US launches new hypersonic missile in defense test

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) revealed on Monday that it had successfully completed the final test of the missile. Hypersonic breathing weapon concept (HAWC) by Lockheed Martin.

Powered by an Aerojet Rocketdyne jet system, the rocket reached speeds in excess of Mach 5 on a 560 km journey.

This month’s test flight was a joint effort by DARPA, the US Air Force, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Lockheed Martin and Aerojet Rocketdyne.

As with the previous two test flights, the vehicle – which consists of solid rocket motor propellant, a glider protective cover, and a glide vehicle containing a kinetic energy projectile warhead – was launched from a B-400 bomber. 52H Stratofortress.

Second DARPA release, upon deployment, the thruster fired automatically, propelling the glider to supersonic speeds. Later, a jet propulsion engine (scramjet) took over, accelerating the glider to more than five times the speed of sound as it reached an altitude of over 60,000 feet.

According to Lockheed, the test doubled the engine data. scramjet used to power the missile, which is one of two versions being considered by the US Air Force.

The other was developed by the Raytheon company. The data will be used to improve the technology and broaden the performance envelope ahead of the next phase of three test flights, in which the missile will be fitted with an active warhead.

“The HAWC program has created a generation of new hypersonic engineers and scientists,” said Andrew Knoedler, HAWC program manager. “HAWC has also brought a wealth of data and advances to the air-breathing hypersonic community. Industry teams have risen to the challenge of fuel-powered vehicles scramjet seriously, and we had the guts and luck to make it work.

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Source: Olhar Digital