Verified themeID hypersonics_missile_defense

Hypersonics / Missile Defense

DoD commits over $30B to missile defense systems, including next-gen interceptors and radars, with a focus on hypersonics.

Tracked since Jan 16, 2025Latest record Sep 1, 2026Narrative updated Sep 2, 2026, 5:14 AM ET

Independent channels

Records, last 90 days

Records, all time

Named federal contracts

$27.1B

11 procurement notices3 federal contracts2 bills2 patents

The setup

The US government is making a substantial, multi-year investment in missile defense capabilities, with over $30 billion in contracts awarded since early 2025. This push is primarily driven by the Department of Defense, focusing on developing and sustaining advanced interceptors, radar systems, and exploring hypersonic technologies. The contracts indicate a comprehensive strategy to upgrade existing defenses and counter emerging threats.

How this developed

Feb 24, 2025DoD Missile Defense Agency awards Northrop Grumman $2.39B for Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) All-Up-Round (AUR) design and testing.Federal contract
Sep 10, 2025DoD Department of the Navy awards Raytheon Company $1.05B for Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) integration and production support.Federal contract
Nov 13, 2025DoD Missile Defense Agency awards The Boeing Company $6.46B for Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) development and sustainment.Federal contract
Jan 29, 2026DoD Department of the Army awards Raytheon Company $1.90B for Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense System (LTAMDS).Federal contract
May 21, 2026DoD Missile Defense Agency awards Lockheed Martin Corporation $5.26B for Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) All-Up-Round (AUR) design and testing.Federal contract
May 22, 2026DoD Missile Defense Agency awards Lockheed Martin Corporation $9.09B for THAAD Interceptor Lot 9 production.Federal contract
Jun 24, 2026DoD Department of the Army awards Northrop Grumman $879.7M for Poland FMS Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS).Federal contract
Aug 31, 2026NASA awards Stratolaunch, LLC $1.99M for a flight test vehicle concept study for the Making Advancements in Commercial Hypersonics (MACH) program.Federal contract
Sep 1, 2026The Boeing Company patents a nose-tip assembly for hypersonic and high-speed vehicles.Patent

Why it matters

The Department of Defense has committed over $30 billion in contracts since early 2025, indicating a significant and sustained investment in missile defense capabilities, particularly for next-generation interceptors and radar systems.
Major awards to Northrop Grumman ($2.39B, E1) and Lockheed Martin ($5.26B, E7) for Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) development highlight a strategic focus on upgrading the US's ability to counter advanced missile threats.
The $9.09 billion contract to Lockheed Martin (E8) for THAAD interceptor production, alongside the $6.46 billion contract to Boeing (E3) for GMD sustainment, demonstrates a dual approach of modernizing and maintaining existing critical defense systems.
NASA's $1.99 million award to Stratolaunch (E13) for a hypersonic flight test vehicle concept study, coupled with Boeing's patent for a hypersonic nose-tip assembly (E14), signals an emerging focus on hypersonic technology development, potentially for both offensive and defensive applications.

What to watch

Monitor future contract awards and solicitations from the Missile Defense Agency and Department of the Army for further development and deployment of NGI, LTAMDS, and hypersonic defense systems. Watch for legislative actions or presidential directives that could further accelerate or refine these programs.

Named in a federal contract

Only companies that a specific contract in this theme names as recipient or parent. Not a recommendation.

$LMT $RTX $NOC $BA

The record · 9 items, oldest first

Feb 24, 2025Federal contractNORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION: DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEVELOPMENTAL TESTING OF THE NEXT GENERATION INTERCEPTOR (NGI) ALL-UP-ROUND (AUR)
Sep 10, 2025Federal contractRAYTHEON COMPANY: AIR AND MISSILE DEFENSE RADAR (AMDR) INTEGRATION AND PRODUCTION SUPPORT (I&PS).
Nov 13, 2025Federal contractTHE BOEING COMPANY: THE MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY (MDA), GROUND-BASED MIDCOURSE DEFENSE (GMD) DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINMENT CONTRACT (DSC) THE GMD DSC WORK INCLUDES,
Jan 29, 2026Federal contractRAYTHEON COMPANY: UNDEFINITIED CONTRACT (UCA) FOR LOWER TIER AIR AND MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM (LTAMDS)
May 21, 2026Federal contractLOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION: DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEVELOPMENTAL TESTING OF THE NEXT GENERATION INTERCEPTOR (NGI) ALL-UP-ROUND (AUR)
May 22, 2026Federal contractLOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION: HQ0147-17-C-0032 UNDEFINITIZED CONTRACT ACTION (UCA) FOR THAAD INTERCEPTOR LOT 9 PRODUCTION - QTY OF 23
Jun 24, 2026Federal contractNORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION: POLAND FMS THE INTEGRATED AIR AND MISSILE DEFENSE (IAMD) BATTLE COMMAND SYSTEM (IBCS).
Aug 31, 2026Federal contractSTRATOLAUNCH, LLC: FLIGHT TEST VEHICLE CONCEPT STUDY IN SUPPORT OF MAKING ADVANCEMENTS IN COMMERCIAL HYPERSONICS (MACH) PROGRAM NASA HYPERSONIC TECHNOLOGY P
Sep 1, 2026PatentPatent: The Boeing Company — NOSE-TIP ASSEMBLY FOR HYPERSONIC AND HIGH-SPEED VEHICLES

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How this story evolved

Earlier versions of this narrative will appear here as the record is re-read.

How this page is built. A theme fires when three or more independent government channels converge on the same program inside a rolling window. The narrative is written only from the records listed above; every date, agency, dollar figure and bill number comes from a cited item. Contract dollars are a floor: the sum of awards in the sampled record, never a modeled estimate. This page keeps its URL for life. Machine access: RSS · wire.