DARPA, the US Air Power Analysis Lab (AFRL), Lockheed Martin, and Aerojet Rocketdyne have efficiently performed a second check flight of a Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Idea (HAWC) hypersonic missile, over an undisclosed location.
The March flight follows on from the first HAWC flight on September 20, 2021, which was made by a special car constructed by Raytheon Missiles & Protection and Northrop Grumman. Particulars of the most recent check flight by the Lockheed model, which is powered by an Aerojet Rocketdyne scramjet engine, are sparse, however after being dropped from a B-52 bomber the missile reached a velocity in extra of Mach 5 and flew at an altitude of over 65,000 ft (20,000 m) for a distance of over 300 nm (345 miles, 555 km).
In line with a CNN report, the check came about in mid-March, however the Biden administration selected to delay the announcement for 2 weeks to keep away from escalating tensions with Russia, which claimed to have used a hypersonic missile in opposition to a goal in Ukraine.
There are a selection of various sorts of hypersonic missiles that fly at over 5 occasions the velocity of sound. Not like glide automobiles that obtain excessive velocity by plunging from excessive altitudes, the HAWC missiles use air-breathing engines to maintain flight, which permits them to fly at decrease altitudes and maneuver over lengthy distances to keep away from defenses and residential in on targets, destroying them by way of kinetic vitality fairly than excessive explosives.
"This Lockheed Martin HAWC flight check efficiently demonstrated a second design that may permit our warfighters to competitively choose the fitting capabilities to dominate the battlefield," mentioned Andrew "Tippy" Knoedler, HAWC program supervisor in DARPA's Tactical Expertise Workplace. "These achievements enhance the extent of technical maturity for transitioning HAWC to a service program of report.
"We're nonetheless analyzing flight check knowledge, however are assured that we are going to present the U.S. Air Power and Navy with wonderful choices to diversify the know-how obtainable for his or her future missions."
Sources: Lockheed Martin, DARPA
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