Joint Hypersonic Technology Development &Transition

The Joint Hypersonic Technology Development & Transition program, managed by the Joint Hypersonics Transition Office (JHTO) within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, is a Department of Defense (DoD) initiative focused on advancing hypersonic technology research, development, and transition to operational capabilities. The program's goals are to build a sustainable, long-term technological advantage for the U.S. military, foster a resilient joint force, and strengthen the defense ecosystem. JHTO coordinates efforts across the Services, agencies, academia, and industry to accelerate hypersonic system development, workforce growth, and technology transition.

A major objective of the program is the University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics (UCAH), which solicits and funds research projects addressing hypersonic priorities such as materials, propulsion, navigation, guidance, control, modeling, simulation, and aerodynamics. UCAH also plays a critical role in workforce development by hosting industry days, career fairs, and supporting undergraduate and graduate internships focused on hypersonic technologies. In FY 2026, UCAH will continue its research trajectory, expanding into advanced aerodynamics, novel propulsion systems, integration materials, and high-speed aero-optics. The consortium will also increase its emphasis on workforce development and flight experimentation for promising technologies.

The program funds targeted Science and Technology (S&T) Development projects across several technical domains. Navigation, Guidance, and Controls (NGC) projects aim to improve hypersonic system performance in contested environments, focusing on trajectory generation, communications, and guidance electronics. Propulsion S&T projects seek to enhance propulsion capabilities for hypersonic cruise missiles and boost-glide systems, including work on solid rocket motors, ramjet/scramjet technologies, actuator development, and advanced fuels. Materials, Structures, and Manufacturing (MSM) projects are dedicated to developing high-temperature materials, efficient manufacturing methods, and characterizing new composites and coatings essential for hypersonic applications.

Additional S&T efforts include Ordnance Development, which focuses on survivable fuze systems, modeling warhead effects, and optimizing hypersonic munitions for a broad range of target sets. Aerodynamics and Aerothermodynamics projects aim to improve aero-optics modeling and simulation, increasing the fidelity of infrared data and streamlining data collection formats. Systems Engineering, Design, and Analysis (SEDA) activities support the modeling and prediction of hypersonic vehicle signatures and provide performance baselines for both offensive and defensive systems. These projects are aligned with the Hypersonics S&T Roadmap and are periodically realigned to consolidate system development and workforce initiatives.

The Workforce Development Projects component of the program is designed to expand hypersonics-specific STEM outreach, internships, and partnerships with national labs, service academies, universities, and community colleges. The FY 2026 plan includes broadening internship opportunities, engaging new academic institutions, and increasing collaboration with international partners. These efforts are intended to ensure a robust pipeline of skilled personnel for current and future hypersonic technology needs.

A portion of the FY 2026 budget is allocated to Science & Technology Acceleration Projects, which focus on maturing and demonstrating technologies with strong transition potential. These projects address critical gaps in navigation, target seeking, thermal management, manufacturable heat shields, propulsion, weapon effects, and kill chain analysis. The acceleration projects are selected through annual solicitations and cross-service working groups to ensure alignment with warfighter requirements and rapid technology transition.

Congressional adds in recent years have supported the development of Additive Hypersonic Components and Specialized Joint Research Range Launch Equipment. Additive manufacturing efforts are aimed at creating advanced thermo-structural insulators with optimized designs and reduced costs, while launch equipment initiatives are intended to enhance hypersonic testing infrastructure. These targeted investments further support the program's mission to expedite hypersonic technology maturation and deployment for operational use.