The weapon was developed as part of the Prompt Global Strike program.

A Prompt Global Strike may use a kinetic weapon.

"This is the type of prompt Global Strike I have identified as a top priority for our space and missile force," General Lord said.

This vehicle is also being developed to accommodate the Conventional Prompt Global Strike mission for the Air Force.

Additional understandings state that nothing in New START impedes the research, development, testing, and evaluation of Conventional Prompt Global Strike systems, nor prohibits their deployment.

On 11 April 2010, United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates indicated that the United States already had a Prompt Global Strike capability.

Conventional Prompt Global Strike and Long-Range Ballistic Missiles: Background and Issues - Congressional Research Service (PDF)

The Pentagon proposed the Conventional Trident Modification program in 2006 to diversify its strategic options, as part of a broader long-term strategy to develop worldwide rapid strike capabilities, dubbed "Prompt Global Strike".

In addition to the strategic bombing, tactical bombing, and prompt global strike roles typical for a long-range bomber, the new aircraft will be a part of a family of systems to be responsible for ground surveillance and electronic attack.

Prompt Global Strike (PGS) is a United States military effort to develop a system that can deliver a precision conventional weapon strike anywhere in the world within one hour, in a similar manner to a nuclear ICBM.

On 18 November 2011, the first Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW) glide vehicle was successfully tested by the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command as part of the Prompt Global Strike program.

In March 2011, Air Force Major General David Scott stated that the service had no plans to use a sea- or land-based ICBM system for Prompt Global Strike, as they would be expensive to develop and potentially "dangerous."