A prototype of a laser for hypersonic missiles has been developed: it burns air and thus speeds up the flight

A hypersonic complex or missile is a weapon whose speed in the atmosphere is more than Mach 5.

Thanks to a powerful jet engine, a hypersonic missile continuously moves and maneuvers at different altitudes within the atmosphere at enormous speed.

Chinese scientists plan to install a laserinto the fairing of a hypersonic missile or aircraft to reduce air resistance. This is expected to speed up movement or reduce fuel consumption when flying at hypersonic speeds.

It is planned that the new device in the form of a dropwill create a plasma cloud in the form of a droplet, which instantly disintegrates into two parts. These smaller clouds will rotate in opposite directions and create a forward wind in front of the hypersonic weapon or aircraft, which will reduce air resistance.

Formation of air (plasma) vortices as a result of a laser strike on the air. 

Previously, there was a problem for such development:The laser system must be small in size so that it can be placed on an airplane or rocket. However, today there are methods for reducing the size of laser installations. 

Chinese researchers have managed to reduce the size of such a laser to 10 meters. Then the project will be the closest to implementation on the scale of a flying model.

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