Taiclet said the additional contract activity would support faster development and demonstration of the sea-based hypersonic strike system. He also highlighted a separate next-generation glide body effort aimed at improving the economics and scalability of hypersonic weapons.
The comments were made during Lockheed Martin’s second-quarter 2026 earnings call. Taiclet included Conventional Prompt Strike among the major programs where the company recorded technical and contractual progress during the period.
“Following a series of successful flight tests, we continue to make progress on the critical hypersonic weapons program, Conventional Prompt Strike,” Taiclet said. He added that the $1.4 billion in cumulative contract modifications would drive more rapid development and demonstration.
The CEO described Conventional Prompt Strike as a sea-based hypersonic strike weapon system. He did not provide a new production target, deployment date or additional schedule milestones during the call.
Lockheed Martin is pursuing another hypersonic technology track alongside CPS. Taiclet said the company had announced a demonstration involving a next-generation hypersonic glide body.
The new glide body is being designed around three priorities: affordability, scalability and flexibility. Taiclet did not disclose the expected cost, production rate or development timetable.
“We also announced the next generation glide body demonstration, which is a new hypersonic glide body that’s more affordable, scalable, and flexible,” Taiclet said.
The emphasis on affordability and scalability follows a broader approach outlined by Taiclet across Lockheed Martin’s weapons portfolio. He said the company is increasingly investing in technology and manufacturing capabilities before formal orders arrive when it has confidence in future military requirements.
For the hypersonic portfolio, the two efforts are at different stages. Conventional Prompt Strike is progressing through testing and contract-backed development, while the next-generation glide body represents a separate technology effort focused on a more scalable design.
Taiclet provided no further program details during the earnings call. His remarks centered on the successful CPS flight-test sequence, the $1.4 billion in cumulative contract modifications and Lockheed Martin’s effort to develop a more affordable and scalable hypersonic glide body.
