DARPA Asks Industry for a Next-Generation Hypersonic Cruise Missile

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• Defense10/01/2026@DefenseDesk

  The Navy Shows Castelion's Blackbeard Hypersonic Missiles Under a Super Hornet's Wing

  Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Saint Mary's County, Maryland, 20670, United StatesUnited States Navy

  

  Starts 08/26/2026CONFIRMEDDate confidence: CONFIRMEDStated as firmHow firmly the source words the date: confirmed, scheduled, estimated, delayed or unverified.Show all CONFIRMED pins81% CONFIDENCEOverall confidence: 81%How well the pin's source and references back up its dates.Weighted average of how firmly 2 references, the source included, support the pin's start and end times; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newestShow all pins at 75% confidence or better37 days agoThe War Zone reported the Blackbeard-equipped Super Hornet pictures on 26 August 2026; where and when the photo was taken has not been disclosed.^[1]

  Pictures released on 26 August 2026 show two Blackbeard hypersonic test articles under the wing of an F/A-18E/F, as Castelion works to deliver at least 50 missiles to the Navy by August 2028 for under $500,000 each.

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• Aerospace07/23/2017@ThePinGang

  New Ceramic Coating Could Make Hypersonic Air Travel a Reality

  Boeing

  

  02/19/2022 - 07/24/2027UNVERIFIEDDate confidence: UNVERIFIEDNo wording about the date was foundHow firmly the source words the date: confirmed, scheduled, estimated, delayed or unverified.Show all UNVERIFIED pins86% CONFIDENCEOverall confidence: 86%How well the pin's source and references back up its dates.Weighted average of how firmly 3 references, the source included, support the pin's start and end times; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newestShow all pins at 75% confidence or better4.6 years ago

  The new coating is 12 times more effective than current ceramics. Dennis Muilenburg, CEO of Boeing has said that hypersonic passenger jets could be in the air within the next ten years. These aircraft would cut travel times by up to 700 percent. This would mean a flight from Shanghai to New York would be reduced from 15 hours to just two.

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• Defense10/01/2026@DefenseDesk

  The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin Sign a Framework to Ramp Up AIM-260 JATM Production

  Lockheed Martin Drive, Grand Prairie, Dallas County, Texas, 75051, United StatesLockheed Martin

  

  Starts 09/17/2026CONFIRMEDDate confidence: CONFIRMEDStated as firmHow firmly the source words the date: confirmed, scheduled, estimated, delayed or unverified.Show all CONFIRMED pins88% CONFIDENCEOverall confidence: 88%How well the pin's source and references back up its dates.Weighted average of how firmly 2 references, the source included, support the pin's start and end times; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newestShow all pins at 75% confidence or better15 days agoMilitary Times^[1] and The Aviationist^[2] both report the framework agreement announced on 17 September 2026.

  On 17 September 2026 the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin agreed a framework to expand production of the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile, a long-range air-to-air weapon, laying the groundwork for a future multiyear buy; no value or schedule was given.

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• Defense09/27/2026@DefenseDesk

  Air Force Orders General Atomics and Anduril Combat Drones Into Production

  The Pentagon, Remote Delivery Facility Secure Access Lane, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, 20301, United StatesUnited States Air Force

  

  Starts 06/17/2026CONFIRMEDDate confidence: CONFIRMEDStated as firmHow firmly the source words the date: confirmed, scheduled, estimated, delayed or unverified.Show all CONFIRMED pins80% CONFIDENCEOverall confidence: 80%How well the pin's source and references back up its dates.Weighted average of how firmly 3 references, the source included, support the pin's start and end times; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newestShow all pins at 75% confidence or better107 days agoAir & Space Forces Magazine (17 June 2026): 'The department announced June 17 it has awarded both companies engineering and manufacturing development and production contracts'.^[1]

  The Air Force awarded both General Atomics (FQ-42) and Anduril (FQ-44) development and production contracts for its first Collaborative Combat Aircraft, at least 150 semi-autonomous wingman drones by the end of the decade, four months ahead of schedule.

