Raytheon completes technical review for prototype of US Navy’s HALO missile

US missile manufacturer Raytheon has successfully completed a technical review and a seamless prototype fit-check on an F/A-18 Super Hornet in phase one of the US Navy’s Hypersonic Air Launched Offensive Anti-Surface (HALO) missile program. The company, with its industry partner Lockheed Martin, was awarded the US$116 million HALO Phase 1 contract in early 2023.

HALO is a carrier-based Mach 5+ missile that will allow the Navy to operate in and control contested battlespaces in anti-access/area denial environments and will support their long-range fires strategy. During this phase of the program, Raytheon’s Advanced Technology team will focus on maturing the technology required to reach a preliminary design review of a HALO all-up round. The next phase of the program will focus on demonstrating a propulsion system.

“This is a key step in fielding the Navy’s first anti-ship hypersonic missile,” said Colin Whelan, president of Advanced Technology at Raytheon. “It’s critical that our warfighters have proven technology that can address advanced threats in contested environments, and they need this technology now. We’re leveraging our expertise in hypersonics to deliver a straightforward and mature, digitally engineered system at the pace the Navy needs.”

Digital and physical design concepts and models of Raytheon’s HALO prototype were created in a matter of months using digital and model-based engineering techniques.  This approach is accelerating the development of the HALO missile. A successful fit check on an F/A-18 was held in the northern autumn, ensuring that the prototype is compatible with the Navy’s Super Hornet aircraft and existing support equipment.