JHTO attempts to accelerate hypersonic developments
Boeing is conducting a preliminary design review and ground-testing programme for a Mach 6 cruise missile, while the DoD Joint Hypersonics Transition Office looks to work with industry to create a a more modular, affordable, and upgradable hypersonics portfolio
The US DoD has established a Joint Hypersonics Transition Office (JHTO) Systems Engineering Field Activity at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division in Indiana.
Its aim is to pave the way for mass production of hypersonic weapons, by coordinating ‘architectures, interfaces, schedules, and plans to transition a more modular, affordable, and upgradable hypersonics portfolio of capabilities and technologies’ for the US military, the DoD claimed on 15 October.
The JHTO is already exploring solutions involving a dual-combustion ramjet/supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet), in response to USAF plans announced in April.
At the time, Dr Will Roper, Assistant Secretary of the Air
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