Orbital ATK announced the successful test of a partially-3D printed warhead designed for hypersonic weapons on March 29, 2018. The testing comes just sixty days after conception, with three out of five of the warhead’s major components made using additive manufacturing. Speaking to Defence News, Orbital said the aim of the test was to examine effects the fragmentation will have on various targets. Orbital decided to try additive manufacturing on a warhead design for hypersonic applications because the Defense Department is moving full speed ahead with hypersonic technology development in the coming years as it decides how it will employ such weapons.