Glide Breaker

Glide Breaker is a DARPA program pursuing a kinetic interceptor optimized to defeat hypersonic glide vehicles during the glide phase of flight — the long, maneuvering, atmospheric portion of the trajectory where traditional mid-course and terminal interceptors struggle. The effort focuses on the hit-to-kill vehicle itself, along with the divert-and-attitude-control propulsion, seeker, and guidance needed to close on a target maneuvering at Mach 5-plus.

DARPA awarded Phase 2 to Northrop Grumman in early 2024 to mature the interceptor design and conduct propulsion and component flight testing. Glide Breaker remains a technology demonstration under development rather than a fielded capability; it is watched as a potential feeder program into Missile Defense Agency plans for the Glide Phase Interceptor, the primary path to an operational counter-hypersonic defense layer for U.S. and allied assets.

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