Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept

The Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC, pronounced "hawk") is a scramjet powered hypersonic air-launched cruise missile project at the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA),[1] that had a successful hypersonic flight announced in September 2021.[2][3] It is a kinetic energy weapon, without an explosive warhead.[4]

Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC)
HAWC Missile Concept Drawing
Type	Hypersonic air-launched cruise missile
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	In development
Used by	United States
Production history
Designer	DARPA
Specifications
Warhead	None (uses its own kinetic energy upon impact to destroy the target, see Kinetic energy weapon)
Engine	Scramjet
Operational range	>300 nmi (560 km; 350 mi)
Flight altitude	>60,000 ft (18 km)
Maximum speed	>Mach 5 (6,100 km/h; 3,800 mph)
Launch platform	B-52 Stratofortress

The scramjet propelled the missile at "a speed greater than Mach 5 (over 3,700 miles per hour)".[2]

The first successful flight was in September 2021.[5] Further testing was carried out in mid-March 2022, but was kept secret at the time to avoid the impression of escalation against Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[4] The existence of the test was revealed in early April 2022.[4]

Principal Director for Hypersonics Mike White stated that HAWC would be smaller than hypersonic glide vehicles and could therefore launch from a wider range of platforms. White additionally noted that HAWC could integrate seekers more easily. DARPA requested $60 million for MoHAWC, the successor program to HAWC, in FY2023.[6]

On 18 July, 2022, the third successful flight test of the HAWC was reported by DARPA - the missile was able to fly at Mach 5 (6,100 km/h; 3,800 mph) speed at the altitude of more than 60,000 ft (18 km; 11 mi) for more than 300 nautical miles (560 km; 350 mi).[7]

On 30 January, 2023, the final successful flight test of the HAWC was reported by DARPA and Lockheed Martin - like its previous flight test, the missile was able to fly at Mach 5 (6,100 km/h; 3,800 mph) speed at the altitude of more than 60,000 ft (18 km; 11 mi) for more than 300 nautical miles (560 km; 350 mi), and demonstrated improved performances and capabilities. DARPA plans to further these technological improvements through More Opportunities with HAWC program (MOHAWC).[8][9]

Technology developed for the HAWC demonstrator was used to influence the design of the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM), a U.S. Air Force Program of Record to create a scramjet-powered hypersonic missile it could deploy as an operational weapon.[10] The contract to develop HACM further was awarded to Raytheon in September 2022.[11] HACM will use a Northrop Grumman scramjet.[12][13]