Hudson Institute

Hudson Institute 9/20/24

Today the Hudson institute hosted a conference on The Future of US and Allied Hypersonic Missile Programs.

• Doug Lamborn emphasized the important of having effective testing for hypersonics to increase readiness and collaboration with allies and partners. Similar to space, Rep. Lamborn said he believes classifications need to be looked at as a means to make the public more aware of the threats involving hypersonics. He also said he plans to stay very engaged on these issues following his retirement.
• During a panel discussion, John Plumb said the Department and Administration are very invested in a proliferated and resilient missile warning and missile tracking system, telling attendees that he believes Space Force efforts for this area are on track.
• Donald Norcross and Rep. Vince Fong both touched on the need to make strategic investments, with Rep. Fong adding that space, AI, and hypersonics will be critical components for our national security strategy.

20 September 2024

Hudson Institute: The Future of US and Allied Hypersonic Missile Programs

 Keynote Address

Rep. Doug Lamborn, (R-CO)

Retirement & Role

-It was my highest honor to be the chairman of HASC-STR subcommittee. This has given me a unique perspective on some of our nation’s most pressing threats.

-My job is to take this message to the other members of Congress who don’t get these daily threat briefings.

-I’ve fought hard to make sure the US stays at the forefront, and I will continue to sound the alarm when we’re falling behind.

-Nuclear modernization, increasingly contested space domain, hypersonics remain challenges.

-While I may be leaving Congress, I plan to stay very engaged.

Hypersonics

-China and Russia have hypersonic capabilities.

-Russia has been researching this technology for the last 40 years.

-The Chinese have demonstrated rapid advancements in hypersonic missile technology.

-CCP will stop at nothing to show its dominance if it can do so and we have to pay attention to that.

-Since taking over as chairman we have made many advancements however much more needs to be done.

-Some people have accused us of being copycats. That’s not it. Our military commanders tell us they will need the ability to strike targets at great distances with confidence. Right now we have slow missiles with limited range or missiles with not exact trajectories.

Defenses

-We need to modernize our own air defenses as well.

-Fundamental is developing sensors. I was pleased to see HBTSS launched early this year. We must build on this through PWSA. Investing in these types of sensors will be crucial.

-Successfully engaging in hypersonic missiles in the terminal phase is too close for comfort.

-Glide Phase Interceptor, the law directs DOD to field this system by 2029. Feilding it later would be irrelevant.

-Directed energy and microwave systems will also be critical in defense.

Effective Testing

-We do not test enough and we don’t do it in the right way. We need to start flying more often and get comfortable with taking on risks.

-One of my top priorities in this year’s NDAA was to bolster the Match-TB program. I believe the Pentagon needs to make this a program of record by next year.

-We can increase the technological readiness level with allies and partners by doing more testing.

Passing Predictable Funding

-Some argue our defense funding is too bloated. I disagree.

-It’s a fact that the defense budget based on GDP is approaching historic lows.

-We can no longer afford CRs that cause great disruption.

-It’s been months since the House passed to the Senate the acts and bills and the Senate has sat on those and have done nothing. This has to change.

Threats & Coordinated Efforts

-These folks are working together and we see that more. They have a synergy they have that they wouldn’t if they were working separately.

-The US has great partnerships and maybe they’re learning from us and they’re forming their own groups and collaborations.

-Russia is turning to NK and Iran to fill in gaps. We’re seeing Russia supply nuclear technology to China.

Technology Investments

-Hypersonics field, we absolutely need to press forward. We’re so far behind having not fielded a single hypersonic vehicle yet.

-I think it’s destabilizing to let a significant capability be in the hands of the adversary and us not have it in our hands.

-It’s important for the combatant commanders to have as many options as possible.

Op-Ed on Hypersonic Test Schedule

-Some of this is a mentality shift. We’re really pushing to get everyone on the same page. Funding has to match that as well and that’s something we’re pushing for.

-I see great things happening in academia. I see good things happening with wind tunnels.

