The US is responding to Russia with this new hypersonic missile with a name that evokes a large sea predator

Lockheed Martin’s new ‘Mako’ hypersonic missile: A predator ready to dominate the skies.

Lockheed Martin has announced that its multi-mission hypersonic missile, nicknamed ‘Mako’, is ready for deployment. The project, named after the ocean’s fastest shark, took more than seven years to develop and promises to redefine military air and maritime operations.

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Innovation and versatility in the air

‘Mako’ stands out for its ability to be integrated on a wide range of aircraft, including 5th generation fighters such as the F-22 and F-35, as well as the F/A-18, F-16, F-15 and P- 8. Thanks to its adaptive design, it can be mounted on any aircraft equipped with standard 30-inch hardpoints, including bombers.

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A revolutionary design

Developed entirely within a digital engineering ecosystem, ‘Mako’ benefits from best practices in model-based systemic engineering. This process holistically integrates all aspects of the missile’s lifecycle, from design through production to operationalization, enabling rapid integration of mission-specific components such as payloads and guidance systems.

A modular platform for different missions

The open architecture of ‘Mako’ allows for exceptional modularity, giving users the freedom to configure it according to specific needs without proprietary constraints. This capability is essential to support various types of missions, including air strikes, maritime strikes, and neutralization of opposing air defenses.

Technological advances and cost reduction

Lockheed Martin implemented advanced manufacturing processes, such as full-digital design and additive manufacturing, to reduce costs and speed up production of the ‘Mako’. The missile’s guidance section, for example, is produced via additive methods, which significantly reduces costs and production time compared to traditional methods.

Strategic potential for the US Army

Although Lockheed Martin has yet to reveal specific details about the speed, accuracy and strike range of the ‘Mako’, its potential to bolster America’s hypersonic arsenal is undeniable. With Russia and China already possessing advanced hypersonic weapons, the ‘Mako’ may well be the US Air Force’s answer to current and future needs supporting US air dominance in the new dimensions of modern conflict.

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This article highlights the ‘Mako’, Lockheed Martin’s latest innovation in hypersonic missiles. Designed for flexible integration and maximum effectiveness, this missile represents a major advance in military technology that gives the United States a viable option to maintain superiority in the international arena against adversaries increasingly equipped with hypersonic weapons.

Source: Zona Militar

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