Startup HyperKelp says it is demonstrating air-droppable buoys for the U.S. Navy that could detect the acoustic signature of boost-glide hypersonic vehicles.
The U.S. Pacific Fleet has “recently” tracked balloons across the Pacific and can down them if required, U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo says.
Metrea’s business case rests on the uncomfortable fact that hundreds of Air Force-owned air refueling aircraft cover only a fraction of the potential demand.
Spending over a 4-year period between fiscal '24-'27 on development and procurement across all five hypersonic weapon programs will total nearly $11.9 billion.