Sputnik 2.0 - Hypersonic Threats

2015-06-30

This is Frank Gaffney with the Secure Freedom Minute. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first satellite, stealing a frightening technological march on the United States. That feat meant the Soviets could lob nuclear weapons over intercontinental ranges and threaten us here at home. So, Sputnik shocked Washington into action. Crash programs were undertaken to build our own long-range missiles and develop weapons to defeat the Kremlin’s. We are at a similar juncture now, as both Rus...

This is Frank Gaffney with the Secure Freedom Minute.

In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first satellite, stealing a frightening technological march on the United States.

That feat meant the Soviets could lob nuclear weapons over intercontinental ranges and threaten us here at home. So, Sputnik shocked Washington into action. Crash programs were undertaken to build our own long-range missiles and develop weapons to defeat the Kremlin’s.

We are at a similar juncture now, as both Russia and Communist China have begun introducing hypersonic weapons delivery systems. Such extremely fast-flying platforms can be used to devastate our naval and other military assets and targets in this country, since we currently lack the means to stop them.

We must respond, as with Sputnik, by putting our best minds and national resources to work on matching – and defeating – such hypersonic threats.

This is Frank Gaffney with the Secure Freedom Minute. Learn more at SecureFreedom.org.

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