The service has since started discussing a multi-mission, air-breathing missile dubbed “Mayhem” that would be larger than ARRW and could carry multiple types of payloads for airstrikes as well as missions like surveillance.ĪFRL did not indicate whether HACM, the cruise missile described only as “Future Hypersonics Program” on a federal contracting website earlier this year, and Mayhem-officially called the “Expendable Hypersonic Air-Breathing Multi-Mission Demonstrator Program”-are the same effort. It appears to be similar to, or the same as, a “solid rocket-boosted, air-breathing, hypersonic, conventional cruise missile” the Air Force solicited ideas for earlier this year. HACM is envisioned for use in conventional strike weapons on fighter and bomber aircraft, according to the Air Force Research Laboratory. already owns weapons that fly that quickly, but future hypersonic weapons are expected to maneuver more easily and stealthily in flight. In contrast, ARRW is a developmental boost-glide weapon that would be fired into the atmosphere and then use the energy from its rocket to fly toward its target.Ĭruise missiles that can move five times the speed of sound or faster would make military attacks more unpredictable and offer a quicker long-range strike option. An “air-breathing” cruise missile flies lower and over shorter distances than others because it needs to use air currents to keep moving. 13 email that HACM differs from other hypersonic prototypes because it will use air-breathing engine technology for propulsion. We’re also in the midst of starting the new HACM hypersonic cruise missile.”Īir Force spokesperson Ilka Cole told Air Force Magazine in an Oct. “We are the lead development office for the Air Force when it comes to hypersonic weapons,” Collins said Sept. Speaking to Air Force Magazine in September, Collins said HACM and the Air-Launched Rapid-Response Weapon prototype are “really the two big tickets that we’re looking at from a warfighter focus.”

In July 2019, Aviation Week reported on the existence of two classified hypersonic programs that use the acronyms HACM and HCCW, but said the Air Force would not divulge information about either.

The service has discussed similar efforts underway in its hypersonic portfolio but has not yet named HACM as a central project.

Heath Collins said in a recent interview. The Air Force is moving forward with a new Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile as one of its top two hypersonic weapons programs, Weapons Program Executive Officer Brig.

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