Japan and the U.S. are jointly developing the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) Project to intercept hypersonic missiles.
About Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) Project:
- The GPI Project is a missile-intercepting system under joint development by the US and Japan.
- This project will employ specially modified missiles launched from US Navy surface warships.
- The primary aim is to intercept hypersonic weapons during their “glide phase,” which is considered their most vulnerable point.
- Full operational capability of the system is targeted by end of 2032.
Technical Details of Hypersonic Missiles:
- Hypersonic missiles are characterized by their capability to travel at speeds greater than Mach 5, roughly 4,000 miles per hour.
- These missiles undergo a glide phase where they:
- Separate from their boosters at the peak of their trajectory.
- Use gravity to accelerate towards Earth.
- Perform a pitch manoeuvre to enter a flatter trajectory towards the target.
- These characteristics allow hypersonic weapons to travel at five times the speed of sound or more, often following an unpredictable trajectory.
- Altitude during the glide phase ranges from 20 to 80 km.
Challenges and Solutions:
- Hypersonic weapons are challenging to intercept due to their blinding speeds and low altitudes, allowing them to navigate around missile defense sensors.
- This makes them difficult for ground-based radar systems to track efficiently.
- The GPI Project aims to provide regional hypersonic missile defense by engaging these threats during the glide phase, which occurs at the boundary between space and Earth’s atmosphere.
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