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DefenseNews.com • Valerie Insinna

USAF Cancels Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW); Reviews Status of Remaining Hypersonic Efforts

The U.S. Air Force has cancelled the Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW). This cluster assesses immediate program implications and the status of remaining Air Force hypersonic efforts, situating the decision alongside other U.S. services' hypersonic timelines and prototyping activity near‑term.

2026-02-19T03:00:50.199647-08:00

Aviation Week

Stratolaunch completes back-to-back Mach 5+ Talon‑A launches from two carrier aircraft

2026-02-18T10:46:09.537399-08:00

Bloomberg

France and Germany in talks with ArianeGroup on land‑based ballistic missile to close Europe’s deep‑strike gap

2026-02-12T05:22:24.249847-08:00

European Spaceflight

Hypersonica completes Mach‑6 HS1 test, targets serial production and European strike capability by 2029

2026-02-09T23:07:19.121722-08:00

News Timeline

DefenseNews.com

USAF Cancels Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW); Reviews Status of Remaining Hypersonic Efforts The U.S. Air Force has cancelled the Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW). This cluster assesses immediate program implications and the status of remaining Air Force hypersonic efforts, situating the decision alongside other U.S. services' hypersonic timelines and prototyping activity near‑term.

2026-02-19T03:00:50.199647-08:00

USAF Cancels Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW); Reviews Status of Remaining Hypersonic Efforts

Aviation Week

Stratolaunch completes back-to-back Mach 5+ Talon‑A launches from two carrier aircraft Stratolaunch completed back-to-back launches of two Mach 5-plus, rocket‑powered Talon‑A vehicles from two different carrier aircraft within four days. The consecutive air‑launches advance hypersonic flight testing and support repeatable, high‑cadence test operations across multiple carrier platforms.

2026-02-18T10:46:09.537399-08:00

Stratolaunch completes back-to-back Mach 5+ Talon‑A launches from two carrier aircraft

Bloomberg

France and Germany in talks with ArianeGroup on land‑based ballistic missile to close Europe’s deep‑strike gap France and Germany are in preliminary talks with ArianeGroup to develop a conventional land‑based ballistic missile with reported ranges above 1,000 km; some outlets say it could carry hypersonic warheads and reach several thousand kilometres. The proposal is framed as a bid to close Europe’s deep‑strike capability gap.

2026-02-12T05:22:24.249847-08:00

France and Germany in talks with ArianeGroup on land‑based ballistic missile to close Europe’s deep‑strike gap

European Spaceflight

Hypersonica completes Mach‑6 HS1 test, targets serial production and European strike capability by 2029 Anglo‑German startup Hypersonica reported a successful hypersonic flight test in Norway, with the HS1 prototype reaching roughly Mach 6 and built from military‑grade supplier components. The company emerged from stealth and says it aims for HS1 serial production and a sovereign European strike capability by 2029.

2026-02-09T23:07:19.121722-08:00

Hypersonica completes Mach‑6 HS1 test, targets serial production and European strike capability by 2029

Aviation Week

Germany awards Polaris contract for reusable two-stage hypersonic research vehicle, targeting 2027 flight readiness Germany's BAAINBw has contracted Polaris Spaceplanes to develop and flight-test a fully reusable two-stage hypersonic research vehicle (HYTEV) with satellite-deployment capability, targeting flight readiness in 2027. The programme aims to close critical technology gaps and strengthen Germany's hypersonics industrial base.

2026-01-27T04:07:10.953720-08:00

Germany awards Polaris contract for reusable two-stage hypersonic research vehicle, targeting 2027 flight readiness

FlightGlobal

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GE Aerospace, Lockheed Martin validate liquid‑fueled rotating detonation ramjet for hypersonic missiles GE Aerospace and Lockheed Martin completed a series of tests demonstrating a liquid‑fueled rotating detonation ramjet as a viable, compact propulsion option for hypersonic missiles. The campaign, the partners' first under a broader joint technology development arrangement, showed improved fuel efficiency and potential for longer‑range Mach‑5+ flight.

2026-01-14T16:50:58.507159-08:00

GE Aerospace, Lockheed Martin validate liquid‑fueled rotating detonation ramjet for hypersonic missiles

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Hypersonic News

USAF Cancels Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW); Reviews Status of Remaining Hypersonic Efforts

Stratolaunch completes back-to-back Mach 5+ Talon‑A launches from two carrier aircraft

France and Germany in talks with ArianeGroup on land‑based ballistic missile to close Europe’s deep‑strike gap

Hypersonica completes Mach‑6 HS1 test, targets serial production and European strike capability by 2029

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