The report titled “Battlefield Applications for Hypersonic Missile Technology” and is published by the Atlantic Council in August 2023. The report discusses the potential applications of hypersonic missiles (HMTs) on the battlefield, with a particular focus on South Asia.
The report begins by defining HMTs and discussing their capabilities. HMTs are missiles that can travel at speeds of Mach 5 or higher. This makes them much faster than traditional ballistic missiles, and they can also maneuver more easily. This makes them difficult to intercept, and they can potentially deliver a devastating payload.
The report then discusses the potential applications of HMTs in South Asia. The region is home to several nuclear-armed states, and there is a growing risk of conflict. HMTs could be used to deliver nuclear weapons, or they could be used to attack conventional targets, such as air bases or command and control centers.
The report also discusses the challenges of deploying HMTs in South Asia. The region is mountainous and heavily populated, which makes it difficult to launch and recover HMTs. The report also notes that the deployment of HMTs could trigger an arms race in the region.
Overall, the report concludes that HMTs have the potential to significantly change the battlefield in South Asia. However, the report also notes that the deployment of HMTs could also have dangerous consequences.