Current US hypersonic weapons projects. (General)

New Target Vehicle for Missile Defense Tests Makes First Flight​

www.airandspaceforces.com

New Target Vehicle for Missile Defense Tests Makes First Flight

Northrop Grumman announced the first flight of a redesigned ICBM target vehicle for testing missile defenses.
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A rendering of Northrop Grumman’s new ICBM target design, which replaces the vehicle’s heritage Trident 1 C4 first stage motor with the SR119 solid rocket motor. Credit: Northrop Grumman
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Forest Green said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/2009810151843541444
View: https://x.com/Varun55484761/status/2009810151843541444?s=20
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Range for what? I'm still waiting to see what the 13,000lb thrust scramjet is for, and this was five years ago.

newatlas.com

Aerojet Rocketdyne hypersonic scramjet engine sets new thrust record

Aerojet Rocketdyne and the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) have achieved a new record thrust output from a scramjet engine, providing a boost for hypersonic flight. A year of ground testing saw the engine generate 13,000 lb of thrust with over an hour of sustained combustion under various…
newatlas.com newatlas.com
 
GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) completed a series of engine tests demonstrating the viability of a liquid-fueled rotating detonation ramjet for use in hypersonic missiles, the first initiative between the companies under a broader joint technology development arrangement...
WHY IT MATTERS
This fuel-efficient rotating detonation ramjet promises to fly missiles faster—including at hypersonic speeds—and farther while decreasing costs compared to other ramjet options. Here’s how:


  • The compact design enables increased fuel or payload capacity and lowers the cost of production.
  • Improved fuel efficiency and thrust generation extends range.
  • Ignition is achieved at a lower speed, so smaller boosters can be used for ramjet start.

HOW IT WORKS

  • The rotating detonation ramjet combusts fuel and air through detonation waves instead of the traditional combustion methods used in ramjet engines today.
  • This propulsion system generates high thrust for super- and hypersonic speeds to engage high-value, time-sensitive targets, with a smaller engine size and weight that boosts range.
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news.lockheedmartin.com

GE Aerospace and Lockheed Martin Demonstrate Rotating Detonation Ramjet for Hypersonic Missiles

NISKAYUNA, N.Y. and BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 14, 2026 – GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) completed a series of engine tests demonstrating the viability of a liquid-fueled...
news.lockheedmartin.com news.lockheedmartin.com
 
Forest Green said:

US Navy Seeks to Proliferate Hypersonic Missiles Across the Fleet​

www.navalnews.com

US Navy Seeks to Proliferate Hypersonic Missiles Across the Fleet - Naval News

The U.S Navy is looking to spread the hypersonic Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) missiles throughout the surface fleet.
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Makes me wonder if there will be a "Flight IIIA" Arleigh-Burke DDG which will ditch the forward VLS in favor of CPS hypersonic missiles. Or if the ships will remain completely Air-Warfare focused.
 
EmoBirb said:
Makes me wonder if there will be a "Flight IIIA" Arleigh-Burke DDG which will ditch the forward VLS in favor of CPS hypersonic missiles. Or if the ships will remain completely Air-Warfare focused.
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I would guess no, the whole raison d'etre for the BBG(X) over the DDG(X) was that they didn't wanted to have to drop guns in favour of CPS cells. The A-Bs will be kept for air-defence and Tomahawk/ASM strikes. The railgun on the BBG(X) will be used as a final defensive layer against hypersonic/ballistic missiles after the SM-3/GPI and Compact Agile Interceptor layers, whilst the CPS cells on the BBG(X)s, Zumwalts, Ohio SSGNs and Virginia Block IVs and land-based Dark Eagle launchers (and maybe air-launched ARRWs) provide the ability to return fire against anything anywhere at any time.
 
I still think it is inefficient to try to force the CPS onto hulls whose main roll is air defense. CPS requires none of the same facilities as a AAW platform and has nothing like the envelope.
 
EmoBirb said:
Makes me wonder if there will be a "Flight IIIA" Arleigh-Burke DDG which will ditch the forward VLS in favor of CPS hypersonic missiles. Or if the ships will remain completely Air-Warfare focused.
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Unmanned hypersonic pack mule ships wouldn't be a bad idea.
 
