Ft Wayne Times

Today, in response to the passage of H.R. 8774, the Fiscal Year 2025 Defense Appropriations Act, co-chair of the House Hypersonics Caucus Rep. Jim Banks (IN-03) released the following statement:

“The House just approved key provisions I championed to fully fund hypersonics research and further strengthen collaboration between our military and Indiana’s cutting-edge hypersonics testing facilities. Both China and Russia are beating us in the hypersonics race. Closing the gap and restoring America’s offensive advantage is absolutely critical to our national security and I’m proud of the leading role Indiana is playing in hypersonics innovation.”

H.R. 8774 includes several significant allocations for hypersonics:

- $143 million for hypersonics test facilities, ranges, and simulations, a $30 million increase over the President’s Budget Request.

- $99.97 million for advanced hypersonics research at DARPA and the Joint Hypersonic Transition Office. Rep. Banks previously authored language in the NDAA authorizing the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Joint Hypersonics Transition Office.

- $903.9 million for the continued development of the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike program.

- $538 million for the Army’s Long Range Hypersonic Weapon program.

- $492.7 million for the Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile.

- $182.3 million for the Missile Defense Agency to develop hypersonic defense systems.

- $5 million for establishing a Mach-8 Quiet Wind Tunnel for hypersonic testing.

- $10 million for developing a High-Mach Turbine Engine.

The House's Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act also includes a provision calling on DoD to allow defense companies to lease hypersonic testing infrastructure at universities like Purdue University, similar to existing practices with DoD testing facilities.

Indiana is recognized as a national hub for hypersonics development, with Purdue University opening a first-of-its-kind Applied Research Facility dedicated to this field.

Rep. Banks successfully passed a provision in last year's Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA requiring that a more senior officer be appointed by the Navy to oversee its hypersonics program.