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• Sandra Erwin
Defense-tech startup Castelion has secured more than $1 billion in new financing as it seeks to mass-produce lower-cost hypersonic weapons. The funding will support expanded missile production and development of a broader portfolio spanning offensive and defensive weapon systems.
Hypersonic
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Moog is expanding its Huntsville, Alabama, operation with a secure Hypersonic/Interceptor Hardware-in-the-Loop laboratory, described as one of only a few such facilities in the U.S. The company highlighted the expansion during the Space and Missile Defense Symposium, underscoring its focus on advanced defense-system testing.
Defense-tech startup Castelion has secured more than $1 billion in new financing as it seeks to mass-produce lower-cost hypersonic weapons. The funding will support expanded missile production and development of a broader portfolio spanning offensive and defensive weapon systems.
Japan will conduct tests of hypersonic and other missiles in Australia under an agreement that highlights the two nations’ expanding defense cooperation. The activity adds an operational testing dimension to their security relationship and underscores the growing strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific.
DARPA is soliciting radical concepts for a next-generation hypersonic cruise missile, emphasizing affordable, scalable production and the ability to penetrate adversary air defenses. In parallel, Boeing unveiled an IFPC Increment 2 interceptor design, while Lockheed Martin introduced shared sensor technologies and a modular payload system for future missile bodies.
DARPA is developing a hypersonic cruise missile designed to evade enemy air defenses, responding to Pentagon concerns that existing U.S. missiles may be vulnerable. The effort signals a focus on increasing the survivability and effectiveness of U.S. strike capabilities against increasingly capable defensive systems.
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Rocket Lab says its containerized GHOST infrastructure will enable more flexible Electron and HASTE operations beyond permanent launch sites, including military orbital and hypersonic test missions. Separately, the company cautioned that development challenges are narrowing Neutron’s 2026 debut window, raising the prospect of a first launch in 2027.
DARPA has opened a search for next-generation hypersonic cruise missiles launched from fighter aircraft and bombers, signaling a focus on new weapon concepts and broader participation from emerging defense suppliers. The effort targets advances in missile technology and could reshape competition in the strategic weapons sector.
The Army is converting its canceled long-range supergun into a test platform for hypersonic development, potentially enabling more frequent and lower-cost ground testing while reducing reliance on expensive flight tests. The effort gives the program a new role after the weapon itself was abandoned.
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