Lockheed Martin Unveils Affordable Next Generation Hypersonic Glide Body (NXGB)
On June 24, 2026, Lockheed Martin announced the Next Generation Glide Body (NXGB) hypersonic weapon from Huntsville, Alabama. Designed for affordability and scalable production, it offers greater range and speed than existing U.S. hypersonic designs. The program has completed Preliminary Design Review, with a flight demonstration scheduled for late 2027. This follows the U.S. Army’s April 2026 pivot away from Lockheed’s costly Dark Eagle missile, as the Pentagon seeks lower-cost alternatives amid competition from startups like Castelion.
Cross-source coverage
Wire timeline
Lockheed Accelerating Production of New Next Generation Hypersonic Glide Body
Lockheed Martin announced it is speeding up production of a new hypersonic glide body called the Next Generation Glide Body (NXGB), emphasizing affordability and scalability. The weapon is scheduled for its first flight test in late 2027. A company spokesperson stated that advanced manufacturing approaches balance accelerated production with the ability to engage targets from stand-off ranges, reducing risk to platforms and warfighters. The NXGB is designed for integration across all service branches and multiple operational environments. The announcement comes as Lockheed faces competition from startups like Castelion, which recently won Navy contracts for its Blackbeard hypersonic missile. Lockheed continues development of the AGM-183A ARRW for the Air Force—revived in the FY2026 budget with a $387 million request—and the Dark Eagle Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon for the Army and Navy. Lockheed also opened a scalable factory for the Next Generation Interceptor in Alabama in June.
Air & Space Forces MagazineLockheed Martin Accelerates Production of Next Generation Hypersonic Glide Body
Lockheed Martin announced on June 24 that it is accelerating production of a new affordable, scalable hypersonic glide body called the Next Generation Glide Body (NXGB), citing competition from fast-growing startups. The company aims for a first flight in late 2027. Lockheed emphasizes manufacturing innovations that reduce costs while enabling stand-off range capabilities and integration across all service branches. The announcement comes as Lockheed continues work on the ARRW air-launched missile, which was revived in the fiscal 2026 budget, and the Dark Eagle ground-launched hypersonic weapon already being fielded by the Army. Lockheed is also developing the Next Generation Interceptor for missile defense. Competitors like startup Castelion are pushing their own affordable hypersonic missiles, having secured recent Navy contracts.
Air & Space Forces MagazineU.S. Army Ditched Lockheed's Expensive Hypersonic Missile; Lockheed Develops Cheaper Alternative
In April 2026, the U.S. Army pivoted away from Lockheed Martin's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) 'Dark Eagle' due to its prohibitive cost of $35-40 million per missile, which limited production to about 24 units annually. Lockheed responded on June 24 by unveiling the Next-Generation Glide Body (NXGB), a cheaper, mass-producible hypersonic glide vehicle. The NXGB, set for testing in 2027, features a wedge-shaped design typical of hypersonic glide vehicles and aims to expand the U.S. hypersonic arsenal affordably. The decision reflects the Pentagon's shift toward lower-cost alternatives amid a tighter budget and competition from startups like Castelion, whose Blackbeard missile costs around $300,000. The Army plans to procure 500 cheaper missile variations by 2029.
19FortyFiveLockheed Martin Unveils Affordable Next Generation Hypersonic Glide Body
Lockheed Martin announced the Next Generation Glide Body (NXGB) hypersonic weapon on June 24, 2026, from Huntsville, Alabama. The NXGB is designed with a manufacturing-first approach to reduce production costs and allow scalable fielding, while offering greater range and speed than existing US hypersonic designs like the Common Hypersonic Glide Body. The program has completed its Preliminary Design Review, and a flight demonstration is scheduled for 2027. Lockheed aims to close the gap with China and Russia in operational hypersonic weapons by leveraging proven technologies and a Modular Open Systems Approach. Johnathon Caldwell, Lockheed's vice president, emphasized that the design prioritizes affordability and producibility at scale without sacrificing performance, representing a paradigm shift from previous cost-over-performance hypersonic programs.
The Defence Blog – Military and Defense NewsLockheed Martin Unveils Affordable Next Generation Hypersonic Glide Body
Lockheed Martin announced the Next Generation Glide Body (NXGB) hypersonic weapon on June 24, 2026, from Huntsville, Alabama. Designed with a manufacturing-first philosophy, the NXGB promises greater range and speed than existing U.S. hypersonic designs while significantly reducing per-unit production cost. The program has completed Preliminary Design Review, and a flight demonstration is scheduled for 2027. The weapon employs a Modular Open Systems Approach for multi-platform, multi-domain launch. Lockheed executives emphasized that this design paradigm prioritizes affordability and scalable production, addressing criticisms that U.S. hypersonic development has been too slow and expensive relative to Chinese and Russian programs. The NXGB leverages existing proven technologies to compress development timelines.
The Defence Blog – Military and Defense News