Hypersonics

Fostering innovation

We are applying our expertise from over 50 years of missile experience and capabilities to digital engineering tools such as digital twins, modeling, and simulation, to accelerate hypersonic development.

Strengthening alliances and partnerships with universities, industrial peers, allied countries, and the government is crucial to advance the state of the science. Adopting a ‘one team’ approach, we share knowledge, infrastructure, human resources, and funding. 

Collaborating with the Joint Hypersonics Transition Office and academic research institutions to face the challenge together will deliver cascading benefits.

Taking flight

Hypersonic testing in support of fielding is a top priority and moving technology out of laboratories and into test environments is more important than ever. Design and subsystem testing has progressed, and it is time to maximize testing and begin flying hypersonic vehicles. 

Critical data will be gathered to confirm ground test and simulation results to rapidly support fielding. Concurrent with flight testing, we will invest in the industrial base to support production of hypersonic weapons at rate. A robust and resilient supply chain is key to moving quickly to stay ahead of advanced threats.

Advanced offensive hypersonic capabilities

We’re applying our advanced weapon expertise to develop air-breathing hypersonic scramjet systems that use fast-moving air around them to provide oxygen for propulsion, relying on a single solid rocket booster with no moving parts. This design results in a lower risk, less complex and more cost-effective solution when compared to other systems.

A missile heats up during flight and its inner electronics must be protected from blazing temperatures without adding extra weight, which can affect speed, range, and guidance. As opposed to other systems, Air-breathing systems rely on more conventional, lower cost and higher yield materials for their airframe. Because air-breathing systems are smaller, they can be carried in larger numbers on both fighter jets and bombers, increasing overall loadout. 

We’re investing in new infrastructure, a highly skilled workforce and advanced technology to meet and overcome challenges in developing offensive capabilities. 

Countering the hypersonic threat

Our role as an innovation accelerator within Raytheon allows us to accelerate breakthrough hypersonic technologies from inception to execution. From advanced sensors that detect the threat to a command-and-control system passing information to the effector that enables target defeat, we have the capability to take out threats ahead of time.

We are evolving more every day to ensure our missile interceptors, directed energy and other technologies stay one step ahead in the hypersonic domain.