I wouldn't want to put my $50 million missiles that are also the fleet's single most important weapon anywhere but the most heavily defended place in the fleet. I don't think USV acceptance is anywhere near the point where they are willing to risk an unmanned boat breaking down or loosing a critical comms link while carrying weapons like that. Also, I think heavy bombers with hypersonic weapons or long-range cruise missiles are a safer and more useful option for a strike platform than a USV. I do think USVs could be useful as optionally manned adjuncts to surface combatants for air and missile defense or as sensor platforms.
 
Not James Stockdale said:
I wouldn't want to put my $50 million missiles that are also the fleet's single most important weapon anywhere but the most heavily defended place in the fleet. I don't think USV acceptance is anywhere near the point where they are willing to risk an unmanned boat breaking down or loosing a critical comms link while carrying weapons like that. Also, I think heavy bombers with hypersonic weapons or long-range cruise missiles are a safer and more useful option for a strike platform than a USV. I do think USVs could be useful as optionally manned adjuncts to surface combatants for air and missile defense or as sensor platforms.
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There are plenty of manned options that are possible; I personally favor a converted T-AKO hull. A alternative might be a TEU solution simply hoisted onto existing Ro/Ro ships normally tasked with the expeditionary support role as a temporary fix until there are purpose built hulls. But more importantly all of your target information for an intermediate ranged ballistic missile is offboard anyway, as are your firing orders- it is not a tactical weapon. So working communications with shore will be an absolute prerequisite regardless of what you stick them on.
 
Josh_TN said:
There are plenty of manned options that are possible; I personally favor a converted T-AKO hull. A alternative might be a TEU solution simply hoisted onto existing Ro/Ro ships normally tasked with the expeditionary support role as a temporary fix until there are purpose built hulls. But more importantly all of your target information for an intermediate ranged ballistic missile is offboard anyway, as are your firing orders- it is not a tactical weapon. So working communications with shore will be an absolute prerequisite regardless of what you stick them on.
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Auxiliary hulls, just like most USV concepts, are still going to lack the self-defense capability and damage control that carrying around such valuable weapons should entail. The CPS is not going to out-range all Chinese ASBMs, so it will still need to be defended against ballistic and hypersonic missile attacks, as well as submarines. Also, fixing communications issues is much easier with people on both ends to troubleshoot and perform repairs. If something needs to be manually repaired, a crew might take minutes or hours while getting personnel onboard a USV could take hours or days during which the missiles are unavailable.
 
Not James Stockdale said:
Auxiliary hulls, just like most USV concepts, are still going to lack the self-defense capability and damage control that carrying around such valuable weapons should entail. The CPS is not going to out-range all Chinese ASBMs, so it will still need to be defended against ballistic and hypersonic missile attacks, as well as submarines. Also, fixing communications issues is much easier with people on both ends to troubleshoot and perform repairs. If something needs to be manually repaired, a crew might take minutes or hours while getting personnel onboard a USV could take hours or days during which the missiles are unavailable.
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What self defense weapons and damage control are going to be effective against ASBMs? And if a defense against ABSMs is necessary, does it not make more sense to just escort the CPS ships when needed but otherwise divorce those two requirements from each other? Trying to squeeze those two requirements on one hull is just asking for another failed program that gets cancelled before it hits the water. Moreover if you want more CPS on a shorter timeframe, that is entirely doable. We could have some by end of decade, no matter which option was selected, so long as that requirement was not paired with DDGX or the to be cancelled in 2029 BBGX.
 
USAF Researchers Plan New Wave Of Hypersonic Demonstrators

The U.S. Air Force (USAF) will soon ask companies to propose new ideas for long-range hypersonic weapons that can be demonstrated rapidly.

The Air Warfare Directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) plans to open the solicitation process within 30 days, an acquisition notice released Jan. 15 says.

The concepts call for weapons that can sustain Mach 5 speed and fly farther than 500 nm. Additional requirements and evaluation criteria will be detailed in the solicitation.

A vehicle capable of sustaining speed at Mach 5 or higher tends to refer to air-breathing propulsion systems, such as a supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet), a rotating detonation ramjet or a turboramjet.

The selection process will begin with a request for white papers.

