According to the developers, the missile can develop a speed of at least Mach 5, while the flight range reaches 350 km. The weapon can be mounted on F-35, F-22, F-16, F-15, and F-18 family aircraft with appropriate mounting points.
Lockheed Martin and CoAspire presented the new Mako multi-purpose hypersonic missile at the Sea Air Space 2024 exhibition. The developers say they can offer the US Navy a super-fast, affordable weapon with universal guidance that can hit multiple targets. This is stated in the report of the British Naval News dated April 10.
“For the US Navy, this is a multi-purpose system with high capabilities, high survivability and an affordable price, so you will keep many targets at risk with one weapons systems that are ready now”, — said senior program manager Rick Loy.
According to representatives of Lockheed Martin, this is the first case of a public demonstration of a hypersonic vehicle since the beginning of its development in 2016.
In a demonstration video, the developers showed the moment of launching these missiles from the F-35A fighter. At the same time, Loy noted that the Mako is not intended for the US Navy's Hypersonic Air Launched Offensive (HALO) Anti-Surface program, which aims to create a high-end anti-ship weapon for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets.
What what is known about Mako
According to him, the missiles were originally intended for the US Air Force as part of the SiAW program. In this way, Mako was developed for attacks on enemy missile systems and anti-aircraft systems, that is, on enemy defense facilities. In addition, it is known that the range of the new missile is 300-350 km.
Loy did not disclose all the details of the missile's capabilities and characteristics, but noted that the Mako has undergone simulated testing on various fighters and maritime patrol aircraft. showing a flight speed of at least Mach 5. Moreover, the missile can be installed on F-35, F-22, F-16, F-15, F-18 aircraft with appropriate attachment points.
In response to a question about where the Mako will go, Loy emphasized , that their appearance at SAS 2024 is aimed at attracting interest and continuing their development. However, the rocket is “ready to fly, ready now and ready to quickly start large-scale production”.