U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told lawmakers May 13 that current U.S. hypersonic weapon systems lack the capability to engage moving targets, which would be critical if the weapons were to be effective in Air Force operations.

The U.S. Army recently wrapped up more than two weeks of testing high-powered microwave systems to down small drones, with one of three entrants fully meeting the test’s goals and another showing promise.

Despite increased interest in hypersonic systems on Capitol Hill—with some lawmakers looking to increase funding for individual efforts—the U.S. Navy is not looking to accelerate its Conventional Prompt Strike weapon because of continued delays in upgrades for its new attack submarines.

A range-boosting combined cycle propulsion system and a seeker for moving targets have been tested for an anti-ship version of the Lockheed Martin Precision Strike Missile, U.S. Army officials say.

Ukrainian troops are finalizing their training to become the first operators of a previously undisclosed U.S. Air Force-developed loitering munition, and the Pentagon said May 6 it came out of the service’s secretive office that handles rapid development of special mission aircraft.

Aerojet Rocketdyne is building as a subcontractor the newly branded Zeus booster system for the low-cost Erinyes hypersonic vehicle launched by Kratos Defense. 

The Pentagon is reprogramming almost $1.5 billion from newly authorized Ukraine assistance funds to replenish its Javelin anti-tank munition stocks and order new Stinger anti-aircraft missiles for the first time in two years as the department moves forward on their replacements.

Raytheon has signed agreements with Romanian defense companies to produce SkyCeptor missiles in the Eastern European country.