The HCSW development

The US Department of Defence have begun a joint programme to develop the Common Hypersonic Glide Body System. This memorandum of understanding “will encourage” the joint-service development of the Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW, pronounced Hacksaw), which is an air-launched weapon design with a glide vehicle capable of being adapted to groundbased and naval launchers. There will be funding of $160 million, including some $40 million for transition of prototype hypersonic glide body vehicles towards series production.