The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Air Force have successfully tested hypersonic cruise missiles with an air-jet engine, TASS reported.

DARPA and the US Air Force announced the successful completion of tests of two versions of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC), during which prototypes were attached to the carrier aircraft fuselage."The Pentagon is ready to begin the first test in free flight during this calendar year.

DARPA and the US Air Force are developing critical technologies to create effective and affordable hypersonic air-launched cruise missiles, the DARPA statement said.

The Pentagon is considering the development of gliding hypersonic units with accelerators.