Lindgren/Taylor: MARS — Keeping up with hypersonic technology
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- Brooke Lindgren
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- James Taylor
We were recently at a meeting with a high-ranking defense official, and what he said shook us. This official told the group that the United State was eight to 10 years behind China and Russia when building state-of-the-art missiles, like hypersonic missiles. These missiles can travel over 19,000 mph, or 25 times the speed of sound, making it challenging for missile defense systems to defend against them.
Hypersonic weapons have become attractive for countries looking to develop advanced military capabilities that threaten the U.S and others around the world. If you’ve been paying attention to what’s happening in Ukraine, you’ll know that Russia has already deployed hypersonic missiles. The high cost of these missiles may be the primary reason they haven’t deployed more. Even so, Russia is showing the world its capabilities in the realm of advanced weapons, and that it’s not afraid to use them.
It’s concerning that the U.S. is perceived to be trailing behind Russia and China in hypersonic technology because it means that the U.S. may be at a disadvantage in potential future conflicts. But not only that. The development of hypersonic technology is not limited to military efforts — it’s also important for areas like transportation and space exploration. The U.S. needs to catch up, and it needs to do it fast.
So, pretty scary stuff.
Clearly, falling behind in hypersonic technology creates a national security risk, but what does that have to do with us in Northern Utah? We’re actually well suited to narrow the technology gap between the U.S. and countries such as Russia and China. The development of hypersonic technology requires diverse technical expertise in areas like materials science, aerodynamics, propulsion systems and advanced manufacturing, and Northern Utah has a strong industrial base and skilled workers to solve these problems. The talent is there, but we need more to make bigger technological advancements happen.
Weber State University is playing a role in this, helping to address the problems in hypersonic technologies. In partnership with the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation and the Utah Advanced Materials Manufacturing Initiative, Weber State created the Miller Advanced Research and Solutions Center, or MARS Center. One of the significant issues for hypersonic weapons is that you need new materials that can withstand extreme heat. Among the diverse missions at MARS, the center tests and develops these new materials. This is cutting-edge stuff that universities are well suited to do.
To get the center up and running, the state Legislature provided MARS with a $20 million grant. This investment proves Utah’s commitment to solving the hypersonic technology gap. However, it’s not just about catching up with Russia and China; at Weber State University, students are at the heart of our mission. Besides addressing a national security risk, the MARS Center will provide students with a new approach to learning and research that prepares them for vital jobs. MARS will offer students access to groundbreaking technologies and state-of-the-art facilities to enhance their learning and research experiences. By working alongside talented WSU faculty, students will have the chance to tackle real-world problems and conduct trailblazing research that has the potential to solve some of the most serious technology problems in the military, business and beyond. These students’ experiences will give them a competitive edge in the job market.
With its emphasis on collaboration, the MARS Center will be a dynamic and exciting environment that inspires creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving. It’s poised to become a beacon of innovation and research, while providing students with a top-notch educational experience.
Big problems require big solutions. Creating the MARS Center is Weber State’s way of contributing to these solutions. With all big things, there will be growing pains and challenges, but Northern Utah and Weber State have always been up for a challenge.
Brooke Lindgren is the assistant director of the Office of Sponsored Projects at Weber State University, where she helps faculty and staff prepare and submit grant proposals for external funding. James Taylor is the executive director of innovation, commercialization, sponsored projects and research at WSU.