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]
| 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 (350 miles; 560 km) |
| Flight altitude | >60,000 ft (11 mi; 18 km) |
| Maximum speed | >Mach 5 (3,800 mph; 6,100 km/h) |
Launch platform | B-52 Stratofortress |
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 (3,300 mph; 5,300 km/h) speed at the altitude of more than 60,000 ft (11 mi; 18 km) for more than 300 nautical miles (350 miles; 560 km).[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 (3,300 mph; 5,300 km/h ) speed at the altitude of more than 60,000 ft (11 mi; 18 km) for more than 300 nautical miles (350 miles; 560 km), and demonstrated improved performances and capabilities. DARPA plans to further these technological improvements through More Opportunities with HAWC program (MOHAWC).[8][9][10]
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.[11] The contract to develop HACM further was awarded to Raytheon in September 2022.[12] HACM will use a Northrop Grumman scramjet.[13][14]
References
edit- ^ "Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC)". DARPA.mil. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
- ^ a b "DARPA'S Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) Achieves Successful Flight". Darpa.mil. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
- ^ Andrew Knoedler. "Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC)". Darpa.mil. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
- ^ a b c Oren Liebermann (5 April 2022). "US tested hypersonic missile in mid-March but kept it quiet to avoid escalating tensions with Russia". CNN. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
- ^ "US conducts second successful HAWC hypersonic test". FlightGobal. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
- ^ Kelley M. Sayler (5 May 2022). "Hypersonic Weapons: Background and Issues for Congress" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ "Third Test Flight for DARPA's HAWC Yields New Performance Data". DARPA. 18 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
- ^ "Missile hypersonique américain HAWC". Air et Cosmos (in French). 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
- ^ "Final Flight of HAWC Program Screams Through the Sky". DARPA.mil. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
- ^ "Hypersonic Air-Breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC), USA". Airforce Technology. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ Successful HAWC Test Doesn’t End DARPA’s Hypersonic Scramjet Efforts. Air Force Magazine. 22 July 2022.
- ^ "Raytheon wins $985M contract to develop hypersonic missiles". news.yahoo.com. 2022-09-22.
- ^ "Raytheon/Northrop Grumman team selected for HACM hypersonic weapon". Janes.com. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ "US Air Force Selects Raytheon Missiles & Defense, Northrop Grumman to Deliver First Hypersonic Air-Breathing Missile". Northrop Grumman Newsroom. Retrieved 2024-02-14.