The U.S. Dept. of Defense awarded a $1-billion contract modification to Lockheed Martin Space to proceed with the Conventional Prompt Strike project – a component of component of the broader hypersonic weapons development that proposes to establish a capability to deliver a precision-guided conventional weapon strike anywhere in the world within one hour.
The DoD’s hypersonics strategy covers several programs aiming to develop weapons systems that travel at speeds of Mach 5 or greater, including Long-Range Hypersonic Weapons (LRHW) and Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missiles (HACM), in addition to the CPS project. Each of these weapons would be deployed to strike hardened or time-sensitive targets, engage high-value surface threats, and gain a tactical advantage in contested battlespaces.
CPS capability exists today with nuclear-armed missiles (ICBM), but establishing it also for conventional weapons would be a new advantage to U.S. forces.
The modification to the original, 2023 contract tasks Lockheed with program management, engineering development, systems integration, long-lead material sourcing, and special tooling and equipment acquisition, in support of missile and launching platform production for Conventional Prompt Strike.
The contract will cover work through August 31, 2028, mainly in Colorado and Alabama, but also in California and Florida.
