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Atlantic Council Warns U.S. Is Falling Behind in Hypersonics, Calls for Mass Production

A task force report urges a shift to lower-cost, high-volume hypersonic production to close a growing capacity gap.

Service members from the US Department of Defense and the Australian Defence Force pose with the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon System in Northern Territory, Australia, July 9, 2025. (US Army photo by Sgt. Perla Alfaro)
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The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory is working to develop an air-breathing hypersonic vehicle. Credit: Artist concept by AFRL and Leidos
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Overview

  • The Atlantic Council’s Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force, co-chaired by former service secretaries Deborah Lee James and Ryan McCarthy, released its report on Oct. 9 urging rapid fielding of offensive hypersonics and counter-hypersonic interceptors.
  • Lead author Michael White says U.S. missiles are technically advanced but too costly at roughly $15–30 million each, constraining quantities needed for credible deterrence.
  • The study recommends reorienting the defense industrial base toward commercial-style, high-rate manufacturing to deliver affordable capacity rather than bespoke, limited-run systems.
  • Task force member Whitney McNamara highlights testing bottlenecks and calls for an AI-enabled test network and greater use of commercial space assets, noting current Test Resource Management Center upgrades are progressing too slowly.
  • The report cites Russian and Chinese advances—including Kinzhal, Tsirkon, Avangard and China’s DF-17/DF-26—and notes HUR’s assessment that Russia plans roughly 2,500 high-precision missiles in 2025, while U.S. programs like LRHW, CPS, ARRW and HACM remain in testing or limited deployment.