US tests hypersonic aircraft, advancing toward China in weapons race

美國測試高超音速飛行器，在武器競賽中向中國逼近

(NewsNation) — The Department of Defense announced Monday the United States successfully completed two test flights of a reusable hypersonic aircraft, marking a significant step in the development of weapons capable of flying more than five times the speed of sound.

（新聞國度）——美國國防部周一宣布，美國成功完成了一款可重復(fù)使用高超音速飛行器的兩次試飛，標志著在開發(fā)速度超過五倍音速的武器方面邁出了重要一步。

The advancement helps close the gap in hypersonic technology between the U.S. and rival powers like China and Russia, both of which already have hypersonic weapons at their disposal. Russia has used hypersonic missiles in its war against Ukraine.

這一進展有助于縮小美國與中國、俄羅斯等競爭對手在高超音速技術(shù)領(lǐng)域的差距，后兩國均已裝備高超音速武器。俄羅斯更是在對烏克蘭戰(zhàn)爭中動用了高超音速導彈。

The aircraft can attack from great distances and maneuver in ways that aim to trick adversaries and dodge traditional defenses. They are capable of carrying both conventional explosives and nuclear warheads.

該飛行器可從極遠距離發(fā)動攻擊，并能通過機動變軌迷惑對手、規(guī)避傳統(tǒng)防御系統(tǒng)，具備搭載常規(guī)炸藥與核彈頭的雙重能力。

Ballistic missiles can also travel at these hypersonic speeds; however, they have to follow a flight path. This makes them much easier to intercept before they reach their target. The U.S. also has cruise missiles, which can move around but travel much more slowly.

彈道導彈同樣能以高超音速飛行，但其必須遵循固定彈道，這使得它們在抵達目標前更容易被攔截。美國還擁有巡航導彈，這類導彈雖可機動變軌，但飛行速度要慢得多。

Pentagon hired tech startups to help with hypersonic aircraft

五角大樓聘請科技初創(chuàng)企業(yè)協(xié)助研發(fā)高超音速飛行器

Under pressure from Congress to increase progress on hypersonic technology, the Pentagon, whose funding for its development has lagged over the years, enlisted two tech startups — Stratolaunch and Ursa Major.

迫于國會要求加快高超音速技術(shù)研發(fā)進度的壓力，多年來研發(fā)資金滯后的美國國防部，與兩家科技初創(chuàng)公司——Stratolaunch 和Ursa Major達成了合作。

The recent test flights involved an autonomous drone, the Talon-A, which was carried up from the Mojave Desert by a larger Roc carrier aircraft over the Pacific Ocean. The flights, conducted in December and March, reached speeds of Mach 5, the hypersonic threshold, according to the Pentagon.

最近的測試飛行涉及一款名為“利爪-A”的自主無人機，該無人機由更大的“羅克”運載飛機從莫哈韋沙漠攜帶至太平洋上空。據(jù)五角大樓透露，這些于 12 月和 3 月進行的飛行測試速度達到了 5 馬赫，即高超音速門檻。

According to the Wall Street Journal, hypersonic missiles are crucial, since they can travel anywhere in the world in less than an hour.

據(jù)《華爾街日報》報道，高超音速導彈至關(guān)重要，因為它們能在不到一小時內(nèi)抵達全球任何地點。
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The Talon-A’s reusability is critical, allowing faster turnaround between missions and reducing costs.

Talon-A 的可重復(fù)使用性至關(guān)重要，它能夠加快任務(wù)間的周轉(zhuǎn)速度并降低成本。

What was the X-15 program?

X-15 項目是什么？

The test marks the country’s first return to reusable hypersonic flight trials since the manned X-15 program ended nearly 60 years ago, highlighting the urgency of advancing America’s hypersonic capabilities.

此次試驗標志著該國自近 60 年前載人 X-15 計劃結(jié)束后首次重返可重復(fù)使用高超音速飛行器試驗，凸顯了美國加速發(fā)展高超音速能力的緊迫性。

The North American X-15 hypersonic aircraft was operated by NASA and the U.S. Air Force. In 1967, it reached its highest speed of 4,520 mph. The program allowed 12 pilots to fly on nearly 200 flights. Some pilots were even classified as astronauts by exceeding 50 miles in altitude.

北美 X-15 高超音速飛機由美國國家航空航天局和美國空軍共同運營。1967 年，其最高速度達到每小時 4520 英里。該計劃共進行了近 200 次飛行任務(wù)，12 名飛行員參與其中，部分飛行員因飛行高度超過 50 英里甚至被授予宇航員稱號。

According to NASA, the program completed its purpose of “supporting piloted hypersonic flight within and outside the Earth’s atmosphere.”

據(jù)美國宇航局稱，該計劃完成了“支持有人駕駛在地球大氣層內(nèi)外高超音速飛行”的目標。

“The history of hypersonics is full of examples of successful programs that we have shut down prematurely, usually because of money,” Mark J. Lewis, president and chief executive officer of Purdue Applied Research Institute, told the Wall Street Journal.

“高超音速技術(shù)的歷史充滿了我們因資金問題而提前終止的成功項目案例，”普渡應(yīng)用研究所總裁兼首席執(zhí)行官馬克·J·劉易斯向《華爾街日報》表示。

China, Russia have hypersonic aircraft readily available

中國、俄羅斯已具備隨時可用的高超音速飛行器

China and Russia have hypersonic aircraft readily available, which could alter the United States’ strategic plans, according to the Journal. These aircraft could be used to go around the early warning systems the U.S. has in place for detecting attacks. They could also be used to hit naval aircraft carriers and key bases.

據(jù)《華爾街日報》報道，中國和俄羅斯已擁有隨時可投入使用的超音速飛行器，這可能改變美國的戰(zhàn)略計劃。這些飛行器可繞過美國現(xiàn)有的用于探測攻擊的早期預(yù)警系統(tǒng)，還能用于打擊海軍航母及關(guān)鍵基地。

In the South China Sea, even with the most advanced warship, the U.S. could still be defenseless against a hypersonic aircraft, the Journal reported. Hypersonic missiles could double Beijing’s reach, leaving U.S. ships defenseless, and could even strike Guam, where thousands of U.S. troops are stationed.

《華爾街日報》報道稱，在南海地區(qū)，即便擁有最先進的軍艦，美國仍可能對高超音速飛行器束手無策。高超音速導彈或?qū)⑹贡本┑拇驌舴秶鷶U大一倍，令美艦毫無招架之力，甚至可打擊駐有數(shù)千美軍的關(guān)島基地。
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A former Pentagon senior official told the Journal that since the late 1960s, China has tested hypersonic flight at about ten times the rate of the U.S.

一位前五角大樓高級官員向《華爾街日報》透露，自 20 世紀 60 年代末以來，中國測試高超音速飛行的頻率約為美國的十倍。