Artist’s rendering of Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapons Concept (HAWC) missile. Credit: © Raytheon Technologies Corporation.

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has successfully completed the second flight test for the scramjet-powered Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) missile.

It was conducted in collaboration with Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Northrop Grumman.

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During the test, Raytheon’s HAWC design was released from the aircraft and was boosted to the expected ignition envelope using Northrop Grumman’s scramjet engine.

The cruiser was propelled to a speed of Mach 5 to reach altitudes exceeding 60,000ft for more than 300nm.

The test achieved all primary and secondary objectives, including a demonstration of tactical range capabilities.

The latest test used data from the first flight test, held in 2021, to mature an operationally relevant weapon concept design.

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Raytheon Missiles & Defense Advanced Technology president Colin Whelan said: “The test demonstrated how we’ve rapidly matured affordable scramjet technology, which is the basis for air-breathing weapons.”

Separately, Raytheon Missiles & Defense and the US Air Force (USAF) have also executed the first guided launch of AIM-120D3 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) form, fit, function, refresh (F3R).

The first of five planned missile shots in an integrated test series was conducted from an F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft against a QF-16 full-scale aerial target at long range on 30 June.

The test aimed to validate sub-system integration to support all phases of guided flight.

Furthermore, the Norwegian Government is planning to procure Raytheon Missiles & Defense’s StormBreaker smart network-enabled weapon for the Royal Norwegian Air Force’s (RNoAF) F-35 fleet.

The company has started the preparations to integrate StormBreaker into the RNoAF capabilities.

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