US Navy awards contract for near hypersonic long-range missile

March 20, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

Palladyne AI’s subsidiary GuideTech has been awarded a contract by the US Navy to develop an air-launched, near hypersonic long-range, low-cost missile.

The air-launched rapid response missile (ALRRM) is expected to deliver nearly hypersonic speed and long range at a fraction of the cost of other air-breathing hypersonic weapons, meeting the Department of War’s recent call for affordability without compromising capability.

The ALRRM is designed to exceed 350 nautical miles flight distance at high altitude, with a sustained cruise speed of beyond the required Mach 4.0. It will be designed to deliver a 150 lb warhead using an air-breathing solid fuel ramjet.

The ALRRM is also designed to meet the designated size and weight requirements, according to the company.

Ben Wolff, President and CEO of Palladyne AI, stated that the 2025 National Security Strategy emphasizes the need for the US to develop next-generation missiles that provide cost-effective, high-performance strike capabilities.

He noted that the ALRRM system, as highlighted by the US Navy and reflected in Palladyne AI’s recent contract award, is designed to meet this requirement by offering near-hypersonic speed and extended range at a fraction of the cost.

Wolff added that, to their knowledge, no other missile currently available to the US military combines the ALRRM’s speed, range, and payload capacity at its size and price, effectively creating a new strike class for fifth-generation fighters that is stealth-borne, near-hypersonic, and capable of deep-theater strikes.