Lockheed Martin says hypersonic weapons race is shifting from peak speed to sustained flight, maneuverability and mass production

Lockheed Martin argues that hypersonic development is moving beyond demonstrations of maximum speed toward sustained atmospheric flight, maneuverability and repeatable production. Vehicles traveling above Mach 5 must manage temperatures exceeding 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit, driving demand for specialized composites, ceramics, coatings and high-temperature manufacturing. Air-breathing scramjet concepts also depend on reliable propulsion and tightly integrated structures that can survive prolonged thermal and aerodynamic loads. The company highlights robotic inspection, large furnaces and common production methods as essential to scaling weapons for air-, sea- and ground-launched configurations, but announces no new contract.