Conventional Prompt Global Strike and Long-Range Ballistic Missiles: Background and Issues

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: AD1092436 | Open PDF

Abstract:

Members of Congress and Pentagon officials have placed a growing emphasis on U.S. programs to develop hypersonic weapons as a part of an effort to acquire the capability for the United States to launch attacks against targets around the world in under an hour. Hypersonic weapons, like all long-range ballistic missiles, can travel faster than Mach 5, or about 1 mile to 5 miles per second. This interest is driven by both the perceived mission need for conventional prompt strike systems and concerns about falling behind Russia and China in the development of these technologies. The United States is pursuing two key technologies for this purpose boost-glide systems that place a hypersonic glider atop a ballistic missile booster or shorter-range rocket systems, and hypersonic cruise missiles that would use scramjet technologies.

Author(s):
Woolf, Amy F.
Author Organization(s):
Congressional Research Service WASHINGTON DC United States
Descriptive Note:
Technical Report
Pagination:
0054

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release;

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Report Number(s):
CRS/DC-R41464
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_7_Protection; JCA_7.1.1_Prevent Kinetic Attack; JCA_7.1_Prevent; JCA_3_Force Application; JCA_3.1_Maneuver; JCA_3.1.1_Maneuver to Engage; JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_8_Building Partnerships; JCA_8.2_Shape; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_8.2.2_Provide Aid to Foreign Partners and Institutions; JCA_7.2.1_Mitigate Lethal Effects; JCA_7.2_Mitigate; JCA_1_Force Support; JCA_5.2_Understand; JCA_1.1_Force Management; JCA_8.2.3_Build the Capabilities and Capacities of Partners and Institutions; JCA_5.2.2_Develop Knowledge and Situational Awareness; JCA_5.3.1_Analyze Problem; JCA_6.4.1_Secure Information Exchange; JCA_5.3.4_Develop Courses of Action
Modernization Areas:
Hypersonics
Communities of Interest:
Space
Descriptor(s):
prompt global strike, hypersonic glide vehicles, boost glide vehicles, rockets, hypersonic cruise missiles, intermediate range ballistic missiles, strategic weapons, supersonic combustion ramjet engines, intercontinental ballistic missiles, booster rocket engines, fleet ballistic missiles
Field(s)/Group(s):
Guided Missiles, Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics
Keyword(s):
pgs(prompt global strike), cps(Conventional Prompt Strike), wmd(weapons of mass destruction)
Report Date:
2020 Feb 14
Creation Date:
2020 Mar 04