U.S. Air Force signs $928 million contract with Lockheed Martin to develop hypersonic missile system
NewsJune 07, 2018
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. Lockheed Martin has signed a contract with the U.S. Air Force -- worth a potential $928 million -- to develop a new missile that will travel more than five times faster than the speed of sound to overcome enemy defenses.
Under the terms of the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, Lockheed Martin is set to develop the Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW), a new air-launched weapon system. According to Lockheed Martin officials, the first phase of the project will be a development program, with future phases progressing through design, flight test, initial production, and deployment of the weapon system at early operational capability.
“Our goal is rapid development and fielding of the HCSW system, and this contract is the first step in achieving that goal,” said John Snyder, vice president of Air Force Strategic Programs at Lockheed Martin. “Design, development, production, integration, and test experts from across Lockheed Martin will partner with the Air Force to achieve early operational capability and deliver the system to our warfighters. We are incredibly proud to be leading this effort.”
The HCSW team will primarily work in Huntsville, Alabama; Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; and Orlando, Florida; with additional work expected in Denver, Colorado, and Sunnyvale, California.
