The B-52 Stratofortress nuclear bomber launched a HAWC hypersonic missile at a speed of more than 6100 km/h
The Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has come close to creating a hypersonic missile. The other day, the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) was tested in the USA.
The United States has been developing hypersonic weapons under the HAWC program for over a year. The third successful missile test took place last summer. At that time, the F-18 Hornet fighter was used for the launch.
Boeing’s B-52 Stratofortress nuclear bomber participated in the last test. He rose to a height of more than 18 km and launched a hypersonic missile at a range of 483 km. In flight, the HAWC was able to develop a speed of more than Mach 5 (6174 km/h). The maximum speed of the rocket will be Mach 10 (12348 km/h).
The HAWC missile is being developed by Lockheed Martin. It is equipped with a hypersonic jet engine developed by Aerojet Rocketdyne. The new development will enter service with the Marine Corps, the Air Force and the US Army.
The operational range of the hypersonic missile will be 560 km. The HAWC has no warhead as it is a kinetic energy weapon. The carrier of hypersonic missiles will be American fighters, including the F-35 Lightning II.
DARPA has completed HAWC testing. The conducted test became final. Now specialists of the Scientific Research Laboratory of the US Air Force will study the received data. For fiscal year 2023, the agency has requested $60 million in funding for MoHAWC’s next hypersonic missile program.
