Raytheon has completed the technical review of the US Navy’s Hypersonic Air Launched Offensive Anti-Surface (HALO) prototype.
HALO is a future air-to-surface weapon that can travel at Mach 5 (6,174 kilometers/3,836 miles per hour).
It is being developed to support long-range firing operations and dominance over contested battlespace.
The technical review of the HALO testbed is part of the program’s initial phase. It followed Raytheon’s prototype fabrication, accomplished through digital and model-based manufacturing methods.
Simultaneously, the company facilitated HALO’s fit-check on an F/A-18 Hornet supersonic fighter jet last year to secure the missile’s interoperability with the aircraft and existing support equipment.
“This is a key step in fielding the Navy’s first anti-ship hypersonic missile,” Raytheon Advanced Technology President Colin Whelan said.
“It’s critical that our warfighters have proven technology that can address advanced threats in contested environments, and they need this technology now.”
“We’re leveraging our expertise in hypersonics to deliver a straightforward and mature, digitally engineered system at the pace the Navy needs.”
‘Top Priority’ Investment
Raytheon and industry partner Lockheed Martin received $116 million in contracts last March to conduct the HALO program’s first phase.
The stage focuses on the missile’s technical maturation, preliminary design review of the propulsion, and other areas addressing the hypersonic system’s suitability with naval carriers.
Raytheon’s scope of work is being completed in Tucson, Arizona. HALO is expected to achieve operational capability by the late 2020s.
“As threat capability continues to advance, additional range, warfare capability and capacity is required to address the more demanding threat environment,” US Navy Precision Strike Weapons Program Manager Capt. Richard Gensley stated at the contract award ceremony.
“The program is part of the Navy’s Long Range Fires investment approach to meet objectives of the National Defense Strategy where hypersonic weapons are a top priority.”
