Leidos to speed hypersonic weapons production for US Army and Navy

Leidos has been awarded a $2.7 billion U.S. Army contract to move hypersonic weapons from prototyping into production, consolidating the Thermal Protection Shield and Common Hypersonic Glide Body programs to streamline development and accelerate delivery in line with Army acquisition reform efforts.

By integrating the programs, the company aims to increase efficiency, shorten production timelines, and maintain a reliable component supply to meet operational demand. Leidos cites experience in guidance systems, sensor technologies, and precision munitions integration as core capabilities intended to advance U.S. hypersonic systems and bolster integrated air and missile defense.

“This contract is a major step forward in delivering hypersonic capabilities to the warfighter at speed,” said Leidos Defense President Cindy Gruensfelder. “Our team is committed to supporting the Army and Navy in producing this critical operational capability.”

The combined award is designed to transition the efforts into a production-ready phase in support of the Department of War’s initiatives. Leidos has served as prime contractor on the Thermal Protection Shield program since 2021 and on the Common Hypersonic Glide Body program since 2019.

The work aligns with the company’s NorthStar 2030 strategy focused on innovation and technological leadership in defense and national security, including advanced hypersonic and precision-strike technologies intended to address current needs while positioning for future military capabilities.