Employment of hypersonic glide vehicles: Proposed criteria for use
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) are a type of reentry vehicle that couples the high speed of ballistic missiles with the maneuverability of aircraft. The HGV has been in development since the 1970s, and its technology falls under the category of Conventional Prompt Global Strike (CPGS) weapons. As noted by James M. Acton, a senior associate in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment, CPGS is a “missile in search of a mission.” With the introduction of any significant new military capability, a doctrine for use—including specifics regarding how, when and where it would be used, as well as tactics, training and procedures—must be clearly defined and understood by policy makers, military commanders, and planners. In this paper, benefits and limitations of the HGV are presented. Proposed criteria and four scenarios illustrate a possible method for assessing when to use an HGV.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 1248826
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-2014-15770J; 533563
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Project on Nuclear Scholars Issues 2014 Fall Conference , Albuquerque, NM (United States), 27-28 Aug 2014
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Vehicle Tracking
Hypersonic Weapons: Tactical Uses and Strategic Goals