The GAO report titled “HYPERSONIC WEAPONS: DOD Could Reduce Cost and Schedule Risks by Following Leading Practices,” published in July 2024, examines the Department of Defense’s (DOD) efforts in developing offensive hypersonic weapons. Hypersonic weapons, which can travel at least five times the speed of sound and have unpredictable flight paths, are seen as crucial for the U.S. to strike heavily defended targets from a distance. The report identifies several key issues and recommendations for the DOD.