Fifth Generation Weapons

Rendering of Hypersonic Missile

India has started developing the Fifth Generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), which is expected to be inducted into the Air Force in the early to mid-2030s. However, there is not much discussion about the need for fifth-generation weapons to complement the advanced air platforms. Even the Western air forces that have adopted fifth-generation aircraft like the F-22, F-35, and B-2 still use the same tactical weapons that were used in the 1990s and early 2000s. This is a concern as air defenses have become more robust, making it difficult to hit heavily fortified targets. Therefore, India needs to develop a new generation of precision weapons to enhance its strike capability and deter potential aggressors.

India's Integrated Guided Missile Program has been successful in developing indigenous capabilities in Ballistic Missiles, Surface to Air missiles, Air to Air missiles, and anti-tank guided missiles. However, with the increasing availability of sophisticated, long-range air defense radars and sensors, coupled with advanced interceptor weapons, the need for a new generation of precision weapons has become crucial. India needs to create a capability roadmap for next-generation weapons with the support of the growing ecosystem of defense manufacturers in the private sector. While technology demonstrators of anti-satellite missiles and hypersonic vehicles have been successful, a more structured approach is required.

Characteristics of 5th Generation Weapons:

Rendering of Peregrine Missile in flight- Raytheon Missiles and Defense

The characteristics that define next generation of weapons are not well-defined, but they should be able to extract maximum effect from the capabilities of modern Fifth-generation combat aircraft. These aircraft combine stealth and fused sensor data for superior situational awareness. The general consensus is that the new generation of weapons should possess advanced features such as long-range strike capability, high speed, improved guidance systems, advanced seekers, and better penetration capabilities.

The next generation of weapons should be stealthy and either have a low-observable design or trajectory or use electronic means to remain hidden until they reach the endgame of engagement. They must also be able to withstand electronic attacks and resist deceiving by cyber techniques. The development of some fifth-generation weapons is focusing on extreme speed to make them difficult to intercept even if detected. This is the concept behind hypersonic weapons currently under development. Focus is also on longer range and the ability to strike from much farther distances than current weapons is essential to launch attacks before entering the range of an enemy's weapons. In the fifth-generation weapon development, some weapons under development will have the ability to coordinate with each other to strike targets in the most effective sequence to overwhelm the defender, mask their objectives, or increase their survivability. The concept of a "swarm attack" is likely to become prevalent. Additionally, new weapons will collect information en route to the target to enhance the entire force's understanding of the unfolding fight. Advanced aircraft must carry weapons internally to remain stealthy. Miniaturized electronics and novel propulsion methods can make new weapons smaller, allowing for more weapons to be carried by each aircraft. As the development of collaborative combat aircraft like the HAL-CATS Warrior becomes more prevalent, smaller weapons will be essential.

In missile design internationally, weapon concepts with modular seekers, warheads, and propulsion units are becoming the norm. Modular designs have the potential to increase production rates, reduce costs, and increase manufacturing flexibility. The use of modern computer-aided design with open architectures should make it easier for the Air Force to explore multiple configuration options to achieve the optimal mix of capabilities and manufacturability and create a variety of strike options.

Production as a deterrent

DRDO test launch of Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (via PIB)

Although much has been said about many characteristics related to warfare, the importance of production capacity is often overlooked. With conflicts that can arise without warning, it is essential to be able to quickly increase production of ammunition to meet the demands of war. The ability to do so is a major deterrent to adversaries who cannot win through exhaustion alone. To achieve this, India must focus on creating multiple factories that can mass-produce interoperable and interchangeable weapons. The current design of India's weapons comes from various countries and lacks interoperable sub-units, resulting in separate supply chains for similar components. This poses a risk of dependence on factories or vendors that can be a potential single point of failure in the supply chain. A more modular design of weapons could reduce this risk and increase competition for various weapon elements, expanding the industrial base and increasing capacity to surge production during a crisis. Discussions with industry and development agencies to prioritize modularity and partitioning of technical subsystems are necessary. This approach could also allow for the production of more niche weapons that address small but crucial target sets. A reevaluation of India's procurement and development regime may also be necessary.

A modular strategy provides a chance to encourage competition for various weapon components, which might draw in new players to the industry, expand the manufacturing base, and potentially boost the ability to increase production in emergency situations. To achieve modularity, it is important to engage in discussions with development agencies and industry partners on how technical subsystems are divided and how interfaces are constructed. This could also enhance our capacity to manufacture ammunition on a large scale. Furthermore, modularity could allow for the creation of more specialized weapons that target specific but important objectives.

Examples of Next Generation weapons under development

Boeing’s Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile Concept (via Twitter)

Lockheed Martin's AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) is a radar-guided missile with an enhanced range that exceeds China's PL-15. Raytheon's Long-Range Engagement Weapon (LREW) is a larger missile designed to shoot down airborne warning systems, tankers, or bombers from a distance. Boeing's Modular Advanced Missile (MAM) is a short-range dogfight missile that has stackable propulsion units and interchangeable seekers. Raytheon's Peregrine combines the AMRAAM's capability with longer range in a smaller package, while Lockheed's CUDA is a proposal for a missile half the size of the AMRAAM.

In hypersonic missiles, Lockheed's AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) has had successful flight tests and can be carried on a B-52's wing pylons, while Raytheon's Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) is a ground-attack weapon that uses an air-breathing, scramjet engine.

The Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) is a successor to the High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM), with contracts awarded to L3Harris Technologies, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. The Stand-off Attack Weapon (SoAW) competition is looking for multiple vendors to produce a lower-cost standoff weapon, and the Global Precision Attack Weapon (GPAW) is likely to be the successor to JDAM.