Leidos has selected General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) to manufacture critical components for US Army and Navy hypersonic weapon programmes through 2031. The subcontract covers precision-machined parts and cable assemblies for the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (CHGB), which is shared by the two services’ hypersonic weapons. GA-EMS previously manufactured prototype glide-body subassemblies, hardware and cables for a successful CHGB flight test in 2020. The company will draw on this experience to fulfil the latest agreement using its existing workforce and manufacturing facilities, which include specialised machining equipment and cable assembly capabilities. It will also conduct testing and inspections to ensure the supplied components meet design specifications and quality standards. The subcontract supports US efforts to field weapons capable of travelling at speeds of at least Mach 5 and striking targets over long distances. The Army’s Dark Eagle, formally known as the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon, and the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike both use the CHGB. A booster accelerates the weapon before the glide body separates and manoeuvres towards its target. The Army plans to deploy Dark Eagle from mobile ground-based launchers, while the Navy is developing ship- and submarine-based launch capabilities. Other US hypersonic programmes include the Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile, an air-launched scramjet-powered weapon intended to provide a long-range strike capability for the F-15E. The Navy is also pursuing Blackbeard, an air-launched hypersonic weapon developed by Castelion for carrier-based aircraft. In September, the service awarded a production delivery order worth up to $200 million for an initial batch of missiles.
