The Defense Department will explore the possibility of accelerating the Glide Phase Interceptor program schedule -- currently slated for fielding in 2034 -- if contractors developing competing designs for a hypersonic-killing guided missile provide compelling evidence that yet-to-be-developed technology is sufficiently mature to achieve earlier deployment. The Office of the Secretary of Defense plans to assess the GPI program -- which last month commenced a technology development phase that is currently scheduled to continue into fiscal year 2029 -- by...