The US Air Force already has the Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) to shoot down missiles, and this week they selected Raytheon Missiles & Defense to develop a hypersonic air-breathing attack cruise missile (HACM). This scramjet powered munition utilizes high vehicle speed to forcibly compress incoming air before combustion, which allows sustained flight at hypersonic speeds – Mach 5 or greater.
By traveling at Mach 5 or greater, hypersonic weapons, like the HACM, are capable of reaching their targets more quickly than similar traditional missiles, allowing them to potentially evade defensive systems. Raytheon Technologies and Northrop Grumman have been collaborating since 2019 to develop, produce and integrate Northrop Grumman’s scramjet engines onto Raytheon’s air-breathing hypersonic weapons.
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The Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile creates a new class of strategically important weapons for the U.S. military. Our scramjet propulsion technology is ushering in a new era for faster, more survivable and highly capable weapons,” said Mary Petryszyn, corporate vice president and president, Northrop Grumman Defense Systems.
