Lockheed Martin Awarded $1 Billion For Naval Hypersonic Missile Launching Platform

Lockheed Martin is being awarded a  $1,002,700,000 in support of missile and launching platform production for Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS), the Pentagon name for the Naval conventional hypersonic missile.

The contract includes program management, engineering development, systems integration, long lead material, and special tooling and equipment in support of missile and launching platform production for Conventional Prompt Strike, a Pentagon contract award said Friday.

On May 2, The U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin announced a successful end-to-end flight test of a conventional hypersonic missile from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. This test marked the first launch of the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) capability utilizing the Navy's cold-gas launch approach that will be used in Navy sea-based platform fielding.

"The cold-gas approach allows the Navy to eject the missile from the platform and achieve a safe distance above the ship prior to first stage ignition," said Vice Adm. Johnny R. Wolfe Jr, Director, Navy's Strategic Systems Programs, which is the lead designer of the common hypersonic missile.

The CPS Program has been diligently planning and executing engineering and test efforts to prepare for the first Navy fielding aboard the USS ZUMWALT.