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Hypersonic Cruise Missile Scores USD$175m DARPA Cash

posted by martyb on Wednesday November 02 2016, @03:04PM   Printer-friendly
from the that's-quick dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

Raytheon has scored nearly US$175 million to work on DARPA's ongoing research into hypersonics.

This time, it's not about a hypersonic plane: the program that got its contract announcement on the United States Federal Business Opportunities register today is for a hypersonic weapons system.

HAWC – the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept – is a joint project with the US Air Force to "develop and demonstrate critical technologies to enable an effective and affordable air-launched hypersonic cruise missile", the DARPA project page says.

Raytheon's latest contract is for a scramjet HAWC, for which $3.4 million has already been committed.

While rocket-based systems routinely reach hypersonic speeds, a Mach 5 capable cruise missile would be faster to deploy and offer longer ranges than current military systems, DARPA reckons.

The next time you are on a long flight, just think that at Mach 5, you could take a lap around the Earth at the equator in 6.5 hours.

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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by gnuman on Wednesday November 02 2016, @03:11PM

    by gnuman (5013) on Wednesday November 02 2016, @03:11PM (#421697)

    The next time you are on a long flight, just think that at Mach 5, you could take a lap around the Earth at the equator in 6.5 hours.

    I always prefer to save money over duration of voyage. The difference is only a few hours anyway, so who cares? If your flight is $500 vs. $2000 and you save 12h, sorry, but most of us do not make anywhere near that money per hour. We would always select the $500 flight.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 02 2016, @03:51PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 02 2016, @03:51PM (#421714)

    The cost of blowing up at your destination is so often not factored in as well.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 02 2016, @05:53PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 02 2016, @05:53PM (#421763)

      Who rides a ballistic missile anyway? Honestly!

      • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Wednesday November 02 2016, @06:48PM

        by bob_super (1357) on Wednesday November 02 2016, @06:48PM (#421786)

        Astronauts.
        Astronauts are cool. Why don't you ride a ballistic missile to work, uncool person?

        • (Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Wednesday November 02 2016, @06:52PM

          by nitehawk214 (1304) on Wednesday November 02 2016, @06:52PM (#421790)

          Because I don't want my office to be a crater when I arrive.

          Wait, let me think about that... Why DON'T I take a ballistic missile to work?

          --
          "Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh

          • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Wednesday November 02 2016, @07:08PM

            by bob_super (1357) on Wednesday November 02 2016, @07:08PM (#421796)

            Courtesy of new tech, you can just blowtorch the top 10 floors when you land on the roof, instead of making a crater. (most of the time)
            Just pinpoint which cube/office you want obliterated first. Crater optional depending on the construction standards and the responsiveness of the fire department.

            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 02 2016, @07:36PM

              by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 02 2016, @07:36PM (#421806)

              The cubicle dogs are dreaming of freedom / vengeance today....

              Must be weds...

      • (Score: 2) by butthurt on Wednesday November 02 2016, @11:40PM

        by butthurt (6141) on Wednesday November 02 2016, @11:40PM (#421882) Journal

        Cruise missiles and ballistic missiles are different. A cruise missile has wings for lift.

      • (Score: 1) by asdfgh on Thursday November 03 2016, @02:42AM

        by asdfgh (6393) on Thursday November 03 2016, @02:42AM (#421913)

        I'm pretty sure Slim Pickens would do it.