Rapid development of military hypersonic technologies highlights vulnerabilities in industry supply chain

Jan. 25, 2021
Most investment in hypersonic technology is defense-related, venture capital investment has exceeded $300 million over the past five years.

WASHINGTON – Hypersonic technology that enables missiles to fly at speeds in excess of Mach 5 and change trajectory quickly in mid-flight illustrate the supply chain challenges that U.S. companies face when working on emerging technologies. National Defense magazine reports. Continue reading original article

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

25 Jan. 2021 -- Contractors engaged in these areas must be vigilant about their supply chain vulnerabilities. They also need to know the regulatory risks of foreign investment, including review and potential intervention by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

Because hypersonic weapons are an emerging critical technology vital to future warfighting capabilities, nation-states are pursuing them aggressively. Several countries, including U.S. allies and competitors, are developing hypersonic technologies independently.

This competition has led some to fear a coming arms race. Notably, China and Russia have been touting their growing hypersonic capabilities. U.S. government experts worry that these countries may take advantage of a lull in U.S. modernization to improve their capabilities -- including through surreptitious means.

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John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics

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