US Awards $480Mln To Begin Designing Second Hypersonic Weapon Prototype - Pentagon
Umer Jamshaid Published August 14, 2018 | 05:39 AM
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2018) The US Air Force awarded $480 million to weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin to begin design on a second hypersonic weapon prototype, the Defense Department said in a press release.
"Today the Air Force has awarded a contract not to exceed $480,000,000 to Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control to begin designing a second hypersonic weapon prototype," the release said on Monday. "This contract will provide the critical design review, test and production readiness support for the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW)."
Under the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act signed by US President Donald Trump on Monday, the United States will accelerate its hypersonic missile defense program and provide a report within 90 days to congressional defense committees.
In April, the US Air Force awarded a $930 million contract to Lockheed Martin to develop the first prototype of a hypersonic weapon.
A hypersonic weapon is a missile that travels at Mach 5 or higher, which is at least five times faster than the speed of sound. Senior Pentagon commanders have warned that the United States is advancing less rapidly than Russia and China in the sphere of hypersonic weapons.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow had successfully tested its own hypersonic missile, the Kinzhal. US Strategic Command (STRATCOM) chief General John Hyten has warned that the United States lacks any defense against hypersonic attack.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
3 Gawadar attack victims funeral offered
Mbappe says he will leave PSG at end of season
Usmani felicitates Sardar Saleem on taking oath as Punjab Governor
DC for provision of facilities to people in Lasbela
Solar storm could bring auroras, power and telecoms disruptions
Court grants interim bail to PTI leaders
Ulema, Mashaykh call for political accountability, collaboration for Pakistan's ..
SHRC asks NADRA to issue CNICs to transgender as per law
Flash floods kill 50 in one day in north Afghanistan
CDA chief expresses commitment to promoting modern-day technologies
By wide margin, UN General Assembly votes to back Palestinian bid for membership ..
Musadik slams PTI's political approach as provocative
More Stories From World
-
Endrick in Brazil's Copa America squad but no Neymar
1 hour ago -
Djokovic bottle strike overshadows Rome Open cruise past Moutet
1 hour ago -
Train crash in Argentine capital leaves 30 injured
2 hours ago -
Pandemic agreement talks to continue beyond deadline
2 hours ago -
Chopra falls short in Doha, Bednarek blitzes before Olympics
2 hours ago -
Djokovic struck with bottle from stands after winning Rome opener
2 hours ago
-
England great Anderson's Test career under threat after McCullum talks - report
2 hours ago -
Senegal launches inquiry into Boeing jet runway crash
2 hours ago -
Madagascan leader's former aide jailed in UK for graft
3 hours ago -
Seven killed as bus crashes into river in Russia's St Petersburg
3 hours ago -
Mbappe confirms he will leave PSG at end of season
3 hours ago -
Fresh rains pound Brazil's flood-hit south as evacuations double
3 hours ago