Hypersonics expert urges increased U.S. investment

The United States needs to increase funding and support for advanced hypersonic weapons development to counter similar programs in China and Russia, according to former Defense Department official and hypersonic weapons expert Mark Lewis. He said he expects the Trump administration to prioritize this critical area of defense technology. "I'm very bullish on hypersonics... I think we're going to see very steady, consistent funding," Lewis said March 24 during a live webinar hosted by SpaceNews. Lewis currently serves as president and CEO of the nonprofit Purdue Applied Research Institute, Hypersonic weapons—missiles or vehicles capable of traveling at speeds of Mach…