Advanced hypersonic weapon flight test. Pentagon&rsq...


Advanced hypersonic weapon flight test. Pentagon’s JHTO has awarded $68 million to six vendors to advance Mach 5+ hypersonic missile tech, focusing on maneuverability and more. This was reported in a press release from the company. Dec 12, 2024 · This is the second successful end-to-end flight test of the All Up Round (AUR) this year and was the first live-fire event for the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon system using a Battery Operations Center and a Transporter Erector Launcher. “We validated full system performance at hypersonic speeds, right down to individual components,” said Philipp Kerth, the company’s co-founder and CEO. Their extreme speed, coupled with the ability to maneuver mid-flight, makes them exceptionally difficult to detect and intercept by current air defence systems. The fireball is a result of pieces of the projectile shearing off during launch and igniting mid-air. This article delves into the technology, implications for regional dynamics, and related future strategies. Nov 16, 2023 · This test demonstrated advanced hypersonic technologies, capabilities, and prototype systems from partners across government, academia, and industry. The timeline envisions a phased approach, with successive test flights intended to: achieve sustained hypersonic flight, demonstrate advanced flight control at hypersonic speeds, subsequently attain complex maneuverability, and ultimately meet all mission requirements. Hypersonic weapons, capable of travelling at speeds greater than Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound, or over 6,100 kmph), represent a paradigm shift in military capabilities. The HACM (Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile) is becoming a "game-changing weapon" for the US Air Force, with its terrifying Mach 8 speed, range exceeding 1,900 km, and advanced scramjet engine, making it difficult for any modern air defense system to intercept. [23] The Common-Hypersonic Glide Body was tested in March 2020. Hypersonica aims to develop an operational hypersonic strike capability by 2029. There are key advantages to the SBT functionality of Aegis. The teams will define detailed engineering design requirements for the MOD’s hypersonic weapon system demonstrator and assess options for flight testing. [6] Derived from the AGM-158B JASSM-ER, the LRASM was intended to pioneer more sophisticated autonomous targeting capabilities than the U. The award, part of the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB) 2. As traditional government test ranges struggle to keep pace with development timelines, commercial operators with flight-proven supersonic and hypersonic platforms are drawing serious attention from defense agencies and prime contractors alike. The Pentagon returned to the same test range for a more ambitious follow-up. The test flight took place ⚡ Hypersonic Propulsion and Guidance Synergy DRDO's hypersonic missile program reached a milestone in early January 2026 with a long-duration scramjet combustor test by DRDL. Breaking News: Iran successfully tests advanced hypersonic missile, showcasing its cutting-edge military capabilities. Perfect for researchers and space enthusiasts. Though the engagement was simulated, FTX-40 is the first flight test to demonstrate the SBT’s capability to detect, track, and intercept an advanced maneuvering hypersonic target. 24, 2025: A Medium Range Ballistic Missile with a Hypersonic Target Vehicle (HTV) - 1 front end is air launched from a C-17 aircraft off the coast of the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Hawaii, during Flight Test Other-40, or FTX-40. The Defense Innovation Unit is gearing up for the first flight of its commercially developed hypersonic testbed as soon as the end of February—part of a larger project to quickly increase the cadence of the Pentagon’s hypersonic flight testing and field advanced, high-speed systems and components at scale. Hypersonica became the first European private defense company to The most comprehensive, up-to-date list of upcoming Vandenberg SFB rocket launches. The Oreshnik system now stationed on Belarusian soil marks the return of intermediate-range nuclear weapons to Europe – something the continent hasn’t seen since the 1980s. The first successful intercepts were conducted in June and August 1999, against Hera missiles. Our Capabilities Hypersonics Kratos develops advanced hypersonic systems, including Erinyes and Dark Fury, to support rapid, survivable, and affordable strike and test capabilities for national defense. The Pentagon on Thursday noted this was the second successful test this year of the new hypersonic all-up round, while it was the first live-fire event of the Army’s new Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW 2 days ago · Hypersonica is pursuing a phased test program that starts with achieving and characterizing hypersonic flight, then demonstrating advanced flight control at hypersonic speeds, followed by complex maneuvering, and ultimately meeting full operational mission requirements. It has been nicknamed the "Bone" (from "B-One"). Arrow 4, Israel's next-generation ballistic missile interceptor, is entering live trials in mid-2026 as the first Western system operationally designed for hypersonic defense. S. Dec 14, 2024 · “This test is a demonstration of the successful Navy and Army partnership that has allowed us to develop a transformational hypersonic weapon system that will deliver unmatched capability to meet joint warfighting needs,” said Vice Adm. The company currently employs 50 staff across Germany and the UK and plans successive test flights to demonstrate sustained hypersonic flight, advanced manoeuvrability, and full mission capability. These missions, air-launched from the Roc carrier aircraft, collected critical data on the hypersonic flight environment, advanced materials, and systems. This timeline is a phased approach with successive test flights aimed at: achieving hypersonic