The US has launched a new development program for air-breathing hypersonic weapons. The project, led by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), comes a year after the People’s Liberation Army of China showcased new hypersonic missiles during a military parade.
Later this month, DARPA plans to meet with defense contractors to outline requirements for the “Next Generation Hypersonic Cruise Missile” project. According to the agency’s website, the project will center on an air-breathing propulsion system.
Unlike rocket-powered missiles, air-breathing systems draw oxygen from the atmosphere rather than carrying an onboard supply of oxidizer. This design frees up mass for additional fuel or a larger payload.
Requirements for new technologies
DARPA aims to move beyond simply upgrading existing technology. In a solicitation to industry partners released last month, the agency called for the development of fundamentally new propulsion systems, fuels, boosters, and other components capable of operating under the extreme heat generated during hypersonic flight.
The new missile could vary in size, ranging from versions carried by tactical aircraft to significantly larger systems launched from bombers or ground-based platforms. DARPA has asked contractors to consider flight testing at ranges between 250 and 2,000 nautical miles—approximately 460 to 3,700 km.
Source: South China Morning Post
