Air Force Quietly Reveals Interest in Hypersonic Nukes

Describes hypersonic gliders as potential upgrades

The US Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center has released, likely accidentally, a list of notes on ideas for potential ICBM upgrades, which included a hypersonic glide vehicle, the first suggestion that the US military is exploring hypersonic nuclear weapons.

Analysts have expected hypersonics to be a trigger for a potential arms race, with Russia having already worked on the matter as a potential counter to the US withdrawing from the INF Treaty, which could lead to US nukes in Europe.

Though the US has less obvious use for hypersonic arms, such arms would increase first-strike capabilities and getting first strikes on the ground in enemy territory before retaliation can be ordered has long been a priority.

These gliders may be decades down the road, and may never be a priority for the US at all. It’s a cinch that if there is a New START replacement, it would limit both sides on hypersonics to prevent the arms race, and to prevent weakening the already limited missile defense systems.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.