Northrop and Raytheon have received more than $170 million to develop the GPI interceptor to destroy hypersonic missiles outside the atmosphere

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded additional funding to Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Northrop Grumman,

who are working on the Glide Phase Intercept (GPI) missile defense concept. The interceptor is designed to destroy hypersonic weapons.

What is known

Northrop Grumman received an additional $83.71million, which increased funding to $239.37 million. The funds will allow the company to continue working on the creation of GPI. Work will take place until March 12, 2024 in the states of Arizona, Maryland, Colorado, Alabama and California.

Raytheon received almost $88.68 million. The total contract amount rose to $241.49 million. Work will be performed in Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Texas and Alabama until March 20 next year.

From the name Glide Phase Intercept it is clear thatthe interceptor is designed to destroy hypersonic weapons at the planning stage, i.e. when rockets are outside the atmosphere. This is the longest phase of the flight.

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is trying toaccelerate the pace of GPI development against the background of the growth of hypersonic capabilities of the Russian Federation and China. Contracts with Northrop Grumman and Raytheon were signed in the summer of 2022. Total funding already exceeds $480 million.