Lockheed, Dynetics, Alabama Lead U.S. Hypersonic Initiatives

Dynetics Technical Solutions’ concept of the hypersonic system’s sonic boom.

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $347 million multi-year hypersonic weapons development contract from the U.S. Army to develop and integrate a land-based hypersonic strike prototype.

The effort is part of the Army’s modernization priority — long range precision fires — and administered by the Army Hypersonic Project Office, part of the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office.

Lockheed’s team includes Dynetics Technical Solutions, Integration Innovation Inc.., Verity Integrated Systems, Martinez & Turek and Penta Research.

“Lockheed Martin is driving rapid technical development for these national priority programs,” said Eric Scherff, vice president for Hypersonic Strike Programs for Lockheed Martin Space. “There are natural synergies with our industry teammates. We believe our relationships offer the Army unmatched expertise and puts us in the best position to deliver this critical capability to the nation.”

Dynetics Technical Solutions, of Huntsville, also has been awarded a $351.6 million contract by the Army to produce Common-Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) prototypes over the next three years.

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Under the contract, DTS, collaborating with Sandia National Laboratories, will produce 20 glide body assemblies for use by the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and the Missile Defense Agency, with an option for additional quantities.

The Army LRHW prototype will leverage the C-HGB and introduce a new class of ultrafast, maneuverable, long-range missiles that can launch from ground mobile platforms. The LRHW system will deliver residual combat capability to soldiers by 2023.

“Dynetics Technical Solutions is pleased to partner with Lockheed Martin on this national defense priority. The Common-Hypersonic Glide Body and Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon programs will modernize our national capabilities and will counter the threat from our foreign adversaries. We are looking forward to the progress our teams will make as we deliver this combat capability to the warfighter,” said Steve Cook, DTS president.

As the prime contractor on the C-HGB, DTS is responsible for supplier management, procurement, assembly, integration and testing, electrical and mechanical manufacturing and systems engineering for the C-HGB. Others working on the project include General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, who will complete the assembly, integration and test at their North Alabama locations.

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems will provide cable, electrical and mechanical manufacturing. Lockheed Martin will support in manufacturing, assembly, integration, test, systems engineering and analysis. Raytheon will use its extensive experience in advanced hypersonic technology to build and deliver the control, actuation and power-conditioning subassemblies that control flight of the glide body. Raytheon also will help assemble and test the new glide body.

DTS, as part of the LRHW contract, will develop launchers with hydraulics, outriggers, power generation and distribution for the ground platform, in addition to flight test and training support.

Both of these awards total $407.6 million for DTS. Lockheed Martin’s portion of the program will be performed at facilities in Alabama, Colorado, California and Texas. Lockheed Martin’s hypersonic strike awards exceed over $2.5 billion across the corporation.

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