The Drive:

The U.S. Air Force is asking for funds in its budget request for the 2023 Fiscal Year to build and test a prototype self-propelled gun designed to shoot down incoming cruise missiles. The service has presented the weapon, which could use ammunition originally developed for the U.S. Navy’s abortive railgun program, primarily as a possible expeditionary base defense asset. However, it could have other applications, especially given renewed concerns about the threats that cruise missiles pose to military and other critical targets within the United States.

The Air Force’s proposed budget for the 2023 Fiscal Year asks for almost $89.1 million to support various “lifecycle prototyping” activities, including the construction of “a C-130 transportable/deployable Hypervelocity Ground Weapon System (HGWS) prototype.” It is unclear how much of that funding is expected to go to the HGWS effort specifically.

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