Raytheon wins one billion contract for the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile.

According to information published by the US DoD on September 23, 2022, Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $985,348,124 cost-plus-fixed-fee, with performance incentives, task order for the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM).

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Artist rendering of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept  (Picture source: DARPA)

The task order provides for the HACM weapon system design, development and initial delivery through the performance of model-based critical design review, qualification, integration, manufacturing and testing.

Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed by March 2027. This award is the result of a limited sources competition with three sources.

Fiscal 2022 research and development funds in the amount of $100,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Armament Directorate, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity.

In FY2022, the Air Force launched the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) program to develop a hypersonic cruise missile that integrates Air Force and DARPA technologies.

Some reports indicate that HACM is intended to be launched from both bombers and fighter aircraft, 48 with a senior Air Force official noting that a B-52 could potentially carry 20 HACMs or more.

The Air Force requested $317 million for HACM in FY2023, up from $200 million in the FY2022 request and $190 million in the FY2022 appropriation.