U.S. holds three tests to advance hypersonic weapon programs, Pentagon says By Reuters

(Pluralizes ‘Laboratories’ in third paragraph of Oct. 21 story)

By Mike Stone

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Navy and Military examined hypersonic weapon part prototypes on Wednesday that may inform improvement of latest weapons, the Pentagon mentioned, calling the three checks profitable.

The checks occurred the identical day that U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned he was involved about Chinese language hypersonic weapons.

Sandia Nationwide Laboratories ran the checks from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia which can assist “inform the event of the Navy’s Standard Immediate Strike (CPS) and the Military’s Lengthy Vary Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) offensive hypersonic strike,” an announcement mentioned.

The Navy and Military will conduct a flight check of the widespread hypersonic missile in fiscal 2022, which started on Oct. 1.

Hypersonic weapons journey within the higher ambiance at greater than 5 instances the pace of sound, or about 3,853 miles per hour (6,200 kph).

These checks “demonstrated superior hypersonic applied sciences, capabilities, and prototype programs in a practical working setting,” the Pentagon mentioned in an announcement.

The US has actively pursued the event of hypersonic weapons as part of its typical immediate international strike program for the reason that early 2000s.

Corporations akin to Lockheed Martin (NYSE:) and Raytheon Applied sciences (NYSE:) are working to develop the hypersonic weapon functionality for the USA.