The Joint Hypersonics Transition Office, in partnership with the Naval Surface Warfare Center, has awarded six contracts under the Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS) OTA program to accelerate next-generation hypersonic technologies capable of exceeding Mach 5 speeds. Awardees—including Leidos, GoHypersonic, Special Aerospace Services, Purdue Applied Research Institute, Halo Engines, and Kratos—will focus on subsystem innovations such as propulsion systems, advanced aerodynamics, mission planning architectures, pilot-to-target integration, and overall system effectiveness. The initiative emphasizes overcoming extreme engineering challenges associated with hypersonic flight, including thermal management, structural integrity at high speeds, and precision long-range targeting. Development efforts will combine advanced modeling, digital simulation, ground testing, and flight validation to mature technologies for operational transition.
