Common Aero Vehicle/Hypersonic Technology Vehicle
The Common Aero Vehicle was originally conceived as an unmanned spacecraft that would travel at five times the speed of sound, carrying 1,000 pounds of munitions or troops from the US to anywhere in the world within two hours. In 2004, the offensive strike part of the project was cancelled and the Common Aero Vehicle was renamed Hypersonic Technology Vehicle. However, Hypersonic Technology Vehicles will use the same transportation technology, leaving plenty of room for offensive vehicles in the future. In the President’s fiscal year 2008 budget request, $32.8 million was requested for the Hypersonic Technology Vehicle. The first test of the vehicle is scheduled for 2008-09.
Contractors: Aerojet, Aerospace Corporation, Alliant Techsystems, Andrews Space, Raytheon, Schafer Corporation
