Washington讯 - The US Navy recently did something that disappointed military enthusiasts: it canceled the Hypersonic Air-Launched Offensive (HALO) missile project, known as "Hi". The reason? The budget couldn't handle it. According to Major General Stephen Tedford of the Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons Program Executive Office, budget constraints have doomed this "high-end" project, even canceling the bid for autumn 2024.

The Hi missile was no minor player. It was designed as the US Navy's "anti-ship blade", tailored specifically for carrier-based aircraft. Compared to the Air Force's impressive "Hypersonic Air-Launched Offensive Missile" (HACM), HALO is much more compact, as fitting on an aircraft carrier is no small feat. Given the parameters of the Air Force's "Hypersonic Air-Breathing Weapon Concept" (HAWC), its flight speed should be around Mach 6 with a range of approximately 1,000 kilometers. This means it can target high-value surface targets like aircraft carriers or destroyers from long distances, leaving opponents with no chance to retaliate.

The air-breathing engine design of Hi makes it stand out in the hypersonic field. Not only does it travel at speeds that are dazzling, but it also locks onto targets with an "elegant" cruising posture. The Navy had hoped to achieve initial operational capability by the 2029 fiscal year and full deployment by the 2031 fiscal year, making it the "face" of the carrier strike group. Unfortunately, all these plans are now hypothetical.

Major General Tedford helplessly stated: "We analyzed cost trends and project performance and found that the bills were scarier than our ambitions." Thus, the Navy decided to put the HALO project into "cold storage." This not only represents a significant loss in advanced anti-surface capabilities but also leaves the carrier's arsenal without a powerful weapon capable of "knocking down distant targets."

Without HALO, the mainstay of the US Navy's anti-ship forces will continue to rely on Lockheed Martin's Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). Although LRASM is a reliable asset, its biggest problem is its speed! As a subsonic missile, it appears sluggish when facing high-end adversaries. General Tedford mentioned upgrading hardware and software to enhance targeting capabilities, but this seems more like trying to make an old bicycle look like a high-speed train with just a navigation system.

Worse still, canceling HALO has left the US Navy trailing behind in the hypersonic weapon race. Neighboring China's DF series has already made great strides, with speed and range far beyond reach. American military enthusiasts are already expressing disappointment: "Is the US Navy planning to face off against China's DF series with subsonic LRASMs? They might end up light-years away!"

Cancelling the HALO project essentially means the US Navy is voluntarily giving up hypersonic anti-ship capabilities for decades to come – not even supersonic anti-ship missiles remain. Relying on subsonic missiles against advanced air defense systems of high-end adversaries would result in hit rates lower than winning the lottery. Although Tedford confidently stated that the Navy will continue investing in long-range firepower, his words sound more like wishful thinking.

The cancellation of HALO has deprived the US Navy's carrier strike groups of a key trump card. In future naval warfare, especially against adversaries like China with hypersonic weapons, the Navy's situation is dire. Without fast and long-range anti-ship missiles, US aircraft carriers may be targeted before they can close the distance. Commentators aptly noted: "The fight hasn’t even started, yet morale has already taken a hit."

Now, the Navy must tighten its belt and rethink how to "catch up." Let's hope the next budget meeting provides some relief so that money doesn't hold them back. Otherwise, in the Pacific Ocean, the US Navy might find itself only able to take a beating.

Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7497931811515974184/

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