MDA selects Raytheon and Northrop to continue developing first-of-its-kind counter-hypersonic missiles
Raytheon Technologies and Northrop Grumman have each won contracts to continue developing first-of-its-kind hypersonic weapons interceptors in a Missile Defense Agency-led competition.
Each defense company was awarded a firm-fixed price modification to a previously awarded contract for rapid prototyping.
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) awarded a contract of up to $62 million to Raytheon and up to $60 million to Northrup to continue developing hypersonic weapon interceptors, according Pentagon contract announcement on June 24.
Under the contracts, the two companies would continue to develop a first-of-its-kind counter-hypersonic missile, the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) which is designed to intercept hypersonic weapons in the glide phase of flight, providing an additional layer of defense against regional hypersonic missile threats.
“Our GPI is built on proven missile defense technology as its foundation,” said Tay Fitzgerald, president of Strategic Missile Defense at Raytheon Missiles & Defense. “By using digital engineering and leveraging high technology readiness level components and subsystems already in use across Standard Missile and hypersonic programs, we can quickly advance the creation of this new interceptor.”
Northrop Grumman in its statement said that it is developing its GPI design through a successful systems requirements review – prototype. Rich Straka, vice president, launch vehicles, Northrop Grumman said that “GPI will play a central role in ensuring the United States maintains the most reliable and advanced missile defense systems in the world that are capable of outpacing and defeating evolving missile threats.”
