U.S Air Force Builds 13 HACM Prototypes as Hypersonic Program Speeds Toward 2027 Deployment

The US Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) program is accelerating toward a 2027 fielding timeline, with new details from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) outlining progress, risks, and a clearer picture of the weapon’s design and development path. The missile, a key part of America’s next-generation strike arsenal, is being built under the Pentagon’s rapid prototyping framework to counter growing Chinese and Russian hypersonic capabilities.

A Two-Stage Hypersonic Weapon for Fighter Jets

HACM is being developed as a conventional, air-launched hypersonic cruise missile that can be carried by fighter aircraft—starting with the F-15E Strike Eagle. The missile uses a two-stage configuration, combining a rocket booster for initial acceleration with a scramjet-powered cruiser that sustains hypersonic speeds as it races toward its target.

Unlike boost-glide hypersonic weapons, HACM is designed to maneuver through the atmosphere during flight, making it harder for enemy air defenses to track or intercept.

According to GAO, the Air Force plans to build 13 missiles during the rapid prototyping phase. These include test rounds, spare missiles, and a small number that could provide an initial operational capability after successful trials.

Industry Team and Technology Base

Raytheon was selected as the prime contractor in 2022, working alongside Northrop Grumman, which supplies the scramjet engine. The program builds on earlier US-Australian cooperation under the SCIFiRE hypersonic research initiative, making HACM the first major operational weapon emerging from that partnership.

The missile draws heavily on lessons from the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) program, which completed several successful demonstration flights.

Rapid Fielding Expected in 2027

The Air Force plans to begin a rapid fielding phase in FY 2027, allowing production of additional missiles while the design continues to evolve. This approach is intended to speed delivery to front-line units, giving the service a fighter-launched hypersonic capability years earlier than a traditional development program would allow.

Once operational, HACM is expected to be compatible not only with the F-15E but also with a broader mix of US and allied aircraft, potentially including the F/A-18F and future variants of the F-35.

Schedule Risks and Compressed Testing

Despite positive momentum, GAO warns of schedule pressure. The program’s major design review slipped from early 2024 to September 2024, delaying follow-on development steps. As a result, the test schedule has tightened, leaving the Air Force with only five flight tests planned before the rapid fielding decision.

This raises the risk of discovering performance or reliability issues late in development, after initial production has already begun.

Still, Air Force officials remain confident that the combination of digital engineering, a proven scramjet design, and incremental build-up testing will keep the program on track.

Strategic Importance After ARRW Cancellation

HACM has taken on greater significance following the Air Force’s decision to halt procurement of the AGM-183A ARRW hypersonic boost-glide missile. With ARRW sidelined, HACM now represents the service’s primary path to an air-launched hypersonic weapon, one that can be carried by tactical fighters rather than a limited fleet of bombers.

The missile’s expected performance—reported in open sources as approaching Mach 8 with ranges near 1,800 km—would make it a central asset for penetrating advanced air defenses and striking high-value targets across the Indo-Pacific or Europe.

Outlook

If testing proceeds as planned, HACM could become the first operational US air-breathing hypersonic cruise missile, entering service in limited numbers by 2027. For the Pentagon, it represents not only a new weapon but also an opportunity to demonstrate that rapid prototyping and accelerated fielding can deliver cutting-edge capabilities on time.

For now, HACM remains one of the Air Force’s most closely watched development programs—one that could redefine how fast tactical aircraft strike across contested airspace in the years ahead.