Revolutionary Hypersonic Weapon Test Launched by Raytheon and Northrop Grumman

Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a division of Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX), in alliance with Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC), triumphantly accomplished the inaugural flight trial of a scramjet-powered Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept, or HAWC, for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the U.S. Air Force. The organizations are poised to provide a prototype system to the U.S. Department of Defense.

During the evaluation, HAWC was held under the wing of an aircraft prior to its release. Moments later, a solid rocket motor propelled HAWC to supersonic velocities, at which point the scramjet engine ignited and accelerated the missile, allowing it to achieve hypersonic travel. This examination confirms the capability of HAWC’s airframe and propulsion system to attain and maintain hypersonic speeds.

“This marks a groundbreaking occasion, and this achievement opens the door to an economical, long-range hypersonic system in the near future to bolster national defense,” stated Colin Whelan, vice president of Advanced Technology at Raytheon Missiles & Defense. “This trial proves our ability to deliver the inaugural operational hypersonic scramjet, presenting a considerable enhancement in combat capabilities.”

Scramjet engines utilize high-speed vehicles to forcefully compress incoming air prior to combustion, enabling prolonged flight at hypersonic velocities – Mach 5 or beyond – which is five times the speed of sound. By moving at these velocities, hypersonic weapon systems like HAWC can reach their objectives far more swiftly than conventional missiles, allowing them to potentially bypass defense mechanisms.

“We have achieved a significant milestone in delivering a revolutionary capability to the warfighter,” remarked Dan Olson, vice president and general manager of the Weapon Systems Division for Northrop Grumman. “Years of accumulated knowledge in advanced manufacturing techniques and industry collaborations have equipped us to define what is now attainable.”

Raytheon Technologies and Northrop Grumman entered into a collaboration agreement last year to innovate, fabricate, and integrate Northrop Grumman’s scramjet engines onto Raytheon’s air-breathing hypersonic weapons. This agreement empowers both firms to merge their expertise to expedite development and showcase readiness to produce the next generation of tactical missile systems.