The United States Department of Defense has awarded a major $2.7 billion contract to the defense company Leidos for the production of hypersonic weapons, marking a significant shift as key programs move from the testing phase to full-scale production.
Under this contract, the Thermal Protection Shield (TPS) program and the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (CHGB) program will be integrated into a single unified production structure. The aim of this move is to accelerate production timelines, improve coordination among suppliers, and strengthen the long-range strike capabilities of the U.S. Army and Navy.
U.S. defense officials said the integration is part of broader procurement reforms within the U.S. Army, designed to reduce duplication in supply chains, simplify logistics processes, and improve overall production efficiency.
Leidos also stated that this consolidation is expected to reduce production timelines while ensuring a stable and reliable supply of critical components for operational use by U.S. forces.
The contract is seen as an important milestone in advancing U.S. hypersonic capabilities, in a global environment where competition in this field is rapidly increasing.