TheTechno Optimist.

HACM (Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile)RTX (Raytheon)—First HACM flight-test unit released over an Australian range, two years after the original target

RTX (Raytheon)

Missiles, jet engines, avionics

USpublic~180,000 staffest. 2020Checked 11 Oct

The brief

Analyst view
  • Raytheon builds HACM, the US Air Force's first scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missile, with a Northrop Grumman engine.
  • HACM's first flight-test release happened over Australia, confirmed 5 Oct 2026, two years after the original target.
  • The Air Force wants a decision to field HACM in fiscal 2027 and has asked $404M to start production.

Technical approach

As reported
Scramjet

An engine that breathes air at Mach 5

A scramjet takes its oxygen from the air instead of carrying it like a rocket, so the missile can stay under power longer and fly farther.

Two stages

Rocket first, then scramjet

A scramjet only works when already flying very fast, so a solid rocket booster pushes the missile to speed before the air-breathing engine takes over.

Lineage

Built on DARPA's HAWC

HACM grows out of the Raytheon and Northrop HAWC prototype, which flew above Mach 5 on hydrocarbon fuel in 2021.

Fighter-sized

Small enough for fighters

The missile is sized for fighters such as the F-15E and Super Hornet rather than only bombers, so more aircraft can carry it.

Primer