Dynetics has secured a substantial contract worth $670.5 million to develop the common hypersonic glide body (C-HGB) along with a thermal protection system for the US Army. The contract, which highlights the increasing focus on hypersonic technology in the US military, allocates $65.8 million for fiscal year 2024, specifically earmarked for research, development, testing, and evaluation activities.
The work associated with this contract will primarily take place in Huntsville, Alabama, with an estimated completion deadline set for October 31, 2029. Dynetics, a subsidiary of Leidos, is collaborating as part of a team led by Lockheed Martin, tasked with the integration and prototyping of the C-HGB. This glide body serves as a common munition for both the US Army and the US Navy, aimed at enhancing their respective hypersonic programs: the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) and the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS).
The C-HGB is being jointly developed by both branches of the military, with the US Navy taking the lead on its design while the US Army handles production. The glide body is designed to have an impressive operational range of over 2,775 kilometers (approximately 1,724 miles) and is intended to be launched from various weapon systems used by both services, engineered specifically for launch from either sea or land platforms.
Initially, the LRHW was projected to reach full operational capability by the end of 2023. However, it encountered undisclosed pre-flight check issues in September of the previous year, causing a delay in its rollout. Concurrently, the US Navy has partnered with Huntington Ingalls Industries to equip the USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) destroyer with the CPS weapon by September 2025. This integration is part of a broader modernization initiative for the warship, showcasing the ongoing commitment of the US military to enhance its hypersonic capabilities.
