Confident MDA accelerates hypersonic defence effort
Glide Phase Interceptor could be fielded by the end of this decade as a DoD programme of record, if industry response is positive.
The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) intends to brief industry in March about its new Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) programme that aims to develop a sea-based counter-hypersonic weapon system by 2030.
This would peel years off previous plans to field a capability to defend against a new class of ultra-fast manoeuvring threats.
The MDA had planned to award in a contract late 2020 for a Regional Glide Phase Weapon (RPGW) prototype, as the first step towards adding a new interceptor to the Aegis weapon system portfolio focused on defeating hypersonic boost-glide vehicles.
On 3 February, however, the agency announced
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