US Army to have long range Hypersonic Weapons
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WASHINGTON - The US Army just selected two defense firms in a deal worth $698 million to build and deliver prototypes of a major component in the hypersonic weapons the service plans to field in 2023.
The move follows a March decision by the Army senior leadership to accelerate delivery of a prototype ground-launched hypersonic weapon capable of being sent into combat.
As a result, the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office has awarded an “other transaction authority” agreement to Dynetics Technical Solutions for $351.6 million to produce the first commercially manufactured set of prototype Common-Hypersonic Glide Body systems. It also awarded a second agreement under the same authority to Lockheed Martin for $347 million to serve as the prototype system integrator, according to an Aug. 30 news release from Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office.
“Other transaction authority” is a Defense Department category set aside for research, prototyping and production projects.
The Army Long Range Hypersonic Weapon is designed to create a new class of ultrafast, maneuverable, long-range missiles capable of flying at five times the speed of sound.
