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U.S. Army Delays Hypersonic Weapon Deployment to 2026

1/18/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Army has missed its deadline to field the first hypersonic weapon, part of a $10.4 billion program.
Completion is now expected in early 2026 after rigorous testing and training, despite 2025 deployment claims and September 2023 misses linked to the Lockheed Martin–developed system.
The Pentagon has not yet conducted a full operational assessment to determine the missile's combat effectiveness.

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Story summary

The U.S. Army has missed its deadline to field the first hypersonic weapon, part of a $10.4 billion program.
Completion is now expected in early 2026 after rigorous testing and training, despite 2025 deployment claims and September 2023 misses linked to the Lockheed Martin–developed system.
The Pentagon has not yet conducted a full operational assessment to determine the missile's combat effectiveness.