Hypersonics

An air-launched version of the hypersonic Castelion Blackbeard strike missile has reached the stage of at least captive carry testing on the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet.

North Korea on Sept. 20 tested what it described as a new type of hypersonic ballistic missile, as Pyongyang continues to expand its missile capabilities and domestic defense industry.

Hypersonic test specialist Stratolaunch has begun a six-month study with NASA into the development of a next-generation, air-breathing version of its Mach 5 Talon-A test vehicle.

Readers write about Telstar 1, space-based missile defense, JetZero’s Z4, Iridium (element and satellites) and China’s lead in hypersonics.

The Pentagon sees exciting progress in several hypersonic programs with the expectation that they will be fielded at scale in the near future.

High-speed aircraft maker Hermeus has revealed a ramjet-powered test vehicle that can be launched from under the wing of its supersonic Quarterhorse aircraft.

The US. Air Force Research Laboratory plans a solicitation for a low-cost, high-production-rate air-launched hypersonic weapon demonstrator.

HYDEF completes its preliminary requirements review, advancing Europe’s effort to develop a hypersonic missile interceptor.

Japan seeks record ¥8.9 trillion defense budget, emphasizing AI, standoff weapons, hypersonics and layered air defenses.

GE Aerospace will develop a Mach 5 dual-mode ramjet demonstrator under the Pentagon’s HyCAT hypersonic test program.

German hypersonic vehicle developer Polaris says it has completed the first flight of a prototype of Cobra, its air-to-air missile-launch uncrewed air vehicle.

U.S. defense startup Castelion will expand manufacturing capacity for a ballistic missile, accelerate development of a long-range hypersonic weapon and invest in new defensive interceptors after raising more than $1 billion in additional funding.

Venus Aerospace says a newly raised $91 million will advance its rotating detonation rocket engine technology toward full-scale deployment.

Industry, academia and government are combining to rebuild the UK’s long-dormant hypersonics capability for the next generation of deep-strike weapons.

As a first generation of hypersonic weapons in the U.S. nears fielding, the Pentagon has adopted a different set of goals than range and speed for the next.

Lockheed Martin unveiled a concept for a hypersonic glide body designed for lower costs and high rates of production on June 24.

Diehl Defense and Spanish Missile Systems have agreed to continue their relationship should their hypersonic defense weapon concept be selected for the next step in an EU-funded program.

Consortium partners working on the European Hypersonic Defense Interceptor (HYDEF) project have settled on a single missile concept.

Hermeus has received a $159 million contract extension from the DIU to support a high-speed, uncrewed testbed aircraft and open up other opportunities.

Stratolaunch says its Boeing 747-400 carrier aircraft successfully deployed the firm’s latest reusable Talon hypersonic vehicle in March for the U.S. MDA.

Ursa Major is in talks about a new phase of testing of a unique, liquid-fueled tactical missile demonstrator after two test firings.

The Trump administration’s first long-range spending plan raises planned outlays for offensive missile procurement sevenfold.

Hypersonic flight test company Stratolaunch has flown five successive Mach 5-plus Talon sorties so far this year.

The MBDA-led team leading one of two European hypersonic interceptor efforts is poised to settle on its preferred configuration within weeks.

Australia has outlined new aerospace capability priorities in its updated National Defense Strategy, including air-launched hypersonic weapons.