| Hypersonic Air Launched Offensive Anti-Surface (HALO) | |
|---|---|
| Type | Hypersonicair-launchedanti-ship missile |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | Cancelled |
| Used by | United States Navy |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Raytheon Missiles & Defense Lockheed Martin |
| Specifications | |
Launch platform | F/A-18E/F Super Hornet |
TheHypersonic Air Launched Offensive Anti-Surface (HALO) was ahypersonicair-launchedanti-ship missile being developed for theUnited States Navy.[1] It was designed to provide greateranti-surface warfare capability than theAGM-158C LRASM and was expected to be compatible withF/A-18E/F Super Hornet.[2] Theinitial operational capability was expected in 2028.[3][2] The program was also called theOffensive Anti-Surface Warfare Increment 2 (OASuW Inc 2) program.[3]
On 28 March 2023,Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) awarded a $116 million contract toRaytheon Missiles & Defense andLockheed Martin for technical maturation and development through a preliminary design review of the propulsion system. The contract was slated to begin in December 2024, with each company's initial design review working towards a prototype flight test.[4]
However, at theNavy League's Sea-Air-Space conference's April 2023,Rear Admiral Stephen Tedford, Program Executive Officer for unmanned aviation and strike weapons at NAVAIR, said that HALO might be "a little bit of amisnomer" because it might not reachhypersonic speeds.[5] Tedford said that HALO may reach onlysupersonic speeds, (high Mach 4-plus) rather than hypersonic speeds (overMach 5).[5]
On April 10, 2025, theUnited States Navy cancelled the program in favor of pursuing the currentOffensive Anti-Surface Warfare Increment1 (OASuW Inc1), which utilizes theLRASM.[6]