The Advanced Research Projects Directorate and the Air Force (Air Force) of the US Armed Forces have failed an attempt to first launch a prototype of a “real” hypersonic missile created under the Hypersonic Air-Air Weapon Concept (HAWC) program, Air Force Magazine reports, citing sources familiar with the project.
According to them, the launch of the product from the B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber was supposed to take place last week, but this did not happen not because of a “design issue”, but due to “stupid mistakes.” The American edition notes that it was planned to test a prototype being developed by the American corporation Lockheed Martin.
In September, The Drive publication reported that the Advanced Research Projects Department has been successful conducted flight tests (as part of the B-52 Stratofortress) prototypes of two competing hypersonic missiles being developed under the HAWC program by US companies Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.
According to Raytheon , a “new type missile” being developed within project HAWC, will be able to fly from New York to Los Angeles in 39 minutes without a break. The product will receive a hypersonic ramjet engine (ramjet engine), and will not be a warhead gliding at hypersonic speed.