Leidos awarded $2.7 billion contract in United States for production of hypersonic weapons

Published: 2026-05-14 10:01:24 ET LDOS

Published on 05/14/2026 at 10:01 am EDT

Key takeaways

Leidos has secured a substantial contract worth 2.7 billion dollars from the US Army, aimed at speeding up the production of hypersonic weapons. The contract merges two existing programmes – the Thermal Protection Shield and the Common Hypersonic Glide Body – into a single streamlined initiative. The aim is to accelerate the transition from prototypes to fully operational weapons systems, while at the same time improving production efficiency.

Leidos plans to deploy its expertise in areas such as guidance systems, sensor technologies and the integration of precision munitions to support this ambitious programme. The company believes that combining these two programmes will not only shorten production lead times, but also ensure the reliable delivery of critical components needed for operational deployment.

Department of Defense

This contract is in line with broader Department of Defense initiatives aimed at strengthening hypersonic capabilities within the US military. Leidos has long been involved in both programmes, serving as prime contractor for the Thermal Protection Shield since 2021 and for the Common Hypersonic Glide Body since 2019.

Technological innovation

The contract underscores Leidos’ commitment to technological innovation, as set out in the company’s NorthStar 2030 strategy. By accelerating the production of hypersonic weapons, Leidos aims to meet the evolving operational needs of both the US Army and the Navy, ultimately contributing to a stronger national security posture through advanced weapons development.

Cindy Gruensfelder, president of Leidos Defense, emphasised the importance of this contract: “This contract is a significant step forward in rapidly delivering hypersonic capabilities to the warfighter. Our team is committed to supporting the Army and Navy in delivering this critical operational capability.”

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