Press Releases

FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Today, Rep. Banks, Rep. Bucshon, Sen. Young and Gov. Holcomb met virtually with Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Dr. Mark Lewis, Joint Hypersonics Transition Office (JHTO) Director Dr. Gillian Bussey and federal, state and military officials to inaugurate the JHTO Systems Engineering Field Activity. Thirty engineers and program managers will be located on-site at Naval Surface Warfare Center – Crane Division in Martin County, Indiana to support the program. 

Following the virtual event, Rep. Jim Banks released the following statement:

“I was proud to introduce the language in the NDAA that authorized the Joint Hypersonics Transition Office (JHTO),” said Rep. Banks (IN-03). “Hypersonics is critical to our national defense, and Indiana in partnership with NSWC Crane are prime contenders to lead these efforts. As we continue to innovate and modernize our defense capabilities, there will be many more opportunities for Indiana to lead in hypersonics research and development.” 

Banks continued: “I also want to thank Governor Holcomb for his leadership in fighting for greater defense investments in our state, and I thank the full bipartisan Indiana delegation who fought to make this happen. As the sole Hoosier on the Armed Services Committee in the House or Senate, I look forward to more announcements like today’s in the years to come.”

The new facility will allow the Department of Defense to develop and improve technologies and capabilities in hypersonics by utilizing NSWC Crane's strategic assets and growing network of government, industry and academic partners. 

The JHTO, which is headquartered at the Pentagon and overseen by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, will coordinate and integrate current and future hypersonic programs, develop strategies for transitioning hypersonic technologies into future capabilities, and establish a university consortium for hypersonics R&D and workforce development at its satellite activity office in Indiana. Hypersonics systems can travel at Mach 5 or higher, which is at least five times faster than the speed of sound.

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