Context:
The US Navy, Navy SEAL commandos, and the US Air Force are set to install the Mako missile in all their military aircraft.
Relevance:
GS III: Science and Technology
Mako Missile Overview
Introduction:
- Type: Air-launched hypersonic multi-mission missile.
- Developer: Lockheed Martin, a prominent American aerospace and defense manufacturer.
- Significance: It is set to become the world’s first hypersonic weapon capable of being fired from the internal weapons bays of fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, such as the F-35 and F-22 Raptor.
Capabilities and Features:
- Mission Versatility: Designed for a wide range of missions, the Mako missile can engage targets at sea, in the air, and on land.
- Speed and Maneuverability:
- Hypersonic Speed: Capable of reaching speeds over Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound).
- Maneuverability: Offers high maneuverability, making it challenging for defensive systems to intercept.
- Design and Engineering:
- Digital Engineering: Represents one of Lockheed Martin’s pioneering missile designs created within an entirely “digital engineering ecosystem”.
- Dimensions: Approximately 4 meters in length, with a diameter of 13 inches.
- Weight: Close to 590 kg.
Operational Features:
- Penetration Capabilities: Named after the fastest shark in the seas, the Mako missile is designed to engage time-sensitive targets and penetrate advanced air-defense systems. It can operate at or below hypersonic speeds depending on the mission requirements.
Strategic Impact:
- Integration with Stealth Fighters: The missile’s compatibility with stealth fighter jets like the F-35 and F-22 Raptor enhances its strategic utility and effectiveness in modern aerial combat scenarios.
-Source: Financial Express
