U.S. Expands SkyRange Program With $92.2M AEVEX Deal to Accelerate Hypersonic Weapons Testing

The U.S. government has awarded AEVEX Aerospace a $92.2 million contract supporting expansion of the SkyRange airborne test infrastructure for hypersonic weapons. SkyRange converts aircraft into instrumented platforms that collect telemetry and tracking data over broad ocean areas, providing more flexible test opportunities than fixed ground ranges alone. The award is intended to increase testing capacity and tempo, addressing a recognized bottleneck in hypersonic development, but it funds range capability rather than the weapons themselves and does not guarantee that any specific missile will meet its performance or fielding schedule.