USAF to Test Hypersonic Missiles With B-1B Bomber

The specific hypersonic missiles that could potentially be launched from the B-1B using the LAM or other mounting hardware are yet to be determined. During the recent event at Tinker Air Force Base, Boeing showcased a LAM equipped with two mockup hypersonic missiles as an illustration of its capabilities. A representative from the company clarified that these mockups represent a general design of a hypersonic weapon, without specifying any particular missile. However, it is worth noting that the design of the mockup shares several external similarities with Boeing’s experimental hypersonic cruise missile, HyFly 2. The main distinction between the missile mockup at Tinker and previous renderings of HyFly 2 is the inclusion of folding tail fins in the former design. Although currently there seems to be no immediate intention to convert HyFly 2 into a fully operational weapon, the Air Force’s budget request for the 2024 Fiscal Year indicates that the development of HyFly 2, the Hypersonic Airbreathing Weapon Concept project, and the US-Australian Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment initiative are all contributing to the Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile program. Subscribe Now :