* $139.4 million, Air Force-DARPA collaboration on rocket-propelled hypersonics, Tactical Boost Glide (TBG), which will produce an “operational prototype” by 2023;
* $14.3 million goes to Air-Force work on jet-propelled hypersonics, the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC), which DARPA is hoping the Navy will join.
* $50 million goes to a new joint venture with the Army called Operational Fires (OPFIRES)
* $53 million goes to the Advanced Full Range Engine (AFRE) for future hypersonic vehicles.
Yesterday, Putin claimed that Russia has successfully developed hypersonic weapons. Russia says it has the Mach 10, 1,250-mile-range Kinzhal hypersonic missile.
China’s has a much larger economy than Russia. China has a DF-17 hypersonic boost-glide vehicle in testing and could enter service around 2020. The Vice-Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs says China has pulled ahead of the US on hypersonics. China has two to three times more hypersonic development facilities than the US has.
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
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