US lays out plans to speed up hypersonic weapons development
Hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin boasted that the country possesses hypersonic intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), DARPA revealed it has plans to ramp up testing its capabilities portfolio.
During a presidential address to the Federal Assembly in Moscow on 1 March, Putin said Russia had developed a hypersonic capability — the RS-28 Sarmat, a weapon capable of striking the US.
Shortly after, speaking at a defence writer’s breakfast, DARPA Director Steven Walker declined to confirm or deny Putin’s claim. Walker, however, dovetailed into US efforts to ramp up development of such weapons under a ‘national hypersonics initiative’.
‘We
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Defence Notes
-
![Canada set to look away from its neighbour and across the Atlantic for partners]()
Canada set to look away from its neighbour and across the Atlantic for partners
While non-EU UK struggles to join the Security Action for Europe initiative, which provides loans for defence programmes, Canada has become the first country outside Europe to get access – and did so for a nominal fee.
-
![NATO experiments with solutions to integrate networks, AI and uncrewed systems]()
NATO experiments with solutions to integrate networks, AI and uncrewed systems
During the latest edition of the NATO DiBaX, the alliance tested multiple capabilities to inform requirements for future efforts.
-
![Leonardo unveils plans for Michelangelo air defence dome]()
Leonardo unveils plans for Michelangelo air defence dome
The new multi-layered defence system will harness AI to neutralise airborne threats and protect Europe from Russian aggression.
