U.S. Military Acknowledges Difficulty in Defending Against Hypersonic Weapons
Reference News Network reported on May 1 According to a report from the website of RT on April 28, senior officials at the Pentagon told lawmakers that the United States will find it difficult to defend against the advanced missile systems being developed by China and Russia. They called for funding for the proposed "Iron Dome" missile defense program.
U.S. President Trump announced the "Iron Dome" program shortly after taking office in January 2025, proposing a massive investment that could reach hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade to develop ground-based and space-based capabilities.
On the 27th, Mark Berkowitz, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that there is an urgent need for defense upgrades because the U.S. "ground-based single-layer homeland defense system is very limited and designed specifically for small-scale rogue attacks."
He emphasized that the U.S. will face serious problems in defending against ballistic missiles and that "there is currently no capability to defend against hypersonic weapons or cruise missiles."
General Michael Guetlein, head of the "Iron Dome" project, stated that both China and Russia continue to modernize and expand their missile arsenals.
He mentioned the deployment of hypersonic glide vehicles (warheads capable of high-speed maneuvering within the atmosphere after launch) and Russia's development of the nuclear-powered "Zircon" cruise missile.
Guetlein said these systems "are designed to challenge our sensors' tracking and engagement capabilities" and ensure a "rapid response and survivable strike capability."
The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have raised questions about Washington's missile defense capabilities.
Reports indicate that the interceptor stockpiles for systems like "THAAD" and "Patriot" have been severely depleted and may take years to rebuild.
According to preliminary estimates from the Trump administration, the "Iron Dome" program is expected to cost about $175 billion over the next decade—although Pentagon forecasts have risen to around $185 billion. Some analysts warn that the final amount could be much higher.
(Translated by Feng Xue)
U.S. Department of Defense officials acknowledged challenges in defending against advanced missile systems from China and Russia during a Senate hearing. They called for funding for the proposed 'Iron Dome' missile defense program, which may cost between $175 billion and $185 billion over the next decade. Current U.S. defenses are limited against hypersonic threats, and both China and Russia are modernizing their missile capabilities.
- U.S. officials express difficulty in defending against hypersonic weapons from China and Russia.
- The proposed 'Iron Dome' program may require significant funding, estimated at $175 billion to $185 billion over the next decade.
- Current U.S. missile defense systems are limited and not designed to counter hypersonic threats.
- China and Russia are modernizing their missile arsenals, including hypersonic glide vehicles and nuclear-powered cruise missiles.
- The U.S. interceptor stockpiles for systems like THAAD and Patriot are reportedly depleted.