The Hypersonic Air Launched Offensive (HALO) missile in development for the U.S. Navy’s high priority Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare Increment 2 (OASuW Inc 2) program has been cancelled, according to a statement given to Naval News by a U.S. Navy spokesperson familiar with the matter.
“The Navy cancelled the solicitation for the Hypersonic Air-Launched Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (HALO) Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) effort in fall 2024 due to budgetary constraints that prevent fielding new capability within the planned delivery schedule.”
U.S. Navy Spokesperson
The cancellation slashes the U.S. Navy’s high-end anti-surface capability entirely, removing a key component of future carrier-suitable weapons that can target high value surface assets from standoff distances. HALO was designed to complement the U.S. Navy’s current inventory of anti-surface weapons developed in OASuW Increment 1.
The U.S. Navy considered the HALO missile as a “critical” asset for addressing advanced and emerging threats. The U.S. Navy wanted HALO to be fielded no later than FY29 to meet Early Operational Capability (EOC) requirements and no later than FY31 to meet Initial Operational Capability (IOC) requirements.
HALO Hypersonic Missile
Artist impression of an Hypersonic air-breathing missile by RTX and Northrop Grumman.
The current OASuW Increment 1, Lockheed Martin’s Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) is being pursued in favor of HALO. According to Tedford, the U.S. Navy is pursuing hardware and software upgrades that will enhance targeting capabilities for the missile instead.
“The Navy is committed to its investment in Long Range Fires to meet National Defense objectives, with priority emphasis on fielding continued capability improvements to the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), currently fielded on the Navy F/A-18 and Air Force B-1B aircraft.”
U.S. Navy Spokesperson
Tedford cited the reason for cancellation as an analysis of cost trends and overall program performance. HALO was set to be an exotic weapon, making it an expensive system to procure.
“The decision was made after the Navy conducted a careful analysis, looking at cost trends and program performance across the munitions industrial base compared to the Navy’s priorities and existing fiscal commitments.”
U.S. Navy Spokesperson
Naval News was first made aware of program concerns regarding HALO at Sea Air Space 2025. A senior Northrop Grumman executive told Naval News the program was on hold, and the company referred Naval News to NAVAIR Public Affairs.
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