flight, demonstrating advanced flight control at hypersonic speeds, then achieving complex manoeuvrability, and finally achieving full mission requirements. The Rockwell B-1 Lancer[b] is a supersonic variable-sweep wing, heavy bomber used by the United States Air Force. Hypersonica anticipates a phased approach with successive test flights in order to get to a mature system by 2030: having achieved hypersonic flight, they will have to proceed through demonstration of advanced flight control at hypersonic speeds, then complex manoeuvrability, and finally the realization of “full mission” requirements. Hypersonic strike systems can penetrate advanced air and missile defense networks thanks to their speed, maneuverability, and depressed flight trajectories. Amentum will deliver project lifecycle solutions including systems engineering, mission planning, sensor platform integration, test design and execution, safety systems, and cost analysis. A German-British defense startup has completed a successful test flight of what is widely regarded as Europe’s first privately developed hypersonic missile amidst a push to build sovereign high From a military-technical perspective, the demonstrator’s ultimate configuration will determine its operational impact. Air Force's three strategic bomber types, along with the B-2 Spirit and the B-52 Stratofortress. CHANTILLY, VA. The test flight took place at the Andøya Space Center in Norway. [1] A railgun or rail gun, sometimes referred to as a rail cannon, is a linear motor device, typically designed as a ranged weapon, that uses electromagnetic force to launch high- velocity QUANTICO, Va. Air Force is spending more than $20 million to reduce technical risks in mounting a hypersonic missile on the B-52 Stratofortress, a bomber that first flew during the Eisenhower The 15-month contract was awarded by Team Hypersonics UK, part of the Ministry of Defence and will see an Amentum team produce the engineering design requirements for a hypersonic weapon system demonstrator and examine the options for flight testing. "This test marks an important milestone in the development of one of our most advanced weapons systems. [4] The B-1 was first envisioned in the Hypersonica’s goal is to develop hypersonic strike capability by 2029. The U. 0 program, awarded on September 30, 2025, by the Department of War's Test By entering serial production of a hypersonic-class ballistic missile, Türkiye joins a select group of nations that have developed and fielded hypersonic weapons. Their speed compresses engagement windows— a missile traveling at Mach 8 covers 2,700 km in about 15 minutes—while manoeuvrability defeats interceptors optimized for predictable trajectories. Amentum has been chosen to advance the UK's pursuit of hypersonic strike capabilities by offering missile design engineering and program management expertise. The AGM-158C LRASM (Long Range Anti-Ship Missile) is a stealth air launch anti-ship cruise missile developed for the United States Air Force and United States Navy by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). In doing so, the agency achieved a significant step in advancing defenses to counter hypersonic threats to operational forces and the nation. Hypersonic missiles, which travel faster than Mach 5 (about 6,174 km/h) and can maneuver mid-flight, pose unique challenges to traditional defense systems due to their speed and unpredictability. He highlighted it as one of several capabilities that could counter advanced air defenses. [10][11] LRHW subsystems were tested Mar. This significant contract, known as the Industry Mission Partner (IMP) agreement, was granted by Team Hypersonics UK under the Ministry of Defence. Stratolaunch Awarded $24. A missile capable of fitting in the launch tube of an Ohio -class ballistic missile submarine flew over 2,000 nautical miles from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands at hypersonic speeds. The Joint Hypersonics Transition Office has awarded six contracts to advance next-generation hypersonic technologies capable of traveling faster than Mach 5. The weapon that broke a 37-year peace Russia’s hypersonic missile deployment in Belarus represents more than just another military move. Their prototype hypersonic weapon achieved speeds exceeding Mach 6 during its test flight, covering more than 300 kilometers in just minutes. , February 17, 2026 — Amentum (NYSE: AMTM) has been selected to provide missile design engineering and program management expertise to advance the UK’s ambition for hypersonic strike capabilities. A subsequent end-to-end flight test of the full hypersonic missile system was completed from Kauai, with both the Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs Director and the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office Director publicly affirming the milestone. Amentum (NYSE: AMTM) has been selected to provide missile design engineering and program management expertise to advance the UK’s ambition for hypersonic str Test firing at the United States Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division in January 2008. Golden Dome (missile defense system) The Golden Dome is a proposed multi-layer missile defense system for the United States, intended to detect and destroy ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles before they launch or during their flight. The aerospace and defense sector is entering a new phase of expansion, driven by advancements in AI, digital sustainment, and increasing demand across both commercial and defense markets On 3 February 2026, the Anglo-German startup Hypersonica conducted the first hypersonic test flight of its SCOOTER HS-1 demonstrator from Andøya Space. US Navy seeks AESM, a long-range anti-radiation missile targeting air and ground threats, with 300 planned annually. By accelerating variant development immediately after a successful flight test, Hyundai Rotem and its partners are positioning the country among a select group of nations capable of fielding advanced hypersonic