The Department of Defense (DOD) recently named California-based Castelion Corp. and Massachusetts-based Specter Aerospace as the winners of the Hypersonic Accelerated Manufactured Prototype Demonstration (Hyper-AMPD!) prize challenge. Each company receives $250,000.
The two-phase project sought novel concepts for the rapid delivery of a hypersonic system prototypes and a path for the affordable manufacturing the prototype at scale. The aim is to lower the costs of hypersonic weapons.
The Joint Hypersonics Transition Office (JHTO) sponsored the challenge.
“The Hyper-AMPD! Challenge succeeded in reaching across the nation to draw participation from industry’s best and brightest, with over 40 companies competing to deliver feasible, near-term concepts that address weapon system affordability,” JHTO Director Mark Glenn said.
“We received several innovative and novel approaches from industry, including multiple non-traditional defense contractors, which made selecting the winners a difficult job, especially for the second phase of the challenge. We want to thank everyone who participated in this challenge for sharing their ideas and concepts to support our warfighters.”
During the first phase of the challenge, JHTO selected five awardees’ concepts for a prototype that can efficiently integrate with existing DoD platforms. Selections were based on white papers, and the awardees collectively received $500,000.
During phase two, the awardees completed feasibility studies on their low-cost concepts.