DARPA seeks industry input for mass-producible hypersonic cruise missile

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has issued a request for information (RFI) to shape the development of a Next Generation Hypersonic Cruise Missile (NGHCM). The initiative seeks to design an air-breathing hypersonic weapon capable of speeds exceeding Mach 5, utilizing scramjet technology to draw oxygen from the atmosphere rather than carrying it onboard.

The program aims to counter increasingly sophisticated Integrated Air Defense Systems (IADS) fielded by peer competitors, which threaten the operational freedom of U.S. forces. DARPA is prioritizing designs that are affordable enough for mass production and can scale across mission ranges from 250 to 2,000 nautical miles.

The RFI focuses on three primary areas: missile architecture and subsystem integration, critical technology evaluations—such as high-energy-density fuels and high-temperature materials—and innovative testing and evaluation (T&E) methods intended to reduce costs and shorten development schedules. Industry responses are due by October 6.