Lockheed Martin Awarded Second Contract Worth $480M For Hypersonic Weapons Development

The Pentagon has awarded a $480 million worth US Air Force contract to Lockheed Martin for second hypersonic weapon prototype known as Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) or “Arrow”.

Under a not-to-exceed $480,000,000 undefinitized contract, Lockheed Martin will provide “ARRW critical design review and test and production readiness support”, the Department of defense announced Monday.

Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2021, it says.

Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $5,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award, it added.  

Lockheed Martin received the first contract for hypersonic weapons worth $928 million in April. The Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon, pronounced “Hacksaw,” is “one of two hypersonic weapon prototyping efforts being pursued by the Air Force to accelerate hypersonics research and development.

According to the air force statement, “a prompt [hypersonic/hypervelocity] precision strike capability against high-value, time-critical fixed and relocatable surface targets in a single or multi-theater, challenged [A2/AD] environment. It will utilize Global Positioning System and Inertial Guidance System for navigation and terminal guidance with a government-furnished warhead”.