534 million dollars for the development of conventional instant-strike weapons | Lockheed Martin

The U.S. Department of Defense awarded Lockheed Martin Space a $534 million contract for systems engineering, development, and testing of the Conventional Prompt Strike component of the broader hypersonic weapons development effort. Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) is the Defense Department’s name for its strategy to launch a precision-guided conventional weapons strike anywhere in the world within an hour. This capability exists for nuclear-armed missiles (ICBMs), but establishing it for conventional weapons would provide a new advantage for U.S. forces in the face of a range of global threats.

This strategic improvement is a broad goal for the U.S. Department of Defense’s development of hypersonic weapons technology, largely driven by Lockheed. Hypersonic weapons – which are among the U.S.’s top development priorities – are high-speed weapons (Mach 5 or more) that travel at suborbital altitudes, making them difficult for air defense systems to track and intercept due to their speed and maneuverability.

The new contract for Lockheed is awarded in a “not to exceed” manner and includes a cost-plus-incentive fee modification to a previous award. The modification includes an optional item that could increase the total value of the contract to $570 million.

Much of the work will be performed by Lockheed Martin Space in Denver, Colorado, with various portions subcontracted to facilities in California, Massachusetts and other states.

Design, development and testing are expected to be completed by June 2025.