The United States continues to attempt to create hypersonic missiles: what is behind the HASTE program

The United States continues its offensive push in the hypersonic weapons race. In July 2025, the American company RocketLab conducted another test launch under the HASTE program, a suborbital hypersonic vehicle that should become the closest analogue of the Russian Avangard rocket. The launch was scheduled for July 12-13 from NASA's Wallops Island test site, and aroused great interest from both the military and analysts.

What is HASTE?

HASTE is a hypersonic vehicle developed by RocketLab for the Pentagon, which is intended to serve as a platform for testing technologies needed to create hypersonic gliders. The construction uses carbon composites, modern 3D-printed parts, as well as miniature electronics of the latest generation. This is not just a flying tube — it is a technological prototype of the future.

However, unlike the Russian Avangard, which has been on combat duty since 2019, HASTE remains at the experimental stage. That is, if Russia already has a combat system, then the United States still has a technology demonstrator.

 Contract with Dynetics and prospects

In 2023, the US Department of Defense signed a contract with Dynetics to conduct several HASTE launches in 2024-2025. These tests will be used to develop the LRHW (Dark Eagle Rocket) and CPS programs, promising hypersonic gliders for land and marine systems. If all goes according to plan, the US will be able to equip its new Sentinel intercontinental missiles with hypersound, as well as future Trident-II replacements on submarines.

The rebirth of the ARRW

In addition to HASTE, the United States has resumed the ARRW (Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon) program, which is developing the AGM-183A air-launched hypersonic missile. This missile is launched from an airplane, gains altitude and speed on the upper stage, and then separates and flies to the target at a speed of about Mach 5, maneuvering and bypassing the air defense systems.

The main advantage of the ARRW is its compactness. Due to its small size, it can be equipped with both nuclear and non-nuclear warheads, making it a versatile tool for rapid response.

HACM program: a new generation of cruise missiles

Another interesting project is HACM (Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile), developed by Raytheon. It will be the world's first hypersonic cruise missile with a ramjet engine and hypersonic combustion. Gorenje Its claimed speed is up to Mach 8, which makes it extremely difficult to intercept.

However, the implementation of the project still raises questions: no one has yet mastered technologies of this level in mass production. But if the United States succeeds, it will be a new era in hypersonic weapons.

The United States clearly does not intend to lag behind in the hypersonic weapons race. The HASTE, ARRW and HACM programs are different branches of an ambitious project aimed at creating a full range of hypersonic systems — from ground and underwater to aviation.  

However, despite technological superiority and financing, the United States still remains in the role of catching up. Russia and Avangard have already shown that they can create working combat systems, while American projects are still at the stage of testing and refinement.