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Home» News»HALO programme accelerates US Navy hypersonic capability drive
MQ-9 STOL
Artist impression of a generic hypersonic missile
Artist impression of a generic hypersonic missile. RAND Corporation image.

HALO programme accelerates US Navy hypersonic capability drive

The US Navy’s (USN’s) over-the-horizon offensive anti-surface warfare (OASuW) capability requirement is evolving to focus on developing hypersonic missile capability to respond quickly to threats that are increasing in range and sophistication in a contested, denied environment.

Dr Lee Willett 05 Sep 2022

As set out in fiscal year 2023 (FY23) budget documents released earlier in 2022, the USN is seeking a hypersonic anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capability, to be delivered under the OASuW Increment 2 programme – now known as the Hypersonic Air-Launched Offensive (HALO) ASuW requirement.

HALO programme

Captain William Hargreaves, the USN’s HALO programme director in Naval Air Systems Command’s (NAVAIR’s) Precision Strike Weapons Program Office (PMA-201), told Naval News on 12 August:

“HALO is envisioned to be a long-range, aircraft carrier-based, strike fighter aircraft-launched weapon system providing ASuW capabilities,”

“OASuW Increment 2 will address advanced threats from engagement distances, allowing the navy to operate in, and control, contested battlespace in littoral waters and anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) environments,” Capt Hargreaves added. Pointing particularly to the hypersonic requirement, “The ability to engage targets in a timely manner is an important attribute to fleet stakeholders, with significant increase in speed being a derived attribute,” he continued.

The USN’s OASuW Increment 1 requirement, to provide a long-range anti-ship missile (LRASM) capability, is being met by the Lockheed Martin AGM-158C LRASM system. In April 2021, the USN completed an Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) process to support procurement of additional OASuW capability.

The AoA requirement did not specify the need for hypersonic capability, although the requirements to be met under Increment 2 have always been present within the USN’s OASuW threat perspective. “The [initial] solicitation was general in order to provide for inclusion of any technical solutions,” Capt Hargreaves explained. “Increment 2 is expected to address threats from increased ranges [and] defenses that are more sophisticated.”

AGM-158C-LRASM-US-Navy-Super-Hornet
OASuW Increment 1 requirement, to provide a long-range anti-ship missile (LRASM) capability, is being met by the Lockheed Martin AGM-158C LRASM system (seen here during a 2019 test from a Super Hornet). NAVAIR picture.

“The HALO program continues to deliver OASuW kinetic capability, albeit at increased range compared to Increment 1 and at a speed that affects the pace of battle. Hypersonic capabilities provide the ability to engage targets in a more timely manner, relative to current long-range weapons. This is critical when attempting to affect the pace of battle. We must be able to mitigate the threat and do so in a timeframe that limits the enemy’s ability to react.”


Captain William Hargreaves, HALO programme director at NAVAIR

The need for speed is reflected in HALO’s planned development schedule, which is designed to deliver capability to the operator as fast as possible. “Initial deployment timeframes are a primary consideration as we finalize the acquisition strategy and prepare for execution in FY23,” said Capt Hargreaves.

As regards taking forward the Increment 2 capability acquisition, “We intend to focus initial development efforts for HALO on developing key technologies through the use of prototypes. Rapid maturation of key technologies supporting extended ranges and increased speeds will be key attributes of our initial prototyping efforts,” said Capt Hargreaves. “The HALO program office is working closely with industry on determining those technologies available to meet requirements.” For the first steps, he added, “We are focusing HALO development on maturation of propulsion technologies, with particular emphasis on aircraft carrier and F/A-18 Hornet aircraft integration.”

HALO Hypersonics US Navy 2022-09-05
Tags HALO Hypersonics US Navy
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Authors

Posted by : Dr Lee Willett
Dr Lee Willett is an independent analyst on defence and security matters, specialising in naval and maritime issues. Based in London, Dr Willett has 25 years’ experience working across the academic, independent, and media sectors: he spent 13 years at the RUSI think-tank, including running the maritime studies programme; and he spent four years at Janes, as editor of Janes Navy International. He has spent time at sea onboard: UK Royal Navy ships and submarines; US Navy aircraft carriers, amphibious platforms, and surface ships; and (having attended several NATO exercises, including ‘BALTOPS’, ‘Cold Response’, and ‘Dynamic Manta’) surface ships and submarines from various NATO allies. He has given evidence to UK parliamentary committees, on topics including sea-based nuclear deterrence, counterpiracy, and maritime surveillance.

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