This Just In: DARPA’s Newest Hypersonic Missile Passed a Crucial Test

[rangerrebew]

September 2, 2020

This Just In: DARPA’s Newest Hypersonic Missile Passed a Crucial Test

The test marks a milestone in the HAWC hypersonic project, a massive multi-agency effort.
by Caleb Larson

In a news release, the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, or DARPA, announced that two variants of their Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept just successfully completed captive carry tests. During these non-release type tests, the weapon remains attached to the carrier airframe via a weapons pylon and is intended to gather data on the flight characteristics of the weapon and the airframe carrying the missile during flight.

The HAWC program is a joint DARPA and U.S. Air Force technology demonstration project that also includes a number of other government agencies and private companies, including NASA, the U.S. Navy, and the Missile Defense Agency. The two private companies working to develop the HAWC are Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/just-darpa%E2%80%99s-newest-hypersonic-missile-passed-crucial-test-168217

[rangerrebew]

Two hypersonic weapons complete new developmental milestone
By: Valerie Insinna   1 day ago
A Raytheon rendering of the Hypersonic Air-Breathing Weapon Concept. (Raytheon)

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency have wrapped up captive carry tests of two hypersonic weapon variants that will perform their first free-flight tests later this year, the organizations announced Sept. 1.

Both Lockheed Martin and Raytheon have designed scramjet-powered hypersonic missiles as part of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) program run by the Air Force and DARPA.

The companies have validated that their separate air vehicle designs can achieve and sustain flights in excess of five times the speed of sound. Upcoming flight tests will evaluate that the weapons’ propulsion and thermal management systems will be able to withstand hypersonic cruise speeds, DARPA said in a news release.

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2020/09/01/two-hypersonic-weapons-just-completed-a-new-milestone-in-development/