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• Space06/21/2017@ThePinGang

  NASA pays the price of being subjected to a massive, expensive rocket

  NASA

  

  Starts 11/30/2019CONFIRMEDDate confidence: CONFIRMEDStated as firmHow firmly the source words the date: confirmed, scheduled, estimated, delayed or unverified.Show all CONFIRMED pins83% CONFIDENCEOverall confidence: 83%How well the pin's source and references back up its dates.Weighted average of how firmly 3 references, the source included, support the pin's start and end times; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newestShow all pins at 75% confidence or better6.8 years agoHappened as dated, per arstechnica.com^[1]: "…ty of adding crew members to the maiden launch of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. This seemed…"

  The agency is now likely to be at least three years late in delivering its new booster. I think that new manufacturing has caused some of the delays we’ve seen. No one welds the way that we’re welding material at the thicknesses we’re welding.

  $10B

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• Defense09/27/2026@DefenseDesk

  US Air Force Picks Boeing to Build the F-47 Sixth-Generation Fighter

  Boeing, 929, Long Bridge Drive, National Landing, Crystal City, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, 22202, United StatesBoeing

  

  Starts 03/21/2025CONFIRMEDDate confidence: CONFIRMEDStated as firmHow firmly the source words the date: confirmed, scheduled, estimated, delayed or unverified.Show all CONFIRMED pins82% CONFIDENCEOverall confidence: 82%How well the pin's source and references back up its dates.Weighted average of how firmly 3 references, the source included, support the pin's start and end times; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newestShow all pins at 75% confidence or better1.5 years agoBoeing's^[1] release, datelined 'ARLINGTON, Va., March 21, 2025': 'The U.S. Air Force announced Boeing ... has been awarded a contract to design, build and deliver its next-generation fighter aircraft.'

  The Air Force awarded Boeing the Next Generation Air Dominance contract to design, build and deliver the F-47, the first US sixth-generation fighter and the F-22's successor, beating Lockheed Martin; Trump announced it in the Oval Office.

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• Defense09/27/2026@DefenseDesk

  F-47 Sixth-Generation Fighter's First Flight

  McDonnell Boulevard, Hazelwood, Saint Louis County, Missouri, 63042, United StatesBoeing

  

  Starts 12/31/2028ESTIMATEDDate confidence: ESTIMATEDA target, not a fixed dateHow firmly the source words the date: confirmed, scheduled, estimated, delayed or unverified.Show all ESTIMATED pins62% CONFIDENCEOverall confidence: 62%How well the pin's source and references back up its dates.Weighted average of how firmly 3 references, the source included, support the pin's start and end times; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newestShow all pins from 50% to 74% confidencein 2.2 yearsAir & Space Forces Magazine (22 Sept 2025): 'The first F-47 Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter will be ready to fly by 2028', Gen. Allvin said; the pin takes the last day of 2028.^[1]

  The first Boeing F-47, the US Air Force's sixth-generation air-dominance fighter, was already being built in September 2025, and Air Force chief of staff Gen. David Allvin said it would be ready to fly by 2028.

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• Semiconductors09/28/2026@TechDesk

  Musk Launches Terafab, a Tesla-SpaceX Chip Fab Project, in Austin

  Seaholm Power Plant, West Cesar Chavez Street, Seaholm, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78701, United StatesTesla

  

  Starts 03/21/2026CONFIRMEDDate confidence: CONFIRMEDStated as firmHow firmly the source words the date: confirmed, scheduled, estimated, delayed or unverified.Show all CONFIRMED pins82% CONFIDENCEOverall confidence: 82%How well the pin's source and references back up its dates.Weighted average of how firmly 4 references, the source included, support the pin's start and end times; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newestShow all pins at 75% confidence or better195 days agoElectrek^[1], 22 March 2026: 'Musk took the stage at the defunct Seaholm Power Plant in Austin on March 21 to officially launch the project'. No start time is given, so the pin is all day.

  At Austin's old Seaholm Power Plant, Elon Musk launched Terafab, a joint Tesla, SpaceX and xAI plan to make logic, memory and packaged AI chips under one roof, starting with a prototype fab at Giga Texas.

