First HACM flight-test unit released over an Australian range, two years after the original target

RTX (Raytheon)/HACM (Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile)

The Air Force confirmed that the Royal Australian Air Force released a HACM flight-test unit over an Australian range, the program's first flight test. It did not say whether the missile flew under its own power afterwards. The first flight test had been planned for 2024 and slipped to 2025, then 2026.

• Part of SCIFiRE, a US-Australia hypersonic research agreement.
• Flight tests cut from seven to five; GAO reported in July 2026 that officials see effectively no schedule margin left.
• 13 missiles planned in the rapid-prototyping phase; $404M requested in FY2027 for first production.
• A rapid fielding decision is targeted for fiscal 2027, which began 1 Oct 2026.