Raytheon, DARPA conclude design review of hypersonic Tactical Boost Glide system

A new weapon has moved closer to readiness, following completion of a successful baseline design review by defense contractor Raytheon Company and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

The Tactical Boost Glide system, as it is known, is a boost glide weapon — meaning it uses a rocket to accelerate a payload to hypersonic speeds. At a certain point, the payload is pulled free of the rocket and goes into a glide, soaring unpowered into its target. The U.S. military hopes such creations will increase the range of their weaponry while granting them shorter response times and still greater efficacy.

“We understand the urgency of the need and are working fast to deliver this advanced technology to our nation’s military,” Dr. Thomas Bussing, Raytheon Advanced Missile Systems vice president, said. “The goal is to keep America ahead of emerging threats, and we are well on our way.”

The design review established the technical approach Raytheon intends to take on the project. It is part of the $63 million DARPA contract Raytheon won earlier this year to develop such a system for DARPA and the U.S. Air Force.