Joe Biden approves expansion of US domestic hypersonic industrial base

The United States is actively working on hypersonic weapons for the Navy, Air Force and Army. President Joe Biden has signed a presidential decree that will accelerate the transition to the next level of jet technology.

Here's What We Know

A presidential executive order signed by the current White House head authorises the use of Title III authority from the Defence Production Act (DPA). The goal is to expand the domestic hypersonic industrial base of the United States.

The focus will be on funding advanced avionics, guidance systems, air-jet propulsion systems and components for hypersonic missiles. The US Department of Defense has said it will use the presidential decree to strategically accelerate progress on manufacturing technologies, military prototypes and kinetic systems. In addition, the Pentagon will work with allied nations seeking identical capabilities.

The US is working on land- and sea-based hypersonic weapons. The U.S. Army will adopt hypersonic missiles in late 2023. The first Zumwalt-class destroyer will be equipped with hypersonic missiles in 2025. Work has already begun to upgrade the ship. In 2029, hypersonic missiles will be installed aboard a Virginia-class submarine.

Source: White House