The Government Accountability Office under the US Congress recently released a report revealing that the US military's hypersonic missile project called “conventional rapid strike” has a series of “major problems”, including halving production capacity, rising costs, and slow progress. According to the report, the “conventional quick strike” project with Lockheed Martin of the United States as the main contractor has problems with parts supply, production capacity, and technology. Currently, it produces up to 6 to 7 pieces per year, which is only about half of the original plan of 12 pieces. The report stated that the operating instructions prepared by the company were “too complicated for ordinary workers.” These operating instructions are prepared in the form of engineering specifications and are provided to high school students or vocational school students who have just graduated. Navy officials responsible for overseeing production believe that “it is unrealistic to expect these workers to understand”. While production is slow, costs are also rising sharply. The US Navy estimates that 262 missiles will cost 31 billion US dollars in 2020, which has now risen to 41 billion US dollars for 224 missiles. Lockheed Martin “must resolve significant production issues to advance the project at the expected speed and cost,” the report said. Hypersonic missiles of the “Conventional Quick Strike” project will be equipped with US “Jumwalt” class destroyers. This type of destroyer is currently undergoing corresponding modifications. However, the Government Accountability Office said in the same report that as of January of this year, 94% of the modernization work for the first “Jumwalt” class destroyer had been completed, but progress was 24 months behind the original plan. Due to “funding and testing” issues, the hypersonic missile test launch on the ship, which was originally planned to begin in 2025, has been postponed until 2027.
Zhitongcaijing · 2d ago
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The Government Accountability Office under the US Congress recently released a report revealing that the US military's hypersonic missile project called “conventional rapid strike” has a series of “major problems”, including halving production capacity, rising costs, and slow progress. According to the report, the “conventional quick strike” project with Lockheed Martin of the United States as the main contractor has problems with parts supply, production capacity, and technology. Currently, it produces up to 6 to 7 pieces per year, which is only about half of the original plan of 12 pieces. The report stated that the operating instructions prepared by the company were “too complicated for ordinary workers.” These operating instructions are prepared in the form of engineering specifications and are provided to high school students or vocational school students who have just graduated. Navy officials responsible for overseeing production believe that “it is unrealistic to expect these workers to understand”. While production is slow, costs are also rising sharply. The US Navy estimates that 262 missiles will cost 31 billion US dollars in 2020, which has now risen to 41 billion US dollars for 224 missiles. Lockheed Martin “must resolve significant production issues to advance the project at the expected speed and cost,” the report said. Hypersonic missiles of the “Conventional Quick Strike” project will be equipped with US “Jumwalt” class destroyers. This type of destroyer is currently undergoing corresponding modifications. However, the Government Accountability Office said in the same report that as of January of this year, 94% of the modernization work for the first “Jumwalt” class destroyer had been completed, but progress was 24 months behind the original plan. Due to “funding and testing” issues, the hypersonic missile test launch on the ship, which was originally planned to begin in 2025, has been postponed until 2027.
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