DARPA logs free-flight test of second HAWC variant

By Briana Reilly / April 5, 2022 at 1:24 PM

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has completed a second free-flight of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept -- this one tied to a variant from a Lockheed Martin-Aerojet Rocketdyne team.

The test, announced by the agency today, comes after a successful demonstration last fall from Raytheon and Northrop Grumman and clears the way for additional planned tests from both performers.

In the latest test, Lockheed’s missile was released from a B-52 bomber before a boost from the Aerojet-produced scramjet engine accelerated it to Mach 5, or hypersonic speeds, as it reached altitudes above 65,000 feet and flew for more than 300 nautical miles, per the DARPA release.

Though the test occurred in mid-March, a defense official told Inside Defense the news was delayed amid Russia’s announcement that it used its own hypersonic missile as it invaded Ukraine and President Biden’s trip to Europe.

A DARPA spokesman didn’t say when additional tests would occur, but he told Inside Defense that “more tests are planned” for both variants.

Going forward, Andrew Knoedler, DARPA’s HAWC program manager, said in the release that officials are working to analyze flight test data “but are confident that we will provide the U.S. Air Force and Navy with excellent options to diversify the technology available for their future missions.”

The DARPA spokesman said the agency “is actively working with our transition partners and have been since the program began,” though he didn’t indicate when HAWC may make the transition to a military service.

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