Dubious Eagle: Why Has Pentagon Pumped $756 Mln Into Hypersonic Missile That Doesn’t Fly?
Sputnik International
The US Army has awarded Lockheed Martin another $756 million for its delay-plagued LRHW ‘Dark Eagle’ program.
In development since 2017, the LRHW’s $41 million apiece truck-launched missiles are expected to accelerate to speeds up to Mach 17.
The poor track record of US hypersonic missile programs has been surprising, given the massive funding allocated by Congress.
Russian expert Dmitry Drozdenko attributed the challenges in hypersonic missile development to a lack of materials capable of withstanding extreme temperatures.
“Technologies are developed by people,” said Drozdenko. “Money is one means of developing a technology, but it can happen that a technology is created with a minimum amount of funds.”
Summary:
The US Army awarded Lockheed Martin $756 million for its LRHW ‘Dark Eagle’ program, which faces testing challenges. Despite significant funding, US hypersonic missile initiatives have struggled. Russian expert Dmitry Drozdenko highlighted the need for materials to withstand extreme temperatures in hypersonic flight. Money alone does not guarantee successful technology development.\
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