| Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) | |
|---|---|
 HAWC Missile Concept Drawing | |
| Type | Hypersonic air-launched cruise missile |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | In development |
| Used by | United States |
| Production history | |
| Designer | DARPA |
| Specifications | |
| Warhead | None (uses its own kinetic energy upon impact to destroy the target, see Kinetic energy weapon) |
| Engine | Scramjet |
Operational range | >300 nmi (560 km; 350 mi) |
| Flight altitude | >60,000 ft (18 km) |
| Maximum speed | >Mach 5 (6,100 km/h; 3,800 mph) |
Launch platform | B-52 Stratofortress |
The Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC, pronounced "hawk") is a scramjet powered hypersonic air-launched cruise missile project at the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA),[1] that had a successful hypersonic flight announced in September 2021.[2][3] It is a kinetic energy weapon, without an explosive warhead.[4]
The scramjet propelled the missile at "a speed greater than Mach 5" (about 3,300 miles per hour).[2]
The first successful flight was in September 2021.[5] Further testing was carried out in mid-March 2022, but was kept secret at the time to avoid the impression of escalation against Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[4] The existence of the test was revealed in early April 2022.[4]
Principal Director for Hypersonics Mike White stated that HAWC would be smaller than hypersonic glide vehicles and could therefore launch from a wider range of platforms. White additionally noted that HAWC could integrate seekers more easily. DARPA requested $60 million for MoHAWC, the successor program to HAWC, in FY2023.[6]
On 18 July 2022, the third successful flight test of the HAWC was reported by DARPA - the missile was able to fly at (5,300 km/h; 3,300 mph) speed at the altitude of more than 60,000 ft (18 km; 11 mi) for more than 300 nautical miles (560 km; 350 mi).[7]
On 30 January 2023, the final successful flight test of the HAWC was reported by DARPA and Lockheed Martin - like its previous flight test, the missile was able to fly at (5,300 km/h; 3,300 mph) speed at the altitude of more than 60,000 ft (18 km; 11 mi) for more than 300 nautical miles (560 km; 350 mi), and demonstrated improved performances and capabilities. DARPA plans to further these technological improvements through More Opportunities with HAWC program (MOHAWC).[8][9]
Technology developed for the HAWC demonstrator was used to influence the design of the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM), a U.S. Air Force Program of Record to create a scramjet-powered hypersonic missile it could deploy as an operational weapon.[10] The contract to develop HACM further was awarded to Raytheon in September 2022.[11] HACM will use a Northrop Grumman scramjet.[12][13]