enhancing fuel capacity, range, or payload capability. China previously publicly displayed what are believed to be hypersonic anti-ship missiles using scramjet engines—such as the YJ-19 and larger long-range missiles—during military parades, drawing significant attention from the United States.
DARPA aims not merely to upgrade existing technologies, but to achieve breakthroughs in propulsion systems, fuels, boosters, and high-temperature resistant materials. The new missile could potentially include various models for aircraft carriage, bomber launch, and ground deployment, with test ranges expected to reach between 460 and 3,700 kilometers.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875866852699136/
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