The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the US Air Force completed the second flight test of the Hypersonic Air-Breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) on July 18.
The HAWC was dropped from an aircraft and accelerated to five times the speed of sound (6,200 kilometers/3,900 miles per hour).
The missile reached an altitude of 11 miles as its flight and control functions were monitored.
The scramjet-powered missile met testing requirements such as tactical range according to the DARPA report.
“The test demonstrated how we’ve rapidly matured affordable scramjet technology, which is the basis for air-breathing weapons,” Advanced Technology for Raytheon Missiles & Defense President Colin Whelan said. “Our second HAWC flight test success is an important milestone for our nation as we advance hypersonic systems.”
The HAWC concept design was developed by Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Northrop Grumman.