cruise weapons. [43][44] A cruise missile is an unmanned self-propelled guided missile that sustains flight through aerodynamic lift for most of its flight path. Explore the groundbreaking launch and its potential impact on international defense. These rare sky patterns often appear when high-altitude missile stages release exhaust and sunlight scatters through the vapor plume. Search the 48 scheduled launches, with filters to easily find specific Vandenberg SFB missions. Navy, successfully executed Flight Test Other-40 (FTX-40), or Stellar Banshee, on March 24, 2025. Starfighters also recently completed a supersonic flight test campaign for GE Aerospace, in which a Starfighters F-104 aircraft carried an advanced propulsion test vehicle at supersonic speeds In April 1995, the first THAAD flight test occurred, with all flight tests in the demonstration-validation (DEM-VAL) program phase occurring at White Sands Missile Range. 5 with stable scramjet combustion, marked a historic milestone. To date, only a limited number of countries, including the United States, Russia, China, and a few others, have demonstrated operational or near-operational hypersonic capabilities. Wolfe Jr, Director, Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs, which is the lead designer of the The Missile Defense Agency, in cooperation with the U. Navy's current Harpoon anti-ship Hypersonica is pursuing a phased test program that starts with achieving and characterizing hypersonic flight, then demonstrating advanced flight control at hypersonic speeds, followed by complex Key Advantages Over Traditional Hypersonic Missiles Missiles Hypersonic weapons excel in penetrating advanced defenses. Scramjets (supersonic combustion ramjets) enable speeds above Mach 5, where traditional engines fail. (courtesy photo/released) Read More about this story Even private capital is flowing into the sector, with hypersonic testing companies securing major institutional investment to expand production capacity and flight cadence [3]. During weapon system development, subscale A subsequent end-to-end flight test of the full hypersonic missile system was completed from Kauai, with both the Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs Director and the Army’s Rapid Capabilities Dec 13, 2024 · The Army and Navy have completed a successful end-to-end flight test of their jointly-developed common hypersonic glide body, deemed a key step toward fielding of hypersonic weapons. Hypersonica is pursuing a phased test program that starts with achieving and characterizing hypersonic flight, then demonstrating advanced flight control at hypersonic speeds, followed by complex maneuvering, and ultimately meeting full operational mission requirements. The Anglo-German company Hypersonica has successfully tested a prototype hypersonic missile developed in 9 months. The first test of the Intermediate Range Conventional Prompt Strike Flight Experiment-1, was on 30 October 2017. The first six intercept attempts missed the target (Flights 4–9). The system features AI Experts quickly linked the phenomenon to a classified missile test, suggesting that China was trial-running a new strategic system under tight secrecy. Developed jointly by Israel's IMDO and the U. HAWC’s 2023 test flight, which achieved Mach 5. 7M Agreement by Missile Defense Agency for Hypersonic Flight Test Campaign Stratolaunch Raises Significant Capital to Further Accelerate Hypersonic Capability at Scale Stratolaunch Successfully Completes Reusable Hypersonic Flight and Recovery with Talon-A2 Vehicle The Anglo-German company Hypersonica has successfully tested a prototype hypersonic missile developed in 9 months. Stratolaunch announces its extended partnership in the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB) 2. [2][3] As of 2024, it is one of the U. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large payload over long distances with high precision. is losing the hypersonic arms race to China—but a formidable, new weapon could change the game. It carries up to a 75,000-pound (34,000 kg) payload. Johnny R. Hypersonica has completed its first hypersonic test flight at Andoya Space in Norway, marking what the company describes as a major step toward a European sovereign hypersonic strike capability by 2029. . Photo: Nick Frank Hypersonica’s goal is to develop hypersonic strike capability by 2029. Missile Defense Agency with IAI as prime, Arrow 4 introduces new maneouvering capabilities enabled by winglets and aerodynamic control surfaces. – Senior leaders and representatives from federal executive branch agencies and departments convened for industrial security updates at the 2026 National Industrial Security Program (NISP) Signatory Executive Forum, hosted by the Industrial Security Operating Component of the Defense North Korea's missile program has evolved significantly, with the 2026 tests showcasing hypersonic and ballistic technologies. The Air Force's thoughts On November 13, 2013, Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh expressed the Air Force's interest in hypersonic flight, noting it would shorten an adversary's reaction time to operations. has made significant strides here through programs like the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC), a collaboration between DARPA, the Army, and Aerojet Rocketdyne. The Industry Mission Partner (IMP) contract was awarded by Team Hypersonics UK, part of the Ministry of Defence, to accelerate weapon development and sovereign capability Stratolaunch successfully achieved reusability in hypersonic flight test with its fully autonomous Talon-A2 (TA-2). 0 program, tasks the company with providing critical flight data over the next two years, leveraging its unique air-launch system and reusable test vehicles. Golden Dome, multi-layer missile defense system for the United States, intended to detect and destroy ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles before they launch or during flight. afqh, 5p5nm, d4e2, 5nmp, f2wd6, b44f, 5kahem, ilmj, hwzwi, f89z,