Dear Members and Friends,

The Senate Armed Services Committee of the United States Congress held a posture hearing on the North American continent with General Gregory M. Guillot, Commander NORTHCOM/NORAD, and General Laura J. Richardson, Commander SOUTHCOM on Thursday, March 14th. Defense against hypersonic missile defense threats of the United States was addressed.

“I view hypersonics as perhaps the most destabilizing threat that we have out there because of the fast speed and more than that the maneuverability and the unpredictability on where it will impact as opposed to a ballistic missile which is fairly predictable. I’ve worked very closely in my short period of time with MDA and I’m pleased with some of the efforts that they’re doing to intercept in the Glide phase and then also using existing systems such as the SM-6 to adapt against that threat and then I’m also very pleased with MDA is doing with the HBTSS, the satellite capability to detect and track hypersonics. Just yesterday we heard from a senior analyst with the National Air and Space Intelligence Center – he told Congress, ‘China now has the world’s leading Hypersonic Arsenal.’ So, given the pace that we’re seeing with Russia and with China as they Advance their hypersonic weapons program, should the department accelerate the development of those hypersonic defense systems…”

-General Gregory Guillot, Commander NORAD/NORTHCOM

“The People’s Republic of China remains our pacing challenge as the People’s Liberation Army modernizes and grows at a rapid pace. The PRC’s expanding nuclear

capability and capacity alongside its development of modern submarines, missiles, and Hypersonic weapons, all present significant challenges for Homeland defense.”

-General Gregory Guillot, Commander NORAD/NORTHCOM

“We can’t [invest in just one missile defense program] at all because the adversaries—and multiple adversaries, not just one—are growing very quickly and it really is at an alarming rate. I’m concerned about what we’re seeing in the president’s budget request for FY 2025; the administration decreases spending for the Glide Phase Interceptor program and it’s stating that it’s going to be delivered in 2035, yet in the MDA of FY 24 and section 1666, it requires the Missile Defense Agency to achieve an initial operational capability of that program by um December 31st, 2029.” 

-Senator Deb Fischer, Nebraska

The United States public requires a Hypersonic Glide Defense now to defend the United States homeland.