Defense contractor Kratos Defense & Security Solutions won the contract for 1,45 billion dollars from the US Department of Defense to develop hypersonic weapons testing capabilities, which became one of the Pentagon's largest investments in hypersonic test infrastructure.
Five-year contract, which was announced 6 January , will support the MACH-TB program, aimed at accelerating the development of weapons, which moves at a speed of over 5 Makhiv, or five times higher.
San Diego-based Kratos will lead the contractor team, including Leidos, Rocket Lab і Stratolaunch, engaging commercial infrastructure and launch providers to increase the frequency of hypersonic flight testing. The company will oversee system engineering services, integration and testing, including sub-scale and full-scale testing capabilities.
The award highlights the growing strategic emphasis on hypersonic technologies, as the United States tries to counter China's advances, Russia and other countries. MACH-TB, managed by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, aims to increase the frequency and power of ground and flight tests of hypersonic systems.
The MACH-TB program also reflects broader trends in the defense sector, as the Pentagon increasingly turns to commercial players to leverage innovative technologies. Companies, which traditionally developed small launch vehicles, facing stiff competition from such giants, like SpaceX, are looking for new opportunities for hypersonic testing.
Quilty Space Company, research company, evaluates the hypersonic testing market in 6-7 billions of US dollars per year, offering a profitable avenue for dual-purpose engine technologies.
Source: https://spacenews.com/kratos-wins-1-45-billion-pentagon-contract-for-hypersonic-testing/