Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile

{{Short description|American air-launched scramjet powered hypersonic cruise missile}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}

{{Infobox weapon

| is_missile = yes

| name = Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM)

| type = Hypersonic air-launched cruise missile

| origin = United States
Australia

| service = In development

| used_by = United States Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force

| designer = RTX Corporation
Northrop Grumman

| engine = Scramjet

| vehicle_range = {{convert|1000|nmi|km|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=https://www.twz.com/b-52-needs-new-pylons-to-carry-max-load-of-hypersonic-missiles|website=The Warzone|title=B52 needs new pylons to carry max load of hypersonic missiles|first=Joseph|last=Trevithick|date=December 27, 2023 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erictegler/2024/01/04/is-dods-approach-to-buying-hypersonic-weapons-too-expensive/|first=Eric|last=Tegler|website=Forbes|title=Is DOD's approach to buying hypersonic weapons too expensive?}}

| speed = {{convert|8|Mach|km/s km/h mi/h|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2023-01/58255-hypersonic.pdf|website=Congressional Budget Office|title=U.S. Hypersonic Weapons and Alternatives}}{{cite web | url=https://www.airforce-technology.com/comment/hypersonic-missiles-aircraft-integration/ | title=Hypersonic missile integration with aircraft | date=August 14, 2023 | access-date=August 17, 2023 | archive-date=September 29, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929080948/https://www.airforce-technology.com/comment/hypersonic-missiles-aircraft-integration/ | url-status=dead }}

| altitude =

| filling =

| launch_platform = F-15E Strike Eagle{{cite web|first=Shannon|last=Bugos|url=https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2022-11/news/first-us-hypersonic-deployment-track-2023|title=First U.S. Hypersonic Deployment on Track for 2023|website=ArmsControl.org}}
F/A-18F Super Hornet{{Cite web |title=Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile to be integrated on RAAF Super Hornets - Australian Defence Magazine |url=https://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/hypersonic-attack-cruise-missile-to-be-integrated-on-raaf-super-hornets |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=www.australiandefence.com.au |language=en}}
EA-18G Growlerhttps://www.airforce.gov.au/our-work/projects-and-programs/scifire-hypersonics
F-35A Lightning IIhttps://www.airforce.gov.au/our-work/projects-and-programs/scifire-hypersonics
P-8A Poseidonhttps://www.airforce.gov.au/our-work/projects-and-programs/scifire-hypersonics

| image =

| caption =

}}

The Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM; pronounced Ha-sehm{{Cn|date=January 2025}}) is an Australian-American scramjet-powered hypersonic air-launched cruise missile project, the successor of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) and the SCIFiRE hypersonic programs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eglin.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3169148/air-force-announces-hypersonic-missile-contract-award/https://www.eglin.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3169148/air-force-announces-hypersonic-missile-contract-award/|title=Air Force announces hypersonic missile contract award|website=Eglin Air Force Base}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Technology developed for the HAWC demonstrator was used to influence the design of the HACM, a U.S. Air Force Program of Record to create a scramjet-powered hypersonic missile it could deploy as an operational weapon.{{cite web|url=https://www.airforcemag.com/successful-hawc-test-doesnt-end-darpas-hypersonic-scramjet-efforts/|title=Successful HAWC Test Doesn't End DARPA's Hypersonic Scramjet Efforts|website=Air Force Magazine|date= July 22, 2022}}

In December 2021, Raytheon Technologies was awarded a $985 million contract to continue its HACM development.{{Cite web |last=Leone |first=Dario |date=2023-03-22 |title=The USAF Won't Purchase Hypersonic Missiles in 2024 |url=https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-usaf-wont-purchase-hypersonic-missiles-in-2024/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=The Aviation Geek Club |language=en-GB}}

