HALO programme decommissioned by US Navy in favour of LRASM upgrades
The HALO missile, which proved ultimately too expensive. (Image: Lockheed Martin)
The programme was due to be at full operational capability in the US Navy by 2031, but has been pulled over cost and timeline concerns.
The US Navy (USN) has cancelled its Hypersonic Air-Launched Offensive (HALO) missile development programme.
The HALO programme was developed to create a hypersonic anti-ship missile with a long-distance precision-strike capability. The missile was initially expected to be ready for deployment by 2029, and to be at full operational capability two years later.
The cancellation of the programme was a decision taken in Q4 2024, but the policy shift has just been announced, along with a re-statement of the USN’s commitment to long range anti-ship missile (LRASM) technology.
Shephard asked US Navy spokesperson Captain Ron Flanders why the HALO programme had
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