Systems operating at hypersonic speeds five times faster than sound (Mach 5) or faster provide the ability to strike from greater distances with faster reaction times and improved performance than today’s military platforms.
These advanced systems could provide a significant advantage for future US offensive operations, especially as rival nations continue to expand their defense capabilities.
The Hypersonic Air-Breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) program, jointly conducted by DARPA and the US Air Force (USAF), focuses on developing and validating technologies required for an air-launched hypersonic cruise missile that is both capable and cost-effective. The program prioritizes rapid, cost-effective flight tests to validate key technologies in real-world conditions.
Hypersonic Air-Breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) Program
The goal of HAWC is to conduct flight demonstrations that target three main technical goals—or program pillars—aircraft feasibility, operational effectiveness, and overall affordability. Key technologies under study include:
- Innovative aircraft designs that support efficient hypersonic flight
- Hydrocarbon scramjet systems that sustain hypersonic cruising
- Advanced solutions to address extreme thermal stresses during high-speed travel
- Cost-effective design methods and scalable manufacturing processes
Hypersonic Air-Breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) Program
DARPA and the United States Air Force (USAF) initiated the HAWC program to design and demonstrate key technologies that could lead to an affordable air-launched hypersonic cruise missile.
This advanced long-range missile is capable of flying at Mach 5 or faster, increasing accuracy and reducing reaction time. Raytheon Missiles & Defense partnered with Northrop Grumman to develop the project, while Lockheed Martin also competed as a rival bidder.
DARPA and the USAF awarded both companies $200 million in contracts to deliver a working system under the HAWC program. Raytheon built the missile, while Northrop Grumman supplied the scramjet engine that powers it.
This collaboration utilized the technical expertise of both companies to demonstrate their capability to produce next-generation tactical hypersonic missiles. This agreement also paved the way for joint work on the HAWC and future generations of air-launched hypersonic weapons.
Through the HAWC project, engineers tested new vehicle designs that would enable sustained hypersonic flight. The specifications required a hydrocarbon-fueled scramjet to achieve efficient cruising performance at extreme speeds.
Researchers worked to reduce thermal stress on the missile structure during high-temperature flight. They also focused on cost-effective and scalable system design options and manufacturing techniques.
In September 2021, DARPA and the USAF conducted the first free-flight test of Raytheon’s HAWC missile.
This demonstration validated several elements, including seamless integration with the launch platform, safe missile launch, booster ignition and acceleration, booster separation, engine startup, and sustained hypersonic cruising. This test confirmed the missile’s advanced flight capabilities and readiness for future development.
Raytheon Awarded $81 Million MoHAWC Contract
The Pentagon announced Saturday that Raytheon has received an $81 million contract to pursue opportunities in the hypersonic air-breathing weapon concept (MoHW). This program follows the earlier HAWC initiative—a joint project between DARPA and the Air Force that aimed to design and test an air-breathing hypersonic cruise missile. This effort concluded in January after completing its final successful flight.
With this new award, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman will build and test additional HAWC flight vehicles. They will use lessons learned and data collected during the original program to refine and advance the weapon’s design. According to a company release, the team also plans to add manufacturing upgrades to extend its operational range and achieve greater flight performance, as well as “validate system performance models.”
The MoHAWC is one of several hypersonic weapon efforts currently underway at the Pentagon. Hypersonic missiles, capable of flying at Mach 5 or faster in the atmosphere while maneuvering mid-flight, prove far more difficult to track and intercept than conventional ballistic missiles, which fly with a predictable flight pattern.
Hypersonic Program and Raytheon’s Role
Raytheon led DARPA’s original HAWC program as the prime contractor and conducted numerous test flights of the missile powered by Northrop Grumman’s scramjet propulsion system. Scramjets, or air-breathing engines, achieve hypersonic speeds by drawing oxygen directly from the atmosphere.
The Air Force currently manages two hypersonic efforts: the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) and the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM). After the ARRW failed extensive testing in March, the service abandoned plans to purchase the weapon and focused on the more successful HACM.
Raytheon is also the prime contractor for the HACM and received a $985 million contract from the Air Force last September. Like the HAWC, the HACM is a cruise missile—an area where the service has seen more progress than with boost-glide systems like the ARRW. Raytheon said that because the HAWC’s airframe and propulsion design are very similar to the HACM, the Air Force hopes that progress on the Mohawks will strengthen the HACM program as well.
US hypersonic programs are experiencing successes and failures.
Walter Price, deputy director of the Air Force’s HAWC program, said on January 30, “This month’s flight puts an exclamation mark on the most successful hypersonic air-breathing test series in US history.”
The Air Force and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) worked together on this program, which produced two designs for hypersonic air-breathing cruise missiles. DARPA will continue to advance these concepts under the “More Opportunities with HAWC” initiative launched in fiscal year 2023.
Nicholas Guertin, the Pentagon’s director of operational test and evaluation, criticized the Air Force for flying the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon prototype without an approved master test plan or operational demonstration plan. In his January 31 report, he wrote that the system had hardware and software issues, which caused delays.
The report also reviewed the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) program. Guertin said the service has not yet proven its operational capability. The Navy intends to deploy CPS missiles on Zumwalt-class destroyers in 2025 and Virginia-class submarines in 2029. On January 6, Ingalls Shipbuilding received a $10.5 million contract to install missile launch tubes on the first two destroyers.
The assessment concluded, “Given their cost, hypersonic weapons will serve as a niche capability, most effective against targets that are heavily defended and require an attack within 15 to 30 minutes.” The report further states, “If time were not so critical, much cheaper cruise missiles could accomplish this task. If the target required speed but lacked robust defenses capable of intercepting ballistic missiles mid-flight, less expensive ballistic missiles with movable warheads could fulfill this role.”
Russia is advancing in the development of nuclear torpedoes.
Moscow has also reported progress on new nuclear delivery platforms, including nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed Poseidon torpedoes.
According to a January 16 TASS report, Russia has completed the first batch of production torpedoes and plans to deliver them to the Belgorod submarine “soon.” The Belgorod will join the fleet in July 2022. However, the status of the nuclear weapons designed for this system remains unclear.
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