To streamline development and accelerate delivery of hypersonic weapons, the Army awarded Leidos a $2.7 billion contract today to merge components within a developing Army and Navy hypersonic capability.

The contract will combine the thermal protection shield and glide body components from the Navy’s sea-based Conventional Prompt Strike and the Army’s Dark Eagle program -- a ground-based version with a Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon Battery.

Currently, the Navy is using the common hypersonic missile for the CPS capability which is being fielded on Zumwalt-class destroyers, while the Dark Eagle is in development.

“This contract is a major step forward in delivering hypersonic capabilities to the warfighter at speed,” Leidos Defense President Cindy Gruensfelder said in a statement. “Our team is committed to supporting the Army and Navy in producing this critical operational capability.”

The new contract will allow the programs to transition into a production phase, according to the announcement. Leidos has been the prime contractor for the thermal protection shield since 2021, and for the common hypersonic glide body since 2019.

In March, the Army and Navy completed a successful hypersonic missile test launch at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.