What a fast transformation it is for the gaming of wars just around the corner – the entire process is going to be very different from what we are used to, and technology is playing the foremost role. Among the numerous futuristic inventions that are radically changing the future of the battlefield, only one can be brought into comparison with the Lockheed Martin Mako hypersonic missile. The Mako is neither an upgrade of the current arsenal nor just another weapon; rather, it is a revolution that marks the transition from those three characteristics – survival, adaptation, and rapid movement – from being mere features to mandatory ones.
From the start, the Mako was meant for something special. It would not be an off-the-belt, run-of-the-belt missile, but a quick, precision response to the most difficult targets—the ones that require an accelerated response. Lockheed Martin phrased it this way: the Mako “blazes down on time-sensitive targets when every second counts.” And it does. With its capability to fly hypersonic and still remain highly maneuverable even when at high altitudes, it can penetrate deep air defense systems and still have the capability to change directions when in flight so as to accurately land where needed.
Even more eye-catching, though, is the way the Mako appears. A few hundred 1,300 pounds, 13 feet long, and a bit over a foot in diameter, it’s compact enough to be housed within stealth planes like the F-35 and F-22. That is no small feat—housed in the fuselage, they can preserve their stealth, infiltrate enemy-controlled territory undetected, and hit before the enemy can hit them.
It is driven by a solid-fuel rocket motor, firing it tidily into the world of Mach 5. Speed is not sufficient, however. Its real strength is its agility at such breakneck velocities. It is far too difficult for even the most advanced defense systems to track or intercept, leaving competitors to stall until they can no longer respond.
Mako’s maneuverability is also one of its strengths. It can be used against any number of targets—anything from hardened bunkers and mobile air defense systems to sea-going vessels. And it’s not theory; it’s already been flight-tested for use on a powerful stable of aircraft: the F-35, F-22, F/A-18, F-16, F-15, and even the P-8 patrol aircraft. If standard 30-inch lugs will fit on the plane, the Mako can go on there. It is also still in the development stage for adaptation to be used on submarines and ships, expanding its use in other military service units.
The manner in which Lockheed Martin built the Mako differs as well. Instead of building it and then testing in between, the company built the whole system in a virtual environment. From blueprints to production procedures, all of that was in place and built in cyberspace before anything physical was made. It is also easy to change or swap out something, such as the warhead or guidance system, for a specific mission. Additive manufacturing by the process of 3D printing cuts costs and time to production, lessening even the complex guidance components’ cost and allowing them to be produced faster.
Affordability is also equally important. For the program managers, Mako was to provide best-of-class capability and best value for money. That is a recipe good not only for America, but for allies who wish to boost defence without selling out the future. Since it already exists in so many standard aircraft, it can be brought into service at allied military means instantly, adding to the security overall.
Tactically, the missile is a game-breaker. Enemies use multi-layered defenses and long-range missiles fired from distant locations to put their adversaries at arm’s length. Mako levels the playing field. With stealth fighters that can strike significant targets—like mobile launchers or radar installations—before they can get out of range or retaliate, it short-circuits the enemy’s reaction time. Militarily, it precludes options, with little prospect of survival.
Yes, it’s not easy to produce hypersonic missiles. Guiding and stabilizing a missile that can travel five times the speed of sound is one of the largest-scale engineering accomplishments of human beings. But Mako suggests that those issues are being addressed. It’s proof that not only isn’t America coasting on laurels in the hypersonic contest—it’s leading the way.
There’s also a decidedly strong foreign flavor here. Lockheed Martin has gone through extremely concerted efforts to draw attention to the aspect that Mako is beyond an American gun. The approach is to co-produce the gun with leading partners and produce it in countries such as the UK. It not only shares the load but also promotes industrial cooperation and makes everyone pray for the system to work. As one of the executives so aptly stated, the dream is a missile built by hands in accord with each other for their own good.
Although its critics can also say they have their own hypersonic capability, the Mako isn’t that sort of system. It doesn’t need bragging. Its strength is bringing together the highest velocity and intelligent design, deep penetration, and broad compatibility with the emerging generation of battle networks. That synergy makes it so much more than just another missile—it’s a quantum leap.
As global security becomes increasingly complex and abstract, Mako is not merely a temporary weapon. It’s a quantum leap to deterrence, one that puts the U.S. and its allies not only playing catch-up afterwards but light years ahead of it.