United States advances hypersonic weapon development and testing

The United States is advancing its hypersonic weapons capabilities through new development programs and international testing. The Department of Defense is establishing a new triad of conventional hypersonic strike weapons, centered on a Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) designed to be paired with various service-specific rocket platforms. This initiative aims to provide the president with the ability to strike targets globally with non-nuclear warheads in under an hour.

In a collaborative effort under the Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment initiative, the U.S. Air Force recently flight-tested the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) in Australia alongside the Royal Australian Air Force. The missile, being developed by RTX and Northrop Grumman, is intended to utilize a two-stage system, likely employing a ramjet engine for its second stage.

While the flight test was reported as successful, the HACM program faces potential delays. Although the original goal was to begin deliveries in 2027, current development costs have exceeded $985 million, and the delivery timeline is now considered uncertain. To mitigate these delays, the Air Force has proposed reducing the number of planned flight tests from seven to five.