The proposed solicitation would continue a long series of hypersonic vehicle concepts sponsored by AFRL. The Boeing X-51A, which was partly supported by DARPA, demonstrated a scramjet-powered, waverider vehicle fueled by traditional kerosene nearly 13 years ago. Another project—a hypersonic strike-reconnaissance aircraft called Mayhem—was suspended in 2024.
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USAF Researchers Plan New Wave Of Hypersonic Demonstrators | Aviation Week Network

The U.S. Air Force soon will ask companies to propose new ideas for long-range hypersonic weapons that can be demonstrated rapidly.
aviationweek.com aviationweek.com
 

HALO Hypersonic Missile Program Returns With New Options and Realistic Expectations​

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HALO Hypersonic Missile Program Returns With New Options and Realistic Expectations - Naval News

The Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare Increment 2.0 (OASuW 2.0) program is underway once again, a Northrop Grumman executive confirmed to Naval News this month at the Surface Navy Association's National Symposium. The effort brings back a program that originally planned to field the once-cancelled...
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he Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare Increment 2.0 (OASuW 2.0) program is underway once again. The effort brings back a program that originally planned to field the once-cancelled Hypersonic Air Launched Offensive (HALO) missile.
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Gordon LoPresti, Northrop Grumman’s Senior Director of Propulsion Systems and Controls, spoke to Naval News about the future of Northrop Grumman’s 21-inch motor and how additional motor development programs in Northrop Grumman could contribute to the OASuW 2.0 program.
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The 21-inch motor has potential applications across air, sea, surface, and land engagements beyond the new SM-6 Block IB.
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https://twitter.com/x/status/2016950354223497599
View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/2016950354223497599?s=20

This has to be the best name every, the designation team needs a raise. 29inch - about 737mm. No idea what that's for?? ARRW or OpFires?

https://twitter.com/x/status/2017039372395123070
View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/2017039372395123070?s=20

Northrop Grumman’s SMART Demo Tests Second Advanced Solid Rocket Motor and Achieves Successful Firing in Two Months​

Northrop Grumman’s SMART Demo Tests Second Advanced Solid Rocket Motor and Achieves Successful Firing in Two Months

PROMONTORY, Utah – Jan. 29, 2026 – (PHOTO RELEASE) Northrop Grumman Corporation successfully tested the second of two new solid rocket motors — BAMM!29 2.0 — designed and manufactured in a less than a year, under the SMART Demo program.
news.northropgrumman.com news.northropgrumman.com
 
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Forest Green said:
Northrop Grumman’s SMART Demo Tests Second Advanced Solid Rocket Motor and Achieves Successful Firing in Two Months

Northrop Grumman’s SMART Demo Tests Second Advanced Solid Rocket Motor and Achieves Successful Firing in Two Months

PROMONTORY, Utah – Jan. 29, 2026 – (PHOTO RELEASE) Northrop Grumman Corporation successfully tested the second of two new solid rocket motors — BAMM!29 2.0 — designed and manufactured in a less than a year, under the SMART Demo program.
news.northropgrumman.com news.northropgrumman.com
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If only there were a missile that used it and a cell it would fit in. :(
 
Ronny said:
I think HALO is probably something like air launched SM-6 block IB :)
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HALO resurrected, maybe this time with solid rocket motor
www.navalnews.com

HALO Hypersonic Missile Program Returns With New Options and Realistic Expectations - Naval News

The Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare Increment 2.0 (OASuW 2.0) program is underway once again, a Northrop Grumman executive confirmed to Naval News this month at the Surface Navy Association's National Symposium. The effort brings back a program that originally planned to field the once-cancelled...
www.navalnews.com www.navalnews.com
 
I think like the ACME…paper? Soft RFI?…it is propulsion agnostic if cost and performance goals can be met. My guess is that the speed requirement has been relaxed to allow a number of more cost effective motors to be options.
 
Sferrin said:
But then it would displace CPS. It would fit in a K-VLS II cell just fine.
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It be highly dependent on mission needs.

Some missions you may need the long range of the CPS, others the shear over whelming numbers of Demo or Tomahawks.

Honestly I wonder if you can replace the CPS motor for Demo to get even more range or throw weight from each missile.
 

Former STRATCOM boss urges Pentagon to develop maneuvering hypersonic nuke​

Former STRATCOM boss urges Pentagon to develop maneuvering hypersonic nuke | InsideDefense.com

The former commander of the United States' nuclear forces is urging the Pentagon to begin developing a highly maneuverable, nuclear-armed hypersonic weapon, a recommendation that underscores how sharply U.S. deterrence debates are shifting as the last remaining U.S.-Russian arms control treaty...
insidedefense.com insidedefense.com
 

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