Hypersonics Prototyping

Mission — Hypersonics Prototyping source

The Hypersonics Prototyping program enabled integration and demonstration of emerging hypersonic technologies in an operational or operational-like environment to capitalize on successful laboratory hypersonic research and development efforts with high warfighter priority. Integration and demonstration of hypersonic prototypes also allowed leadership to make informed strategy and resource decisions for future programs based on the results of such hypersonic prototype demonstrations. Hypersonic Prototyping enabled a key linkage between research and development in the lab and fielding advanced technologies to the warfighter. Under this program, Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) accelerated the technology transfer of hypersonic technologies to enable a responsive, long range strike capability. Throughout this program element was future hypersonic development, which incubated and matured new technologies, processes, and resources for the development and demonstration of hypersonic technology including, but not limited to, infrastructure advancements, digital engineering, open systems architecture, modeling and simulation, analytics, and high performance computing environments. Investing in hypersonics development enabled the collection of valuable data, built capacity and capability, allowing hypersonic programs to leverage and build upon each other, and projects the overall technology forward. This program element included all necessary expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such programs funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY2024 $1.13 million was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, in FY2025 $0.00 million was forecasted for civilian pay expenses. This effort is in Budget Activity 4, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes (ACD&P), because efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.

Mission — Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) source

The Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) project integrated Air Force and DARPA enabled system technologies into a prototype that demonstrated the viability of this concept to be fielded as a long range prompt strike capability. ARRW designed, developed, manufactured, and tested, a number of prototype vehicles to inform decisions concerning ARRW acquisition and production. Future hypersonics development will incubate and mature new technology, processes, and resources for the development and demonstration of hypersonic technology including, but not limited to, infrastructure advancements, digital engineering, open systems architecture, modeling and simulation, analytics, and high performance computing environments. Investing in hypersonics development will enable the collection of valuable data, building of capacity and capability, allowing hypersonic programs to leverage and build upon each other, and project the overall technology forward. In FY 2022, PE 0101101F, Project ARRW00/AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon, efforts were transferred to PE 0604033F, Hypersonics Prototyping, Project 643882, Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon, in order to mitigate the testing shortfall (PE 0604033F remains RDT&E only). In FY 2026, ARRW Procurement is being added to PE 0101101F. The total cost of the ARRW Rapid Prototyping Middle Tier of Acquisition effort was 1,730.073 million, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. This program element included all necessary expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such programs funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY2024 $1.130 million was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, in FY2025 0.00 million was forecasted for civilian pay expenses.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (1)