The US is developing an air defense system with hypersonic artillery shells

The US Army is developing a multi-domain artillery weapon (MDAC) that can engage air targets. The “weapons of the future” are planned to be put into service by 2030.

A key feature of MDAC will be the use of hypersonic projectiles (HVP). They were originally developed for the canceled US Navy electromagnetic railgun program, which was supposed to operate on electromagnetic principles. These projectiles are capable of achieving ultra-high speed and can provide effective protection against cruise missiles and other airborne targets.




The system will be installed on a wheeled self-propelled 155-mm howitzer, this will ensure its mobility and relative cheapness compared to traditional air defense systems. To date, the US Army is creating MDAC prototypes. Since the “weapon of the future” is a relatively closed project, all that is known is that the first working prototypes should appear in 2028. Then they will go for test firing.

It is assumed that the finished artillery system should be highly automated, with the ability to remotely control fire, a high rate of fire and a large supply of ammunition.