Space.com by Brett Tingley 7/19/2022
The test helps advance innovative hypersonic engine development.
The United States is getting closer to fielding an operational hypersonic weapon.
Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Northrop Grumman announced the second successful flight test of their Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept, or HAWC, on Monday (July 18). According to the two contractors, the test achieved all of its primary and secondary objects and demonstrated "tactical range capabilities."
The successful test was announced in a statement (opens in new tab) published Monday (July 18). No additional details about the test were given, including when or where it took place or what aircraft carried HAWC to its intended altitude before its release.
The HAWC design developed by Raytheon and Northrop Grumman made its first successful flight (opens in new tab) in 2021. The Department of Defense's Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, or DARPA, tested its own HAWC design built by another contractor in April 2022.
This latest HAWC test and other recent successes show that hypersonic weapons testing is advancing at an increasing rate in the United States. On July 13, the United States Air Force announced (opens in new tab) its own successful hypersonic weapons test
More:
https://www.space.com/hypersonic-air-breathing-weapon-second-flight-test
