The U.S. Defense Department chose not to fund a critical new space-based sensor for hypersonic defense, but lawmakers have stepped in to rescue the…

Exquadrum announced on June 25 it has completed the second and final live test of a full-scale hybrid rocket motor for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that could be used to power hypersonic missiles, missile defense interceptors and orbital space launchers. 

Frustrated by declining funding for advanced technology programs, a key U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee hinted on June 21 that control of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) could be stripped from the Pentagon’s Research and Engineering (R&E) branch led by Undersecretary Michael Griffin. 

A panel of U.S. lawmakers wants the U.S. Navy to start integrating a hypersonic missile on the Zumwalt-class DDG 1000 destroyer fleet next year. 

Japan is considering installing at least one Aegis system on a pontoon, following the decision on June 15 to halt a program to build two batteries on shore, the Jiji news agency reports.

Northrop Grumman said on June 18 that the critical design review is complete for the U.S. Navy’s Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range. 

The Pentagon is defining details of what the first block of a Defense Department-wide architecture for space-based missile warning systems would look like and will present the plan to the Joint Requirements Oversight Council.

Deployment of two planned Lockheed Martin Aegis Ashore anti-ballistic-missile batteries in Japan looks improbable, following a decision to indefinitely suspend the program because of potential danger to civilians.