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The sonic boom is a weapon.

    The sonic boom is a weapon. 


The Soviet Union created many interesting aircraft designs. One of the interesting designs was the M-25 "Hell Reaper". The aircraft used a sonic boom as a weapon. The "Hell Reaper" didn't have any other weapons. Then the sonic boom. The idea was that low-flying supersonic aircraft could make sonic booms, that could destroy large areas. The reason why the "Hell Reaper" project closed was that there were no engines that could make that thing possible. 

In some visions, the MiG-21, MiG-25, and MiG-31 were planned to be used in the same role as Hell Reaper. Today MiG-31 is used to shoot hypersonic Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles. To reach hypersonic speed the missile requires the MiG 31 carrier-launcher. The MiG-31 accelerates to its top speed and then launches the hypersonic missile. 



Otherwise, Kinzhal cannot reach that hypersonic speed. The system is technically interesting, but it's more conventional and limited than expected. Radar is removed from those weapon carriers. And they must fly without any other armament than hypersonic missiles. The A-50 command platform controls the launch and the pilot must aim that missile very accurately, which makes it difficult to use. In the future, the A-100 AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft will replace the A-50 aircraft. The A-100 is planned to enter service in 2026. 




The thing that the Soviets overemphasis the speed of those aircraft at the expense of other features tells that speed has a big role in those systems. Also, their limited armament tells that they might use sonic pressure as their prime weapon. The idea could be that the interceptor accelerates to top speed, and then dives against the enemy. When speed remains in high supersonic at low altitudes, the aircraft and its missiles can make sonic pressure waves that have deadly effects. 

The remarkable thing is that the M-25 has a similar outlook as the Nazi-shuttle "Sibervogel" which was created under the control of the SS. The "Sibervogel" ever flew. But that system could be even more deadly than some jet fighters and Ho-229 "flying wing". The Sibervogel could used as "super V-1". But luckily for the world that project halted in 1945 when war ended. 

So was "Sibervogel" planned to act as "Hell Reaper"? Hypersonic technology brought the idea of using sonic booms as a weapon back on the table. The space shuttle that dives back into the atmosphere with hypersonic speed could cause a sonic pressure wall that pushes other aircraft back to the ground. The idea is that the hypersonic plane would fly against incoming aircraft and then the sonic boom hits those planes. Also, hypersonic missiles and other ammunition can make that sonic boom that can change the game. 


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beriev_A-50


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beriev_A-100


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_wing


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horten_Ho_229


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kh-47M2_Kinzhal


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-21


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-25


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan_MiG-31


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silbervogel

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