Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM): An air-launched, scramjet-powered weapon system designed to strike high-value, time-sensitive targets in contested environments. Unlike “boost-glide” hypersonic vehicles that use a rocket to reach high altitudes before gliding to a target, the HACM utilizes an air-breathing supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) to maintain sustained propulsion within the atmosphere at speeds exceeding Mach 5. Developed as a joint project between the United States and Australia, the HACM is characterized by its relatively compact form factor, which allows it to be integrated onto tactical fighter aircraft—such as the F-15E Strike Eagle and F/A-18F Super Hornet—as well as strategic bombers.
In military doctrine, the HACM provides “standoff” capability, allowing pilots to prosecute targets from outside the range of advanced enemy integrated air defense systems (IADS). Its combination of extreme speed, high maneuverability, and unpredictable flight paths significantly reduces the reaction time available to adversaries, making it an essential tool for neutralizing mobile missile launchers, command centers, and other critical infrastructure. The program is a direct successor to the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon ConceptHypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC): A joint research and development program between DARPA and the U.S. Air Force designed to demonstrate ... More (HAWCHypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC): A joint research and development program between DARPA and the U.S. Air Force designed to demonstrate ... More) and is currently targeted for operational fielding by the late 2020s.