The Pentagon's next big project is hypersonic scramjet cruise missiles able
to evade enemy interceptors

Date:
Sun, 16 Aug 2026 20:30:00 +0000

Description:
DARPA is seeking a survivable hypersonic scramjet missile capable of confronting sophisticated air defenses while covering missions reaching 2,000 nautical miles.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter DARPA wants hypersonic missiles capable of surviving increasingly sophisticated enemy air defenses The new program seeks major gains in range, speed, and survivability Russia's Zircon gives Washington an existing hypersonic cruise missile benchmark The Pentagon is pursuing a new hypersonic cruise missile concept designed to survive increasingly capable enemy air defense networks.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Next Generation Hypersonic Cruise Missile (NGHCM) program wants contractors to design a hypersonic scramjet cruise missile capable of evading enemy interceptors. The effort comes as U.S. forces intercept Iranian retaliations from its attack, increasing concerns about existing stand-off weapons facing sophisticated defenses. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: DARPA seeks a survivable hypersonic cruise missile DARPA says advanced integrated air defense systems could increasingly restrict American forces and weaken existing stand-off strike capabilities.

Its request for information seeks concepts capable of achieving significant improvements in range, cruise speed, altitude, or other operational characteristics. You may like US Army is hunting for surface-to-air missiles able to take down small drones Castlelion sells affordable hypersonic Mach 5 missiles for the price of a supercar by tapping into the O&G and audio industries to get cheaper components faster Pentagon is looking for drone bombers, but don't expect a B52 replacement

The agency specifically wants a demonstrator that could establish the basis for producing future missiles in substantially larger quantities.

The proposed system would use scramjet propulsion, allowing atmospheric air
to support combustion during sustained high-speed flight. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get
all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

DARPA has not specified a precise velocity requirement, although hypersonic flight generally refers to speeds exceeding Mach 5.

The request instead emphasizes broader performance, survivability, affordability, and development speed rather than prescribing one fixed technical configuration.

Future U.S. military operations face increasingly significant challenges from the rapid proliferation and advancement of highly capable Integrated Air Defense Systems, DARPA said. What to read next Pentagon launches campaign for unmanned boats able to launch drones at sea This 1-pound drone killer is the size of a Subway sandwich but it can outrun a Black Hawk US Navy plans for 'Air Wing of the Future' with next-generation, pilotless carrier-based 1,150-mile-range drones to fly alongside manned aircraft

The agency also asks companies to consider how payload, range, speed, altitude, maneuverability, signatures, and launch-platform capacity could influence overall effectiveness.

Potential launch arrangements include tactical fighters, heavy bombers, surface-based vertical launch systems, and larger ground-based platforms.

DARPA also encourages participation from emerging tech companies and contractors outside the traditional defense industry. Testing and rapid development are major priorities DARPA is seeking a development schedule capable of moving important technical milestones toward flight testing faster than conventional acquisition programs.

Companies responding to the request must identify ways to accelerate development while maintaining the technical reviews required for major
program decisions.

The agency also wants advances in air-breathing propulsion, high-energy-density fuels, advanced boosters, high-temperature materials, thermal management, and power systems.

Testing is another major concern because DARPA wants flight evaluations capable of generating useful data without creating excessive indicators
before testing occurs.

The agency says proposed concepts should support rapid collection of critical flight data while reducing observable signs associated with imminent tests.

The requested mission scope covers distances from 250 nautical miles to 2,000 nautical miles, although DARPA has not specified detailed missile performance requirements.

That range would allow the agency to examine whether a common technological foundation could support substantially different mission requirements.

Russia has already deployed the 3M22 Zircon, a hypersonic cruise missile
using air-breathing propulsion, creating an existing example for comparison.

DARPA's proposed NGHCM is an effort to develop a future missile capable of operating against increasingly sophisticated defenses.

Via Defense News Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/the-pentagons-next-big-project-is-hypersonic-scr amjet-cruise-missiles-able-to-evade-enemy-interceptors


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)