Hypersonic Missiles in the Hands of the Houthis—Is That so? | INSS
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Home Posts Hypersonic Missiles in the Hands of the Houthis—Is That so?

Hypersonic Missiles in the Hands of the Houthis—Is That so?
Yehoshua Kalisky
19 March, 2024

The report from the Russian news agency “Novosti” citing sources in the Houthi rebel organization, claiming that they have developed hypersonic missiles, could be concerning. Therefore, it’s necessary to clarify the situation.

A hypersonic missile is a projectile that travels over five times the speed of sound (Mach 5). In fact, every long-range ballistic missile moves at hypersonic speed, and sometimes, upon re-entering the atmosphere from space, its speed can reach up to Mach 20. The “Arrow 3” system can intercept such a missile because it moves on a defined ballistic trajectory, while the Arrow 3 is a maneuvering missile that moves at extremely high speeds until it physically strikes the target missile.

Another possibility is that the news refers to the possibility that the Houthis have a hypersonic glide vehicle. This refers to a hypersonic missile that’s launched outside the atmosphere by a ballistic missile, reaches hypersonic speed, and glides toward its target while maneuvering and navigating outside the atmosphere. Regardless, whether they’re ballistic missiles or gliding hypersonic missiles, these are systems that can be intercepted by the IDF’s defense systems, which operate outside the atmosphere.

The technological challenge lies in dealing with a hypersonic cruise missile system. These systems are difficult to intercept due to the maneuverability of a cruise missile, including a hypersonic one. However, it must be emphasized that to develop a hypersonic cruise missile system, one that moves and maneuvers at a speed of Mach 5 and above, a significant amount of technological infrastructure is required. This includes skilled personnel, specialized wind tunnels, aeronautics industry, and materials engineering at the highest level. Furthermore, there is a need for unique launching systems that are specifically designed for the special engines of hypersonic cruise missiles.

Topics: Advanced Technologies and National Security, Yemen and the Houthi Movement
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  • Research

    • Topics
      • Israel and the Global Powers
      • Israel-United States Relations
      • Glazer Israel-China Policy Center
      • Russia
      • Europe
      • Iran and the Shi'ite Axis
      • Iran
      • Lebanon and Hezbollah
      • Syria
      • Yemen and the Houthi Movement
      • Iraq and the Iraqi Shiite Militias
      • Conflict to Agreements
      • Israeli-Palestinian Relations
      • Hamas and the Gaza Strip
      • Peace Agreements and Normalization in the Middle East
      • Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States
      • Turkey
      • Egypt
      • Jordan
      • Israel’s National Security Policy
      • Military and Strategic Affairs
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      • Jewish-Arab Relations in Israel
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