-We’re doing some good things with testing and we need to do it all whether it’s wind tunnels, over water, over land. There’s a lot to do.

Classification Challenges

-We need to do a better job at declassifying things so the public can be aware.

-When Gen Hyten was talking about threats in space, it got lots of attention. But that’s not easy to do sometimes because of the classification of things.

-We need to work on this so the public can be aware as well as working with allies.

[End]

Panel: The Progress and Challenges of American Hypersonic Capabilities

ADM (Ret) James Winnefeld Jr., Ninth Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

Dr. John Plumb, Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, DOD

Mike White, Former Principal Director for Hypersonics, Office of the Secretary of Defense

Targeting Hypersonics

Plumb

-Terminal vs glide phase, the need for capability to target at both phases is very important.

Winnefeld

-Ultra high power microwaves, it’s been proven that at significant ranges you can do significant damage. This is all something we have to consider as well.

HBTSS, SDA, SSC, MDA

Plumb

-The Department and the Administration are deeply invested in a proliferated, resilient MW and MT system.

-HBTSS, it’s an exquisite concept. MDA has great engineers. If you want to do something at scale, it has to be more affordable and I do believe we’re on track for that.

-Tranche for SDA towards the end of the decade is the plan.

Testing & Training

Winnefeld

-Whether Air Force, Space Force, Marines, you name it, the first time they see a hypersonic weapon it cannot be in combat.

-Yes you can use simulators but there’s absolutely nothing like doing it in real life. This is terribly important.

AUKUS Pillar II & Advancing Hypersonics

Plumb

-The combination of AUKUS plus the falling of this ITAR barrier for most technology is a huge change.

-The idea that you don’t have to go to the State Department for permission as much makes everyone happen and it allows us to move faster in collaboration.

-It’s a huge opportunity across all defense spectrum and hypersonics is just one piece.

[End]

Panel: The Hill Perspective on Building Bipartisan Consensus

Rep. Donald Norcross, (D-NJ)

Rep. Vince Fong, (R-CA)

GPC & Hypersonics Technology

Fong

-GPC is real so when it comes to hypersonics, space, the need to be a leader in technology, that is not a partisan issue.

Norcross

-After leading in hypersonics we kind of took our foot off the gas and now we’re playing catch up. Most people on the committee are very concerned.

Fong

-There are military and science applications. These will help us operate in space. There’s commercial application as well. There is interest not only in the committee but beyond.

Space & Different Government Orgs

Norcross

-If you go back a decade, what occurred with commercial vs defense, commerce vs defense, it’s remarkable some of the challenges and very different dynamics.

-On the private side, FAA has their foot in the door and they are not creating difficulties just because commercial and FAA aren’t accustomed to dealing with some of these issues and they’re putting a real timestamp on launches that need to occur and we’re looking at ways to get the resources needed to do this all in real time.

Fong

-FAA and commercial space, we have to learn some hard lessons and now we’re also applying hypersonics. Space is the next frontier for us so having commercial, DOD, private, this is all critical to us.

INDOPACIFIC Security Challenges

Norcross

-Philippines, Japan and Taiwan, they’re sitting in the backyard.

-We’re talking about needing a layered defense. We’re playing an away game and the tyranny of distance is there. Having partner countries, Philippines, Japan, Australia, it’s all really important.

-We also need to protect Americans and American assets and that starts with Guam

Partnering & Investing

Fong

-More needs to be done. NASA, DOD, we need more partners and commercial investment.

-We need to do more launches and work on the commercial space side. How does this tie together?

-Why not use aerospace side of things to create more platforms?

-What if we didn’t have our commercial space partners right now? Think about it.

-What aspects and platforms do we need 30 years from now? Space, AI, hypersonics, it’ll be critical components of our national security strategy. If we want to stay the global leader we have to make those investments.

Norcross

-We did a decent plus up on the testing infrastructure for hypersonics.

-Friends in the Senate, we might want to get this done a little sooner. The NDAA is incredibly important but I guess we have to get past the next 46 days and after the election to get anyone moving.

[End]