  $20B

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• Defense09/27/2026@DefenseDesk

  Russia Test-Launches the Sarmat Heavy ICBM

  Moscow Kremlin, Faleyevskiy per., Yakimanka District, Moscow, Central Federal District, 115035, RussiaStrategic Rocket Forces

  

  Starts 05/12/2026 8:15AM UTCCONFIRMEDDate confidence: CONFIRMEDStated as firmHow firmly the source words the date: confirmed, scheduled, estimated, delayed or unverified.Show all CONFIRMED pins81% CONFIDENCEOverall confidence: 81%How well the pin's source and references back up its dates.Weighted average of how firmly 2 references, the source included, support the pin's start and end times; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newestShow all pins at 75% confidence or better143 days agoKremlin^[1], 12 May 2026: Karakayev reported 'Today at 11:15 a.m., the Strategic Missile Forces launched the latest heavy liquid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile, the Sarmat. The launch was successful' (Moscow time, 08:15 UTC).

  Russia's Strategic Missile Forces test-fired the Sarmat heavy liquid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile, which commander Sergei Karakayev said was successful and would let the first Sarmat regiment go on combat duty at Uzhur by the end of 2026.

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• Aerospace08/01/2017@ThePinGang

  NASA Is Getting Closer to Building An Ultra-Quiet Supersonic Jet for Passenger Flight

  NASA

  

  Starts 10/28/2025UNVERIFIEDDate confidence: UNVERIFIEDNo wording about the date was foundHow firmly the source words the date: confirmed, scheduled, estimated, delayed or unverified.Show all UNVERIFIED pins85% CONFIDENCEOverall confidence: 85%How well the pin's source and references back up its dates.Weighted average of how firmly 5 references, the source included, support the pin's start and end times; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newestShow all pins at 75% confidence or better339 days ago

  NASA is moving forward with their plans to create a quieter supersonic jet that can cut travel times in half. The quiet plane will fly up to 55,000 feet at supersonic speeds. The new prototype will run on two engines and in theory, it could cut the flight time from New York to Los Angeles in half from 6 to 3 hours.

  $390M

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• Aerospace09/15/2026@BuildDesk

  Gilmour Space Test-Fires Record Rocket Engine on the Gold Coast

  Yatala, Queensland, AustraliaGilmour Space Technologies

  

  Starts 01/11/2022CONFIRMEDDate confidence: CONFIRMEDStated as firmHow firmly the source words the date: confirmed, scheduled, estimated, delayed or unverified.Show all CONFIRMED pins84% CONFIDENCEOverall confidence: 84%How well the pin's source and references back up its dates.Weighted average of how firmly 6 references, the source included, support the pin's start and end times; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newestShow all pins at 75% confidence or better4.7 years agoGilmour Space's own announcement (via its X/Twitter post and media release) states the record 110kN, 75-second engine test took place on 11 January 2022.^[1]

  Gilmour Space Technologies test-fired the largest and most powerful rocket engine ever developed in Australia, a 75-second, 110-kilonewton hybrid-engine burn ahead of its Eris orbital rocket program.

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• Defense09/27/2026@DefenseDesk

  Lockheed Martin Wins $35B Seven-Year THAAD Interceptor Contract

  Lockheed Martin, Rockledge Drive, North Bethesda, Montgomery County, Maryland, 20852, United StatesLockheed Martin

  

  06/24/2026 - 06/30/2032CONFIRMEDDate confidence: CONFIRMEDStated as firmHow firmly the source words the date: confirmed, scheduled, estimated, delayed or unverified.Show all CONFIRMED pins80% CONFIDENCEOverall confidence: 80%How well the pin's source and references back up its dates.Weighted average of how firmly 4 references, the source included, support the pin's start and end times; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newestShow all pins at 75% confidence or better100 days agoLockheed's release is datelined 'DALLAS, June 24, 2026' and says 'Today, the U.S. government awarded Lockheed Martin^[1] ... a seven-year undefinitized contract action'; the Pentagon release quoted by Military Times^[4] has THAAD rounds delivered 'from March 2026 through June 2032', so the term ends at the exclusive 1 July 2032 boundary.

  The Missile Defense Agency awarded Lockheed Martin a seven-year contract worth up to $35 billion to quadruple production of THAAD interceptors, one of the first multiyear deals under the Department of War's Acquisition Transformation Strategy.

  $35.3B

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