US hails HAWC test but still plays catch-up on hypersonics
Artist's impression of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept missile. (Image: Lockheed Martin)
The second successful test flight of the HAWC missile fails to obscure patchy progress overall in US hypersonic programmes.
A DARPA-led team including the Air Force Research Lab, Lockheed Martin and Aerojet Rocketdyne has conducted the second successful flight test of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) missile.
After release from a carrier aircraft, HAWC was boosted to its Aerojet Rocketdyne scramjet engine ignition envelope.
It flew at speeds beyond Mach 5 and reached an altitude of above 65,000ft during the free-flight test in March, Lockheed Martin announced on 5 April.
According to DARPA, the missile flew for more than 300nmi.
In the first HAWC programme test flight, conducted in September 2021, a different vehicle configuration (involving
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Farnborough Airshow 2022 News (FIA 2022)
-
![Farnborough 2022: MBDA outlines vision for Tempest Weapon Effects Management System]()
Farnborough 2022: MBDA outlines vision for Tempest Weapon Effects Management System
Last week saw big announcements by Team Tempest and MBDA was eager to talk about their own progress at the Farnborough International Airshow.
-
![Farnborough 2022: PBS confirms four customers for its new turbojet engine]()
Farnborough 2022: PBS confirms four customers for its new turbojet engine
Shephard met PBS Velka Bites at the Farnborough International Airshow to discuss the unveiling of its new turbojet engine and future developments.
-
![Farnborough 2022: Live exercises to move virtual very soon, says BAE Systems]()
Farnborough 2022: Live exercises to move virtual very soon, says BAE Systems
VRAI joins BAE Systems to further develop a single synthetic environment for multi-domain training in a virtual environment.
-
![Farnborough 2022: Mexican aerospace bounces back after COVID-19 but military aviation procurement remains sluggish]()
Farnborough 2022: Mexican aerospace bounces back after COVID-19 but military aviation procurement remains sluggish
Following a damaging period of decreased exports amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mexican aerospace industry has begun to bounce back with a particular focus on UAV procurement.
-
![Farnborough 2022: Babcock partners with Rafael for UK land ground-based air defence programme]()
Farnborough 2022: Babcock partners with Rafael for UK land ground-based air defence programme
Babcock and Rafael have joined forces to provide C2 solutions for a GBAD programme in the UK.
-
![Farnborough 2022: L3Harris reaffirms focus on optimising UK C4ISR]()
Farnborough 2022: L3Harris reaffirms focus on optimising UK C4ISR
The aerospace and defence technology provider is ready to support the UK land, air and naval forces with communication and digitisation technologies in the coming years.
