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Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile
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| Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) | |
|---|---|
| Type | Hypersonic air-launched cruise missile |
| Place of origin | United States Australia |
| Service history | |
| In service | In development |
| Used by | United States Air Force Royal Australian Air Force |
| Production history | |
| Designer | RTX Corporation Northrop Grumman |
| Specifications | |
| Engine | Scramjet |
Operational range | 1,000 nmi (1,900 km)[1][2] |
| Maximum speed | Mach 8 (2.7 km/s; 9,800 km/h; 6,100 mph)[2][3][4] |
Launch platform | F-15E Strike Eagle[5] F/A-18F Super Hornet[6] EA-18G Growler[7] F-35A Lightning II[8] P-8A Poseidon[9] |
The Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM; pronounced Hack-em[10]) is an Australian-American scramjet-powered hypersonic air-launched cruise missile project, the successor of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) and the SCIFiRE hypersonic programs.[11]
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.[12]
In December 2021, Raytheon Technologies was awarded a $985 million contract to continue its HACM development.[13]
The contract to develop HACM further was awarded to Raytheon in September 2022.[14] HACM will use a Northrop Grumman scramjet.[15][16] It is designed to be smaller than the AGM-183 ARRW and able to fly along “vastly different trajectories” than the boost-glide ARRW. [17]
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."[5][18][19][20] Following the U.S. Air Force's decision to not pursue procurement of ARRW in March 2023, the HACM became the service's only hypersonic weapon program.[21] Though the USAF confirmed that they would not be purchasing any hypersonic weapons in FY 2024, the budget request for the upcoming fiscal year includes $380 million for R&D on the HACM,[13] followed by a proposed $517 million in FY 2025.[17] The United States hopes to have the missile in operational capacity by FY 2027.[22]
The United States Air Force has stated that Australian testing facilities will be used for testing of HACM.[23][24]
In Australian service, the projectile will become the fastest missile Australia has ever operated, and the first hypersonic missile.[citation needed]
Future Operators
[edit]
In future American service, it has been indicated that the F-15E Strike Eagle will be the sole carrier of the missile.[15]
Australia has indicated that their allocation of the future missiles will first be deployed on the F/A-18F Super Hornets, followed by usage on the EA-18G Growler, F-35A Lightning II and the P-8A Poseidon.[25]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Trevithick, Joseph (December 27, 2023). "B52 needs new pylons to carry max load of hypersonic missiles". The Warzone.
- ^ a b Tegler, Eric. "Is DOD's approach to buying hypersonic weapons too expensive?". Forbes.
- ^ "U.S. Hypersonic Weapons and Alternatives" (PDF). Congressional Budget Office.
- ^ "Hypersonic missile integration with aircraft". August 14, 2023. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ a b Bugos, Shannon. "First U.S. Hypersonic Deployment on Track for 2023". ArmsControl.org.
- ^ "Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile to be integrated on RAAF Super Hornets - Australian Defence Magazine". www.australiandefence.com.au. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- ^ https://www.airforce.gov.au/our-work/projects-and-programs/scifire-hypersonics
- ^ https://www.airforce.gov.au/our-work/projects-and-programs/scifire-hypersonics
- ^ https://www.airforce.gov.au/our-work/projects-and-programs/scifire-hypersonics
- ^ "Hypersonics". www.rtx.com. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
- ^ "Air Force announces hypersonic missile contract award". Eglin Air Force Base.[dead link]
- ^ "Successful HAWC Test Doesn't End DARPA's Hypersonic Scramjet Efforts". Air Force Magazine. July 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Leone, Dario (March 22, 2023). "The USAF Won't Purchase Hypersonic Missiles in 2024". The Aviation Geek Club. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ "US Air Force selects Raytheon Missiles & Defense, Northrop Grumman to deliver first hypersonic air-breathing missile". RTX.com. September 22, 2022.
- ^ a b "Raytheon/Northrop Grumman team selected for HACM hypersonic weapon". Janes Information Services. September 26, 2022. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022.
- ^ "US Air Force Selects Raytheon Missiles & Defense, Northrop Grumman to Deliver First Hypersonic Air-Breathing Missile". Northrop Grumman Newsroom.
- ^ a b Losey, Stephen (March 19, 2024). "US Air Force conducts final test of Lockheed's hypersonic missile". Defense News. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ "First U.S. Hypersonic Deployment on Track for 2023 | Arms Control Association". www.armscontrol.org. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ Losey, Stephen (March 28, 2023). "ARRW hypersonic missile test failed, US Air Force admits". C4ISRNet. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ 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"
- ^ Air Force Pulls Plug On Much-Hyped Hypersonic Missile. The Drive/The War Zone. 30 March 2023.
- ^ "Air Force announces hypersonic missile contract award". Air Force. September 22, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2024.[dead link]
- ^ "Air Force announces hypersonic missile contract award". Air Force. September 22, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2024.[dead link]
- ^ Trevithick, Joseph (June 18, 2024). "Australian F/A-18F Super Hornets To Test Launch U.S. Air Force's Hypersonic Cruise Missiles". The War Zone. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
- ^ https://www.airforce.gov.au/our-work/projects-and-programs/scifire-hypersonics
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