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Hypersonic weapon startup Castelion has first prototype missile test
REUTERS ^ | March 11, 2024 | Mike Stone

Posted on 03/11/2024 11:19:03 AM PDT by McGruff

Castelion, a startup trying to build a hypersonic weapon for the Pentagon, tested its system for the first time, it told Reuters on Monday, as a growing group of small hypersonic arms makers challenge large defense contractors with less expensive, rapidly produced products.

The United States and China are engaged in an arms race to develop the most lethal hypersonic weapons, which travel in the upper atmosphere at more than five times the speed of sound and are designed to evade traditional defenses.

"This test flight, this first of many planned for this year, demonstrates our rapid development approach and is a major milestone for the company. We now have a low-cost hypersonic test platform ready to launch on demand," Bryon Hargis, Castelion's CEO and co-founder, told Reuters in a statement.

U.S. companies like Castelion, RTX's Raytheon (RTX.N) , opens new tab unit and Lockheed Martin (LMT.N), opens new tab are all working to develop the new class of weapon, which will translate to large contracts if production can be scaled.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War
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1 posted on 03/11/2024 11:19:03 AM PDT by McGruff
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To: McGruff

Yeah, but can it outrun a coyote?


2 posted on 03/11/2024 11:21:28 AM PDT by ComputerGuy (Heavily-medicated for your protection)
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To: McGruff

If its successful, Raytheon will buy it, appoint a few retired Generals or uniparty politicians to management positions - then raise the price to the Pentagon by 20X


3 posted on 03/11/2024 11:25:08 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: PGR88

I agree with you but this is needed badly.


4 posted on 03/11/2024 11:27:38 AM PDT by DarthVader (Not by speeches & majority decisions will the great issues of the day be decided but by Blood & Iron)
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To: McGruff

Is it faster than the speed of light?.................


5 posted on 03/11/2024 11:33:04 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: McGruff

The 50s are calling. They want their missile gap back.


6 posted on 03/11/2024 11:33:16 AM PDT by hardspunned (Former DC GOP globalist stooge)
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To: McGruff

When is Space-X going to build a star cruiser?


7 posted on 03/11/2024 11:45:57 AM PDT by dljordan
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To: McGruff

This is super important stuff for our country.

Most of if not all of this is needed to counter a potential conflict with China, which is only a matter of time away IMO.

We desperately need a capability that has legs to support our naval forces with distance enough that can allow our carriers to be placed in proximity to Taiwan where they can fight the Chinese and right now we don’t have that.

Also, not all hypersonic weapons are the same in that some are more like fast cruise missiles while others are near space operators with hypersonic glide vehicle. Both are good but hgv’s are best. China has hgv’s.

Disagreeing to make hgv and any hypersonic capable weapons because we have ample other weapons would be like not funding jet aircraft because our piston propeller driven aircraft are good enough today.

I hope we can get ours operational and on line asap, before China pushes their button.


8 posted on 03/11/2024 11:50:40 AM PDT by R0CK3T
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To: PGR88

> If its successful, Raytheon will buy it, appoint a few retired Generals or uniparty politicians to management positions - then raise the price to the Pentagon by 20X

Precisely how the game is played.


9 posted on 03/11/2024 11:52:06 AM PDT by glorgau
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To: McGruff

Hypersonic weapons completely overhyped ?


10 posted on 03/11/2024 11:53:12 AM PDT by butlerweave
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To: McGruff
--- "... which will translate to large contracts...."

The key phrase in the article. LARGE.

11 posted on 03/11/2024 11:58:12 AM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: butlerweave

Hypersonic weapons that can maneuver and evade defenses are not over-hyped.


12 posted on 03/11/2024 11:58:17 AM PDT by steve86 (Numquam accusatus, numquam ad curiam ibit, numquam ad carcerem™)
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To: R0CK3T

So you are saying if the USN or USAF had hypersonics we could knock out all of Chinas hypersonics so our carriers would not be at risk?

Think that is the thinking of a neocon general.


13 posted on 03/11/2024 11:59:36 AM PDT by reviled downesdad (Some of the lost will never believe the Truth and will hate you for it.)
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To: ComputerGuy
Yeah, but can it outrun a coyote?

Easily, but not a Roadrunner...

14 posted on 03/11/2024 12:02:18 PM PDT by null and void (There’s only one thing that’s for sure. Everyone on all sides a conflict will be happy to lie to you)
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To: butlerweave
Hypersonic weapons completely overhyped ?

Nope.

15 posted on 03/11/2024 12:06:48 PM PDT by pepsi_junkie ("We want no Gestapo or Secret Police. F. B. I. is tending in that direction." - Harry S Truman)
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To: McGruff

.


16 posted on 03/11/2024 12:21:51 PM PDT by sauropod (Ne supra crepidam.)
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To: All

1) Why is it presumed the US can catch up with any hypersonic deficit? Unless, of course, the US steals that technology from Russia. Isn’t it amusing how the allegedly technologically superior has to steal?

2) China does not need to invade Taiwan. Wiping out TMSC facilities and actually . . . maybe not even wiping out the oil import facilities . . . just the TMSC facilities is all they need do. No invasion. No pitched battles. Just wipe out TMSC. Don’t touch the Taiwan govt. Just those facilities.

3) After a handful of years it will become clear no one is going to spend the enormous sums patrolling around Taiwan when Taiwan has nothing left to offer.

4) After a few years of no commerce, Taiwan would vote to rejoin the mainland.


17 posted on 03/11/2024 1:01:36 PM PDT by Owen (.)
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To: McGruff

But the US military has wonderful diversity. Diversity is the military’s greatest strength... The tranny brass told us.


18 posted on 03/11/2024 1:44:35 PM PDT by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes.)
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To: reviled downesdad

No you don’t hit all the missiles you hit the kill chain or their ships, some of which also have hypersonic missiles.

I’m anything other than a neocon, but your bat-sh1t stupid and sound like a dummy who’d never allow for creating an F35 because he’s got a thousand P-51s.

I believe in the Reagan doctrine of peace thru strength.

When multiple carriers are gone and upwards of 20 US service members are dead you’ll probably be be n the front screeching about how this happened.


19 posted on 03/11/2024 1:57:59 PM PDT by R0CK3T
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To: R0CK3T

Incorrec, have worked for he DOD. Advanced weapons are critical, including advanced fighters. It’s the wokes and neocons in leadership that are the problem.

No war winning strategy.


20 posted on 03/11/2024 2:29:31 PM PDT by reviled downesdad (Some of the lost will never believe the Truth and will hate you for it.)
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