NXGB uses a manufacturing-first approach intended to reduce costs while delivering greater range and velocity than current designs. Lockheed Martin said the glide body is being developed to support scaled production of long-range strike capabilities.
The company said NXGB can be launched from multiple platforms across multiple warfighting domains. That approach is intended to give warfighters greater operational flexibility in contested environments while reducing risk to U.S. forces.
“NXGB demonstrates our commitment to delivering next-generation deterrence that is not only effective, but affordable and producible at scale,” said Johnathon Caldwell, Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager of Strategic and Missile Defense Systems. “We designed this capability from the outset to provide greater value to our customers while delivering an operational advantage to the warfighter.”
Lockheed Martin said the weapon draws on more than six decades of missile development experience. The company said it incorporates proven technologies, engineering practices and lessons learned from fielded systems.
“The future of deterrence belongs to solutions that combine innovative Modular Open Systems Approach and modern design methods with proven performance,” Caldwell said. “NXGB reflects a paradigm shift focusing on design for manufacturing at scale while implementing decades of lessons learned designing, producing and delivering mission-critical systems for the warfighter. That heritage allows us to move faster as well as reduce risk and cost while keeping exceptional performance.”
Lockheed Martin said it has made significant investments in purpose-built manufacturing infrastructure and advanced production capabilities to support the program. The company said these investments and supply chain partnerships position it to scale production and deliver the capability when and where it is needed.
The program has completed Preliminary Design Review. Lockheed Martin said that milestone confirms the design meets stringent criteria for performance, producibility and affordability.
NXGB is planned for a flight demonstration in 2027 to validate performance. The company framed the system as part of its effort to develop hypersonic strike capabilities that can be produced at scale and adapted to operational requirements.
