The Americans successfully launched a hypersonic missile. Her speed exceeded 6,000 km / h

Defense research agency DARPA announced the completion of flight tests of its concept

hypersonic air-jet weapons(HAWC). The test launch was carried out in partnership with the US Air Force last week. During flight testing, the rocket was fired from the aircraft a few seconds before the supersonic ramjet internal combustion engine turned on. Raytheon was responsible for the development of the rocket, and the defense corporation Northrop Grumman was responsible for the engine. She also created the aircraft carrier USSRanger(CV-4) and the spacecraft Cygnus.

During a test flight, the rocket's speed turned Mach 5 or more than 6 thousand km / h - this is five times the speed of sound.

“HAWC free flight tests were a successdemonstrating capabilities that will make hypersonic cruise missiles a highly capable tool for our warfighters,” said Andrew Kneudler, HAWC program manager in DARPA's Tactical Technologies Office.

HAWC flight test data will help confirmavailable system designs and manufacturing approaches, DARPA notes. This will soon make it possible to use such hypersonic missiles for American fighters. Thus, due to the relatively small weight and dimensions, in the future, such weapons as the F-35, for example, will receive this weapon.

Read also

Astronomers accidentally find two galaxies at the edge of space and time

People first descended to the bottom of the "Hell's Well": what did they find there

Geneticists have found remains that will help scientists "resurrect" dinosaurs