Mako: The Hypersonic Missile That Could Fly on F-22 and F-35 Fighters

U.S. Mako Hypersonic Missile Aims to Even the Score: You’ve probably heard of hypersonic weapons, including reports that China and Russia have leaped ahead of the United States with the technology.

Now, to catch up, it appears that the Department of Defense will receive one type of hypersonic missile that took seven long years of development.

It is called the Mako, and it can be deployed by the F-22 and F-35, plus a bevy of other fighters. Let’s see if this weapon is worth the wait.

What Is a Hypersonic Missile?

Hypersonic missiles fly at speeds greater than MACH 5 (almost 4,000 miles per hour). They travel close to the ground to help evade radar detection, and unlike a regular ballistic missile, they can be maneuvered in flight. They also do not fly in a parabola-shaped trajectory like a ballistic missile, which allows for better evasion.

Many Types of U.S. Fighter Jets Can Launch It

One issue with hypersonic weapons is that they are big and heavy because of the load of fuel and their large solid-fuel motor. They usually must be launched on pylons from fighters. This means they have a radar signature, but Mako manufacturer Lockheed Martin has found a way to fasten them to the internal weapons bays of the F-35 and F-22 to maintain a high level of stealthiness.

This is the first hypersonic missile that can fit on a fifth-generation fighter. The Mako, at 13 feet long and over a foot in diameter, can also be launched from the F-15, the F-16, and F/A-18. It weighs 1,300 pounds with a 130-pound warhead.

This Thing Is a ‘Shark’

The Mako originated from the Air Force’s Stand-in Attack Weapon, which was to be a conventional air-to-ground missile. Lockheed helped build the Mako with the research, development, and design efforts of the Stand-in Attack Weapon. The Mako is named for the fast-swimming shortfin mako shark.

Diverse Mission Set Makes It So Valuable

The great thing about Mako is its capability of a stand-off weapon that can be fired out of the range of enemy defense systems. It can also be used to take out anti-aircraft and radar installations, paving the way for additional friendly airplanes to enter into hostile threat environments. The Mako can engage in multiple mission sets including other types of ground targets like an enemy air base or missions against ships.

Upgrades Can Be Done Quickly and Efficiently

The Mako will be upgraded in the future depending on how well it reacts to testing and how 21st-century warfare evolves. Lockheed Martin will also look for ways to produce it cheaper and more efficiently. This is a good sign for the American defense industrial base, which has been criticized for not keeping up when producing replacement arms that have been donated to Ukraine.

3D Printed Components

In fact, one the most innovative aspects of the Mako’s construction is its use of 3D printing (additive manufacturing). Lockheed Martin used this technology to make its guidance section and fins. Lockheed says this effort is “meets all engineering requirements at 1/10th cost and it’s 10 times faster and cheaper than conventional subtractive methods.”

While China, Russia, and even India have worked on hypersonic weapons for years, the United States has been behind but is now catching up with the advent of the Mako.

How It Could Be Used Against China

China, of course, is the main adversary in East Asia, and Taiwan and Guam are endangered. The People’s Liberation Army Navy has been threatening other countries in the South China Sea such as the Philippines. Beijing has been militarizing various islands, rocks, and reefs in the region that violate the Philippine’s territorial claims.

Indo-Pacific Is a Cauldron

Tensions are high in the Indo-Pacific and the United States needs a stand-off hypersonic missile that would be so important on Day One and Day Two of a shooting war with China. Makos could destroy Chinese radar and command and control installations early that would blind Beijing’s navy and air force.

Thus, the Mako has an important role to play in U.S. tactics and operational art in the Indo-Pacific so it has been worth the wait and its timely arrival couldn’t come at a better time. China wants to keep the United States military out of its claimed territory in the First Island Chain. With the Mako, Beijing will have less of a chance at successfully executing its anti-access/ area denial strategy in East Asia.

About the Author

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.