TUCSON, Ariz., Sept. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon
Missiles & Defense, a Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX)
business, in partnership with Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC),
successfully completed the first flight test of a scramjet-powered
Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept, or HAWC, for the Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency and the U.S. Air Force. The
companies are on track to deliver a prototype system to the U.S.
Department of Defense.
During the test, HAWC was carried under the wing of an aircraft
before it was released. Seconds later, a solid rocket motor boosted
HAWC to supersonic speeds, where the scramjet engine ignited and
accelerated the missile, enabling it to reach hypersonic flight.
The test validates the ability of HAWC's airframe and propulsion
system to reach and cruise at hypersonic speeds.
"This is a history-making moment, and this success paves the way
for an affordable, long-range hypersonic system in the near term to
strengthen national security," said Colin
Whelan, vice president of Advanced Technology at Raytheon
Missiles & Defense. "This test proves we can deliver the
first operational hypersonic scramjet, providing a significant
increase in warfighting capabilities."
Scramjet engines use high vehicle speed to forcibly compress
incoming air before combustion to enable sustained flight at
hypersonic speeds – Mach 5 or greater – which is five times the
speed of sound. By traveling at these speeds, hypersonic weapons
like HAWC are able to reach their targets more quickly than
traditional missiles, allowing them to potentially evade defense
systems.
"We have reached a milestone in delivering a game-changing
capability to the warfighter," said Dan
Olson, vice president and general manager of Weapon Systems
Division for Northrop Grumman. "Decades of learning advanced
manufacturing techniques and industry partnerships helped us define
what is now possible."
Raytheon Technologies and Northrop Grumman signed a teaming
agreement last year to develop, produce and integrate Northrop
Grumman's scramjet engines onto Raytheon's air-breathing hypersonic
weapons. The agreement enables both companies to combine their
capabilities to accelerate development and demonstrate readiness to
produce the next generation of tactical missile systems.
About Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space,
aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever evolving needs
of our customers worldwide. Our 90,000 employees define possible
every day using science, technology and engineering to create and
deliver advanced systems, products and services.
About Raytheon Technologies
Raytheon Technologies
Corporation is an aerospace and defense company that provides
advanced systems and services for commercial, military and
government customers worldwide. With four industry-leading
businesses ― Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon
Intelligence & Space and Raytheon Missiles & Defense ― the
company delivers solutions that push the boundaries in avionics,
cybersecurity, directed energy, electric propulsion, hypersonics,
and quantum physics. The company, formed in 2020 through the
combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies
Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Media Contact
Kevin
Donovan
RMDPR@rtx.com
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SOURCE Raytheon Missiles & Defense