Pentagon Earmarks $1.19 Billion for Hypersonic Programs, Sidus Space Included
The U.S. Space Force’s fiscal 2026 budget jumped to $40 billion, including $387.1 million for ARRW and $802.8 million for HACM hypersonic programs. Sidus Space is named among five commercial aerospace companies vying for Pentagon contracts to test reusable hypersonic space systems at Mach 2+ speeds.
1. Defense Hypersonic Funding Rises
The fiscal 2026 U.S. Space Force budget increased from $15 billion in 2021 to $40 billion, boosting hypersonic weapons funding by $1.19 billion. The Air Force allocated $387.1 million to resume ARRW production and $802.8 million to advance HACM toward flight testing in 2026, reflecting urgent demand for high-speed defense capabilities.
2. Sidus Space Among Commercial Competitors
Sidus Space is listed alongside Starfighters Space, Rocket Lab, AST SpaceMobile and Intuitive Machines as a commercial provider targeting Pentagon contracts. These firms aim to leverage reusable hypersonic test platforms—like Starfighters’ Mach 2+ F-104 fleet—to deliver rapid, cost-effective flight validation of next-generation space and weapons systems.