Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, an Israeli defense company, has recently announced their new anti-hypersonic missile defense system called “Sky Sonic”. The Sky Sonic interceptor missile will make its public debut at next week’s Paris Air Show.
The announcement comes after Iran claimed to have developed a new hypersonic missile earlier this month.
Rafael officials explained that they received approval from the Defense Ministry to reveal their system only recently.
The Sky Sonic missile signifies a significant advancement in hypersonic missile defense technology.
It is designed with exceptional maneuverability to intercept and destroy hostile hypersonic missiles traveling at speeds of up to Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound.
The company did not offer a specific timeline for the missile’s readiness but mentioned conducting initial test flights shortly. The company says that it identified the potential threat of hypersonic missiles several years ago and initiated a research and development project.
Most air defense systems operate up to an altitude of 20 kilometers (12.4 miles), whereas anti-ballistic systems intercept targets above 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) in Earth’s atmosphere.
The Sky Sonic system aims to intercept hypersonic threats within the altitude range of 20-70 kilometers. This range is crucial as incoming missiles often maneuver to evade traditional air defenses.
