// UNMANNED SYSTEMS AND NEXT-GEN WARFARE TERM
Boost-Glide
Boost-glide describes a type of missile flight where a vehicle is first launched to a very high altitude and speed by a rocket booster. After separation, it glides unpowered through the upper atmosphere at extremely high (hypersonic) speeds, maneuvering to its target.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Boost-glide is a hypersonic weapon flight profile where a vehicle is accelerated to high altitude and velocity by a rocket (boost phase), then detaches as a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) to descend and maneuver aerodynamically through the upper atmosphere at speeds exceeding Mach 5, leveraging kinetic energy for extended range and evasive terminal phase flight.
BACKGROUND
Boost-glide, or skip-glide, is a class of atmospheric entry trajectories that follow a non-ballistic trajectory by employing aerodynamic lift in the high upper atmosphere. The term is mostly used to refer to a number of designs that used lift to extend the range of an otherwise shorter-ranged rocket.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Hypersonic Glide Vehicle
- HGV
- Glide vehicle
- Boost-glide vehicle
- Hypersonic glider
USAGE NOTE
Boost-glide technology is a key element of modern hypersonic weapon systems, challenging traditional missile defense architectures due to its high speed and unpredictable trajectory.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Boost-Glide.
A global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technologies company heavily involved in the development of hypersonic boost-glide vehicles, including the AGM-183 ARRW program and other related projects for the U.S. military.
A major American multinational aerospace and defense conglomerate developing various hypersonic technologies, including boost-glide systems for air-launched weapons like the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM).
A leading global aerospace and defense technology company contributing to the development of hypersonic capabilities, including advanced materials and systems for boost-glide applications.
A prominent aerospace company with a defense division involved in research and development for various advanced aircraft and weapons systems, including concepts and technologies related to hypersonic flight and boost-glide vehicles.
An applied science and information technology company that has been a prime contractor for portions of the U.S. Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) and other boost-glide related programs.
A research and development agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military, including significant investment in hypersonic boost-glide programs like the OpFires project.
The governmental department responsible for coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the United States Armed Forces, with multiple branches (Army, Navy, Air Force) actively pursuing and funding boost-glide weapon systems development.
The state corporation of the Russian Federation responsible for spaceflights, cosmonautics programs, and aerospace research. It oversees the development and deployment of Russia's hypersonic weapons, such as the Avangard boost-glide vehicle.