The Pentagon's next big project is hypersonic scramjet cruise missiles able to evade enemy interceptors
DARPA is seeking a survivable hypersonic scramjet missile capable of confronting sophisticated air defenses while covering missions reaching 2,000 nautical miles.
The Pentagon's upcoming project involves hypersonic scramjet cruise missiles, designed to evade enemy interceptors. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched the Next Generation Hypersonic Cruise Missile (NGHCM) program, targeting significant advancements in range, speed, and survivability. Russia's Zircon hypersonic cruise missile serves as a benchmark for the U.S. project.
DARPA seeks a scramjet propulsion system that allows combustion with atmospheric air during sustained high-speed flight, without specifying a precise velocity requirement but emphasizing broad performance, survivability, affordability, and development speed. Potential launch platforms include tactical fighters, heavy bombers, surface-based vertical launch systems, and larger ground-based platforms.
Testing and rapid development are prioritized, with an emphasis on air-breathing propulsion, high-energy-density fuels, advanced boosters, high-temperature materials, thermal management, and power systems. The mission scope spans distances between 250 nautical miles and 2,000 nautical miles, highlighting DARPA's goal to create a versatile foundation for various mission requirements.
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