The contract to develop HACM further was awarded to Raytheon in September 2022.{{Cite web |title=US Air Force selects Raytheon Missiles & Defense, Northrop Grumman to deliver first hypersonic air-breathing missile |url=https://www.rtx.com/news/news-center/2022/09/23/us-air-force-selects-raytheon-missiles-defense-northrop-grumman-to-deliver-fir |date=September 22, 2022 |website=RTX.com |language=en-US}} HACM will use a Northrop Grumman scramjet.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=26 September 2022|title=Raytheon/Northrop Grumman team selected for HACM hypersonic weapon|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/raytheonnorthrop-grumman-team-selected-for-hacm-hypersonic-weapon|access-date=|website=Janes Information Services|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926060129/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/raytheonnorthrop-grumman-team-selected-for-hacm-hypersonic-weapon|archive-date=26 September 2022|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/us-air-force-selects-raytheon-missiles-defense-northrop-grumman-to-deliver-first-hypersonic-air-breathing-missile|title=US Air Force Selects Raytheon Missiles & Defense, Northrop Grumman to Deliver First Hypersonic Air-Breathing Missile|website=Northrop Grumman Newsroom}} It is designed to be smaller than the AGM-183 ARRW and able to fly along “vastly different trajectories” than the boost-glide ARRW. {{Cite web |last=Losey |first=Stephen |date=2024-03-19 |title=US Air Force conducts final test of Lockheed's hypersonic missile |url=https://www.defensenews.com/air/2024/03/19/us-air-force-conducts-final-test-of-lockheeds-hypersonic-missile/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Defense News |language=en}}

The system will give the US military "tactical flexibility to employ fighters to hold high-value, time-sensitive targets at risk, while maintaining bombers for other strategic targets."{{Cite web |title=First U.S. Hypersonic Deployment on Track for 2023 {{!}} Arms Control Association |url=https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2022-11/news/first-us-hypersonic-deployment-track-2023 |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=www.armscontrol.org}}{{Cite web |last=Losey |first=Stephen |date=2023-03-28 |title=ARRW hypersonic missile test failed, US Air Force admits |url=https://www.c4isrnet.com/air/2023/03/28/arrw-hypersonic-missile-test-failed-us-air-force-admits/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=C4ISRNet |language=en}}Audrey Decker [https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2023/03/failed-hypersonic-test-dims-air-force-view-lockheed-missile/384530/ (28 Mar 2023) Failed Hypersonic Test Dims Air Force View of Lockheed Missile] Air Force R&D funding for ARRW and HACM tests is $150 million and $380 million, respectively. "ARRW and HACM are just two of the U.S. military's hypersonic efforts; in all, the Pentagon is requesting $11 billion for hypersonic R&D in 2024" Following the U.S. Air Force's decision to not pursue procurement of ARRW in March 2023, the HACM became the service's only hypersonic weapon program.[https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/air-force-pulls-plug-on-much-hyped-hypersonic-missile Air Force Pulls Plug On Much-Hyped Hypersonic Missile]. The Drive/The War Zone. 30 March 2023. Though the USAF confirmed that they would not be purchasing any hypersonic weapons in FY 2024, the budget request for the upcoming fiscal year includes $380 million for R&D on the HACM, followed by a proposed $517 million in FY 2025. The United States hopes to have the missile in operational capacity by FY 2027.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-22 |title=Air Force announces hypersonic missile contract award |url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3167976/air-force-announces-hypersonic-missile-contract-award/https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3167976/air-force-announces-hypersonic-missile-contract-award/ |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Air Force |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

The United States Air Force has stated that Australian testing facilities will be used for testing of HACM.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-22 |title=Air Force announces hypersonic missile contract award |url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3167976/air-force-announces-hypersonic-missile-contract-award/https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3167976/air-force-announces-hypersonic-missile-contract-award/ |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Air Force |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{Cite web |last=Trevithick |first=Joseph |date=2024-06-18 |title=Australian F/A-18F Super Hornets To Test Launch U.S. Air Force's Hypersonic Cruise Missiles |url=https://www.twz.com/air/australian-f-a-18f-super-hornets-to-test-launch-u-s-air-forces-hypersonic-cruise-missiles |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=The War Zone |language=en-US}}

In Australian service, the projectile will become the fastest missile Australia has ever operated, and the first hypersonic missile.{{Cn|date=April 2025}}