Lockheed Martin Corp. has opened a new lab focused on hypersonic weapons in Alabama, as the US struggles to catch up with China and Russia in deploying the advanced technology. The major defense contractor opened a 17,000 square-foot hypersonic system integration lab in Huntsville as part of a $700 million planned investment from the strategic and missile defense unit in recent years to expand and upgrade facilities. The move is a step in contributing to the establishment of a nascent US hypersonic industrial base. The Pentagon has been looking to overcome delays in fielding the advanced technology, which has already been deployed by Russia in attacks on Ukraine. The U.S. is racing to field both offensive and defensive hypersonic weapons as Russia and China are pushing hard and fast to develop, test and field their own systems. Hypersonic weapons can travel at five times the speed of sound and can maneuver to avoid detection.

Full report : Lockheed Martin unveils new $17.1M hypersonics lab in Huntsville to boost defense tech.