Lockheed Martin has introduced a new hypersonic glide body designed to make long-range strike weapons more affordable and easier to produce at scale.
The system combines high-speed performance with a manufacturing-focused design to meet growing defense requirements. The company plans to demonstrate the weapon in flight in 2027 after completing an important design milestone.
The new Next Generation Glide Body (NXGB) is designed to travel at hypersonic speeds, meaning it can fly more than 5 times the speed of sound. Unlike traditional missile designs, it emphasizes reducing manufacturing costs while improving performance. Lockheed Martin says the system delivers greater range and higher speed than its current glide body designs.
The glide body is built for launch from multiple platforms across land, sea, and other military domains. This gives armed forces greater flexibility to respond in different operational environments. It also helps reduce risks for military personnel by allowing strikes from long distances.
Johnathon Caldwell, Vice President and General Manager of Strategic and Missile Defense Systems at Lockheed Martin, said the company designed NXGB to deliver effective deterrence while keeping production affordable.
He said the program aims to provide customers with better value while giving warfighters a stronger operational advantage. Caldwell added that affordability and large-scale production were key priorities from the beginning of the project.
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Lockheed Martin says NXGB benefits from more than 60 years of experience in missile development. The company has combined proven technologies with lessons learned from earlier defense programs. It also uses a Modular Open Systems Approach, which makes future upgrades and integration with new technologies easier.
The company has invested in dedicated manufacturing facilities and advanced production methods to support large-scale output. It has also strengthened partnerships across its supply chain to speed up production when needed. These investments are intended to meet increasing demand for long-range strike capabilities.
NXGB Glide Body Advantage
Hypersonic glide bodies differ from conventional ballistic missiles because they can maneuver during flight after launch. Their high speed and changing flight path make them more difficult to track and intercept. Many countries are investing heavily in hypersonic technology as it becomes an increasingly important part of modern military strategy.
The NXGB program has successfully completed its Preliminary Design Review, confirming that the design meets key requirements for performance, manufacturability, and cost. This milestone allows the program to move toward the next phase of development. Lockheed Martin is preparing for a planned flight demonstration in 2027 to validate the weapon’s performance under real conditions.
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The new glide body reflects a broader shift toward defense systems that balance advanced capabilities with faster, more efficient production.
As global demand for hypersonic weapons continues to grow, scalable manufacturing has become as important as performance itself. The results of the planned 2027 flight test will play a key role in shaping the future deployment of Lockheed Martin‘s next-generation hypersonic technology.
