Due to their combined efforts, Raytheon Missiles and Defense and Northrop Grumman can build air-breathing hypersonic missiles, the next generation of tactical missile systems.
FREMONT, CA: "Raytheon Missiles and Defense continues to be at the forefront of hypersonic weapon and air-breathing technology development. With advanced threats emerging around the globe, the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile will provide our warfighters a much-needed capability." says Wes Kremer, president of Raytheon Missiles & Defense.
The U.S. Air Force (USAF) has selected Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a Raytheon Technologies subsidiary, in conjunction with Northrop Grumman, to develop the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile. HACM is a first-of-its-kind weapon developed in cooperation with the Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment (SCIFiRE), a joint initiative between the United States and Australia.
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The Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile is a scramjet-powered, air-breathing weapon. Scramjet engines utilize high vehicle speed to forcibly compress incoming air before combustion, enabling sustained flight at hypersonic speeds of Mach 5 or greater. By moving at these speeds, hypersonic weapons, such as HACM, can reach their targets more swiftly than comparable conventional missiles, allowing them to bypass defense systems.
"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." says Mary Petryszyn, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Defense Systems.
Since 2019, Raytheon Technologies and Northrop Grumman have collaborated to design, manufacture, and integrate Northrop Grumman's scramjet engines with Raytheon's air-breathing hypersonic weapons. Due to their combined efforts, both businesses can build air-breathing hypersonic missiles, the next generation of tactical missile systems.
