US blows past another deadline to field its first hypersonic missile

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by BloombergJanuary 18, 2026 at 04:30 AM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

The US Army has missed its latest deadline to field its first hypersonic missile, a key Pentagon priority. This marks the third missed deadline for the $10.4 billion program, following previous failures in September 2023 and September 2024. While the unit trained to use the weapon is ready, the missile itself requires further integration, safety checks, and readiness steps. The Army now anticipates fielding the weapon in early 2026, emphasizing rigorous testing and system maturity. This delay highlights the technical challenges of developing and deploying hypersonic weapons, despite the Army's push for rapid fielding.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Pete Hegseth 40% Lockheed Martin 60% Pentagon ×270% United States 80% United States Army ×690%

Keywords

hypersonic missile 100% weapon fielding 80% us army 70% deadline 70% testing 60% pentagon 50% acquisition process 50% military technology 40% system maturity 40%