Strategic Intelligence - Hypersonic Technologies

Strategic Intelligence - Hypersonic Technologies

Summary

This report examines the context, drivers and state-of-play for the development of hypersonic technologies in the aerospace and defense market. The key players and challengers in the hypersonics space are examined as the world's leading militaries develop these advanced weapons designs which challenge conventional air defense capabilities and evolve long-range precision fires. Attendant technologies such as advanced materials an AI-assisted design or targeting are also analysed, alongside a survey of some of the largest ongoing programs to develop Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCMs) and Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) internationally.

Hypersonic refers to aerial objects, such as aircraft, missiles, rockets, and spacecraft, that can reach speeds through the atmosphere greater than Mach 5, nearly 4,000 miles per hour (6437 km/h). As objects travel faster, technical challenges such as atmospheric heating increase exponentially, a paradigm that has historically limited designers.

But the technology has matured in recent years, and multipolarity is driving intense geopolitical competition between leading military powers - creating the scenarios in which high-end hypersonic weapons are most relevant. Russia has employed hypersonic weapons in Ukraine more as a ‘warning shot’ than a tactically decisive tool; however, it has exposed inadequacies in current air defense systems.

Now, hypersonic development is progressing at pace primarily in the US, China and Russia, but also in India, Australia (through AUKUS) and collaboratively across Europe. This in turn pushes demand for countermeasures such as improved sensing of hypersonic threats, and emerging solutions such as directed energy weapons (DEW). Hypersonic development and procurement is associated closely with other technologies, including advanced materials and next-generation sensing both for targeting and defense against hypersonic weapons. Despite the specialist engineering needed, several startups aim to overcome traditional cost and lead-time challenges to scale hypersonic rollout.

Beyond the military, hypersonic flight may promise revolutions in commercial flight and freight, but there are still many hurdles to overcome, aside from operational and maintenance concerns.

Key Highlights

• Studies of emerging technological trends and their broader impact on the defense market. 
• Analysis of the various hypersonic programs and projects currently under development

Scope

• The key defense challenges that forces and defense sector suppliers face are covered.
• The investment opportunities for armed forces, suppliers, and institutional investors, across the whole hypersonics value chain are covered.
• Highlights from the range of different hypersonic programs and capabilities today and major upcoming programs.

Reasons to Buy

• Determine potential investment companies based on trend analysis and market projections.
• Gaining an understanding of the market challenges and opportunities surrounding the hypersonic technologies in defense theme.
• Understanding how spending on soldier systems and related segments will fit into the overall market and which spending areas are being prioritized.