Hypersonic weapon review completed by Raytheon and DARPA
NewsJuly 29, 2019
TUCSON, Ariz. Raytheon Company and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) completed a baseline design review for the Tactical Boost Glide hypersonic weapons program.
Hypersonic vehicles operate at extreme speeds and high altitudes. Raytheon is developing hypersonics for the U.S. Department of Defense.
A boost glide weapon uses a rocket to accelerate its payload and achieve hypersonic speeds. During flight, the payload separates from the rocket and glides unpowered to its destination.
The U.S. military will use hypersonic weapons to engage from longer ranges with shorter response times and with the chance of greater effectiveness than current weapon systems.
Earlier this year, Raytheon received a $63 million DARPA contract to further develop the Tactical Boost Glide program, a joint effort between the agency and the U.S. Air Force.
