Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM)
TypeHypersonic air-launched cruise missile
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In serviceIn development
Used byUnited States Air Force
Production history
DesignerRTX Corporation
Northrop Grumman
Specifications
EngineScramjet
Operational
range
1,000 mi (1,600 km)
Maximum speed Mach 7 (8,600 km/h; 5,300 mph)[1]
Launch
platform
F-15E Strike Eagle[2]

The Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) is a scramjet-powered hypersonic air-launched cruise missile project, the successor of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) and the SCIFiRE hypersonic programs.[3]

Technology developed for the HAWC demonstrator was used to influence the design of the HACM, a U.S. Air Force Program of Record to create a scramjet-powered hypersonic missile it could deploy as an operational weapon.[4]

The contract to develop HACM further was awarded to Raytheon in September 2022.[5] HACM will use a Northrop Grumman scramjet.[6][7]

The system will give the US military "tactical flexibility to employ fighters to hold high-value, time-sensitive targets at risk, while maintaining bombers for other strategic targets."[2][8][9] Following the U.S. Air Force's decision to not pursue procurement of the AGM-183 ARRW in March 2023, the HACM became the service's only hypersonic weapon program.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Hypersonic missile integration with aircraft". August 14, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Shannon Bugos (Nov 2022) First U.S. Hypersonic Deployment on Track for 2023
  3. ^ "Air Force announces hypersonic missile contract award". Eglin Air Force Base.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Successful HAWC Test Doesn’t End DARPA’s Hypersonic Scramjet Efforts. Air Force Magazine. July 22, 2022.
  5. ^ "US Air Force selects Raytheon Missiles & Defense, Northrop Grumman to deliver first hypersonic air-breathing missile". RTX.com. September 22, 2022.
  6. ^ "Raytheon/Northrop Grumman team selected for HACM hypersonic weapon". Janes Information Services. September 26, 2022. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022.
  7. ^ "US Air Force Selects Raytheon Missiles & Defense, Northrop Grumman to Deliver First Hypersonic Air-Breathing Missile". Northrop Grumman Newsroom.
  8. ^ Stephen Losey (28 Mar 2023) ARRW hypersonic missile test failed, US Air Force admits As of 13 Mar 2023 HACM is at an advantage over ARRW.
  9. ^ Audrey Decker (28 Mar 2023) Failed Hypersonic Test Dims Air Force View of Lockheed Missile Air Force R&D funding for ARRW and HACM tests is $150 million and $380 million, respectively. "ARRW and HACM are just two of the U.S. military's hypersonic efforts; in all, the Pentagon is requesting $11 billion for hypersonic R&D in 2024"
  10. ^ Air Force Pulls Plug On Much-Hyped Hypersonic Missile. The Drive/The War Zone. 30 March 2023.
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