A year after China unveiled the world’s first operational air-breathing hypersonic missiles, the United States is launching a program to double down on developing similar technologies.
The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is set to bring contractors together this month to define the requirements for the Next Generation Hypersonic Cruise Missile. Air-breathing propulsion is at the core of this initiative, according to the agency’s official website.
Unlike traditional rocket-powered missiles, air-breathing weapons extract oxygen from the atmosphere during flight. This design eliminates the need to carry heavy oxidizers on board, freeing up valuable space and weight for additional fuel or payload.
China showcased this advanced capability during a massive military parade in Beijing last year, publicly displaying the YJ-19 anti-ship missile and the significantly larger, road-mobile CJ-1000. Both systems are widely believed to utilize advanced air-breathing scramjet engines and were presented as fully operational assets within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) arsenal. The YJ-19’s distinctive air intake design was prominently visible during the parade, while the CJ-1000 is engineered for long-range precision strikes against land, sea, or aerial targets, according to Chinese state media reports.
DARPA has emphasized that the initiative seeks more than just an incremental upgrade to current systems. In an industry request released last month, the agency solicited proposals featuring radically new propulsion technologies, specialized fuels, advanced boosters, and thermal management systems capable of withstanding the extreme heat generated during hypersonic flight.
The next-generation missile platform is envisioned to span a wide range of sizes and delivery methods. Concepts are expected to include tactical weapons deployable by fighter jets, as well as larger systems launched from bombers or ground-based platforms. DARPA has instructed contractors to evaluate test flight ranges spanning from approximately 250 to 2,000 nautical miles (460 to 3,700 kilometers).
