Hypersonic missile that sweats like humans to fly beyond 3,800mph in extreme heat being developed for US Air Force

THE US Air Force is taking hypersonic missiles to the next level with sophisticated tech that enables the weapon to sweat like humans.

Missiles will be capable of reaching speeds in excess of Mach 5 - the equivalent of 3836mph - in some of the most extreme environments known to science, with temperatures reaching 3,000 degrees celsius (5,432 F).

One of the biggest limitations for rockets and missiles is their ability to go even faster without being weakened by thermal stress.

The new tech is designed to get around this problem by mimicking the cooling system used in our bodies, effectively letting off a "highly-pressurised fluid".

This comes out of the leading edge of a hypersonic vehicle and instantly evaporates to form a protective insulative layer for the vehicle so it avoids heating up.

Doing so should enable it to travel faster and more reliably than ever before, according to the company behind it.

US Air Force officials have signed a $2.8million / £2.1million deal with Denver-based Canopy to work on the next-generation thermal protection systems.

"I think the biggest technological or industrial capability we can invest in would be to increase our production rates, particularly, of the thermal protection systems and additive – thermal protection systems for glide vehicles and additive manufacturing for cruise missile engines," said Dr Gillian Bussey, Director of the Joint Hypersonic Transition Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering.

The tech will also be used for space re-entry systems.

Canopy is working on sensors in the system to monitor the environment too.

The firm says that its developments align with the US Air Force's Global Strike Operational Imperative.

Global Strike focuses on developing resilient long-range strike capabilities against advanced threats.

"In an era of increasingly contested air, space, and cyber environments, the DAF must maintain its ability to hold any target at risk," Canopy says.

Fears loom of World War Three

By Sayan Bose, Foreign News Reporter

IT is believed the world is closer to a full-fledged global war than it ever was since World War Two.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 initially raised questions but ongoing conflicts involving Iran and the Middle East, China and Taiwan, and North Korea have the world holding its breath.

It's been almost two years since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine and tensions between Russia and the West continue to rise.

Many fear the crisis in Ukraine could still develop into a wider armed conflict, with officials warning that further escalation could see the bloodiest conflict in Europe since WW2 if resulting in nuclear war.

North Korea is also ready to pounce on the West as Putin's alliance with deranged leader Kim Jong-Un continues to grow.

Putin has already unleashed North Korean rockets in Ukraine, killing hundreds in an unprecedented development.

But Kim has also threatened to start a war of his own after labelling South Korea his "principal enemy" - adding that the nuclear weapons at his disposal are not to be ignored.

This came just days after his sister and prominent ally - Kim Yo-Jong - vowed to unleash an "immediate military strike" on neighbouring South Korea over the "slightest provocation".

Meanwhile, the Middle East has become a tinderbox ready to be sparked at any minute.

What started as an Israeli retaliation against evil Hamas has now spilt to become a major regional conflict.

Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon have all been dragged into the conflict as have the UK and US.

Across the Asian continent, fears continue to mount over a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Beijing has already threatened to spark "uncontrolled escalation" and all-out warfare over one "misunderstanding", as President Xi Jinping looks to stamp his authority.

Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party swept to victory in their elections - meaning there will now be at least four more years of limited to zero dialogue with Beijing.

The result has sparked concerns that there might be conflict with China if the DPP refuses to resume tense peace talks.

Chinese officials described the 2024 election as a choice "between war and peace" in a chilling warning shot to Taiwanese voters.

The nation is feared to be a major flashpoint between the US and Beijing - with a potential invasion forcing the US to abandon the island or face a full-scale war with China, which could have devastating consequences.

Amid the backdrop of China's imperialistic behaviour in the South China Sea, Xi may also leverage India's territorial disputes with Pakistan to strong-arm New Delhi.

And China may use the opportunity to try and capture Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin - a region that the communist regime wrongly claims to be its own - from India.

What would happen if World War 3 started?

With the advancement of technology and modern weaponry, World War 3 could be the deadliest of all wars ever fought in the history of mankind.

We could see unparalleled levels of suffering, the displacement of millions, severe food insecurity, and disruption to essential services.

It is predicted that in the event of a nuclear war between the US and Russia, an estimated 99 per cent of the population in the belligerent countries, as well as Europe and China, would die.

Other attacks across the globe could result in catastrophic events - upending the structure of society completely.