US Conducts First Flight Test of HACM Hypersonic Missile in Australia
The US Air Force and Raytheon tested the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile at the Woomera Test Range.
Quick Look
The United States conducted its first flight test of the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) at the Woomera Test Range in Australia, aiming for a rapid fielding effort by fiscal year 2027.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The HACM program has faced significant delays, prompting the US Air Force to scale back testing scope to stay on schedule.
NEW YORK, October 6. /TASS/. The United States has carried out the first flight test of the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) at a test range in Australia, The War Zone (TWZ) portal reported.
The US Air Force’s hypersonic missile, developed by Raytheon in collaboration with Australian specialists, has finally entered, according to the website, "the flight test phase." At least one test has been conducted so far at the Woomera Test Range in Australia.
The HACM program has faced significant delays, the website reports, and the US Air Force took a risky step by scaling back the overall scope of testing in an effort to stay on schedule. The stated goal is "to initiate a rapid fielding effort and procure HACM in fiscal year 2027," according to TWZ.
According to a US Air Force spokesperson, the HACM tests were conducted as part of joint "continuous work to advance long-range strike capabilities." He did not specify when the testing occurred.
The technical specifications of the HACM missile are classified. According to media reports, the missile consists of two stages, a rocket booster and a scramjet cruiser, which separates from the booster and eventually dives toward its target. The missile is capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 7. Its range is approximately 500 km.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Procure HACM in fiscal year 2027
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- When exactly did the HACM flight test occur?
