The proliferation of hypersonic missiles and the Unites States’ position in the world relative to its near-peer adversaries presents an ongoing discussion over what weapons to prioritize and what gaps to close. Lockheed Martin’s director of Air Dominance and Strike Weapons Advanced Programs, Scott “Fish” Fisher, recently visited with Ryan Robertson to discuss Lockheed’s latest development, the Mako.
“The Mako is the fastest shark in the ocean,” Fisher said. “We started this seven years ago, coming up with a clever name for it. More importantly, we identified capability gaps in the United States Navy and Marine Corps’ operational tests. We knew there were some capability gaps, which is a fancy way of saying requirements. If there is a gap, we want to close it. That becomes a big requirement.”
Fisher explained that the Mako, developed with a $150 million investment over seven years, is a hypersonic weapon designed to be multi-mission, multi-platform, and multi-domain.
“Multi-mission means taking out ships, tanks, air defenses, really any mission you can think of,” he said. “Multi-platform means this weapon can hang on anything with 30-inch lugs, fitting on F-18, F-16, F-15, all bombers, and mobility platforms like C-17 and C-130. Multi-domain means it can be air-launched, surface-launched from the ocean, ground-launched from the land, or subsurface-launched from a submarine.”
The Mako missile weighs 1,300 pounds, has a diameter of 13.5 inches, a 130-pound warhead, and is 13 feet long. Fisher emphasized its versatility and power, describing it as “the One Ring to rule them all.”
Addressing concerns about China’s hypersonic weapons, Fisher explained, “Mach 5 is about 50 miles a minute, roughly a mile a second. The Mako differs from the Chinese version by its multi-mission and multi-platform capabilities.”
Fisher confirmed that Lockheed Martin has been ready for the past 18 months to move into production.
“We have been ready to move out rapidly, whether through the traditional engineering, manufacturing, and decision phase or rapid prototyping,” Fisher said. “We have identified global supply chains and kept our domestic partners up to speed. Additive manufacturing has revolutionized production, reducing time and cost significantly.”
As a former fighter pilot, Fisher expressed his passion for the Mako.
“This was the weapon I always wanted. I made a promise to my junior officers, now commanding officers of fighter squadrons, to get the best equipment to them,” he said. “There are storm clouds on the horizon, and we want to ensure peace through strength.”
Fisher’s commitment to delivering the Mako to the warfighter underscores the importance of advancing hypersonic weapon capabilities in maintaining national security.
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