Breaking the Barrier: Lockheed Martin’s Mako Missile Launched from F-35, Signaling a Major Milestone in Hypersonic Weapon Development

The Mako missile, a joint project by Lockheed Martin and CoAspire, has been unveiled as the first hypersonic missile model to be launched from the F-35 aircraft. This American corporation announced the integration of the Mako multi-mission hypersonic missile with various aircraft models, including the F-22, F-15, F-16, and several others. The F-35 can carry up to 6 Mako missiles, with 4 on external pylons and 2 stored inside the weapons bays in the fuselage.

The technical details of the Mako missile are still not fully disclosed; however, it is equipped with various guidance systems and has a minimum speed of Mach 5. Testing of the missile’s fit with different aircraft models has been conducted electronically and physically. The US Navy’s Senior Program Manager in Missile and Fire Control division, Rick Loy, described the Mako as a multi-mission system with high capacity, survivability, and affordability.

The development of hypersonic weapons has been ongoing for many years in both Russia and America. However, recent test launches of AGM-183A missiles under ARRW program proved unsuccessful for America. Meanwhile, Russia has already deployed hypersonic missiles such as Kinzhal and Zircon series during conflict in Ukraine. These advanced weapons have proven effective in combat situations. Despite these challenges in developing hypersonic weapons program in US, it continues to invest heavily in this field to maintain its strategic advantage over other countries.

In conclusion, Lockheed Martin’s successful development of the Mako multi-mission hypersonic missile is a significant milestone for American military forces seeking to expand their capabilities beyond conventional weapons systems. As more nations continue to invest heavily in developing hypersonic weapons programs