An illustration of the HAWC Missile Concept (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
Here’s the latest leap our premier military research agency has taken to move forward in hypersonic technology, propelling the United States to the forefront of the arms race.
The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has recently awarded Raytheon an $81 million risk reduction contract for the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) program. Under this contract, Raytheon is tasked with building and flying additional HAWC flight vehicles. This significant milestone will further advance the development of air-breathing hypersonic weapons, providing critical capabilities for U.S. warfighters.
In a press release statement, Colin Whelan, the president of Advanced Technology for Raytheon, explained that the team had applied the lessons learned from previous successful HAWC flight tests to ensure that the system is the most sophisticated of its kind. He also emphasized the importance of continuing the program to expand knowledge of hypersonic flight and deliver the critical capability that warfighters need. In essence, Whelan is highlighting the significance of the HAWC program and the potential benefits it can bring to the U.S. military’s hypersonic weapons development efforts.
DARPA shared that the HAWC missile successfully completed its final test flight earlier this month.
The hypersonic missile ''flew at speeds greater than Mach 5, higher than 60,000 feet, and farther than 300 nautical miles.'' pic.twitter.com/WKn89qHs36
The HAWC program has been making steady progress, leveraging data and lessons learned from earlier stages to mature the weapon concept design. The primary objective is to integrate manufacturing enhancements into the current HAWC design and perform flight tests to broaden its operating range while verifying system performance models. Moreover, the airframe and engine designs are closely aligned with the U.S. Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM), that expected to directly benefit from these advancements.
Here’s the latest leap our premier military research agency has taken to move forward in hypersonic technology, propelling the United States to the forefront of the arms race.
The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has recently awarded Raytheon an $81 million risk reduction contract for the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) program. Under this contract, Raytheon is tasked with building and flying additional HAWC flight vehicles. This significant milestone will further advance the development of air-breathing hypersonic weapons, providing critical capabilities for U.S. warfighters.
In a press release statement, Colin Whelan, the president of Advanced Technology for Raytheon, explained that the team had applied the lessons learned from previous successful HAWC flight tests to ensure that the system is the most sophisticated of its kind. He also emphasized the importance of continuing the program to expand knowledge of hypersonic flight and deliver the critical capability that warfighters need. In essence, Whelan is highlighting the significance of the HAWC program and the potential benefits it can bring to the U.S. military’s hypersonic weapons development efforts.
DARPA shared that the HAWC missile successfully completed its final test flight earlier this month.
The hypersonic missile ''flew at speeds greater than Mach 5, higher than 60,000 feet, and farther than 300 nautical miles.'' pic.twitter.com/WKn89qHs36
The HAWC program has been making steady progress, leveraging data and lessons learned from earlier stages to mature the weapon concept design. The primary objective is to integrate manufacturing enhancements into the current HAWC design and perform flight tests to broaden its operating range while verifying system performance models. Moreover, the airframe and engine designs are closely aligned with the U.S. Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM), that expected to directly benefit from these advancements.
Northrop Grumman, Raytheon’s partner since 2013, plays a crucial role in the program. The former’s General Manager and Vice President of weapons systems, Dan Olson, said that the HAWC follow-on contract is a vital program for their new production-ready Hypersonics Capability Center in Elkton, Maryland. Northrop Grumman has been Raytheon’s partner since 2013 and plays a crucial role in the HAWC program.
Brief Recap: The Evolution of the HAWC Program
The HAWC program has a rich history of research and development, with significant contributions from both Raytheon and Northrop Grumman. In 2019, the two companies signed a teaming agreement to develop, produce, and integrate Northrop Grumman’s scramjet engines onto Raytheon’s air-breathing hypersonic weapons.
The program has been a critical component of the U.S. military’s hypersonic weapons development efforts, aimed at developing an air-launched missile concept design that utilizes atmospheric air for the combustion of fuel to propel an aircraft or missile. In a scramjet engine, the airflow through the engine remains supersonic, enabling speeds of up to Mach 15, unlike a ramjet engine.
In September 2022, the team reached a groundbreaking achievement when they were selected to create the HACM, a first-of-its-kind weapon. This revolutionary weapon was designed to be air-launched and capable of traveling at hypersonic speeds, making it extremely difficult to intercept and providing a significant advantage on the battlefield.
The successful completion of multiple HAWC operational prototype system flight tests further validated their digital engineering concepts, which were grounded in real-world flight data and led to increased system performance. The HAWC program has been instrumental in advancing the U.S. military’s hypersonic weapons development efforts, bringing the U.S. one step closer to achieving its goals.
America’s Quest for Hypersonic Supremacy
The race to develop hypersonic weapons has been a hot topic in recent years, with the superpowers vying for supremacy. The United States has been actively investing in research and development in this domain to maintain its technological edge. Countries like Russia and China have also been actively seeking to develop their own, each having successfully made significant strides with respectively the development and deployment of hypersonic glide vehicles in the global arms race. Other military powers participating in the arms race include India, France, the United Kingdom, and Australia, to name a few.
And with the recent achievement, this could soon be equipping American forces with a potential game-changing capability. It could have weapons that are faster, more agile, and capable of striking targets with unparalleled precision, speed, and maneuverability. Thus, reshaping the dynamics of modern warfare, offering the ability to respond swiftly to emerging threats and maintain a strategic advantage over adversaries.
Additionally, the progress made through the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept program could have broader implications for other defense initiatives and space exploration as hypersonic technology continues to drive innovation across various sectors.
The collaboration between Raytheon and Northrop Grumman exemplifies the ingenuity and expertise of American defense contractors in shaping the future of military capabilities. As the program progresses, the nation’s defense capabilities are poised to reach new heights, solidifying the U.S.’s position as a leader in the evolving landscape of military technology.
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