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Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon

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Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW)
Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon deployed to Cape Canaveral for testing
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service2023–present[1]
Used byUnited States Army[2]
United States Navy (planned)
Production history
ManufacturerLockheed Martin
Unit cost$41 million[3] [4]
Specifications
Mass16,300 lb (7,400 kg)[1]
Diameter34.5 in (0.88 m) (reportedly)[5]
Operational
range
1,725 mi (2,776 km)[6][7]
Maximum speed Mach 5[8]

The Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), also known as Dark Eagle[9] is a intermediate-range surface-to-surface boost-glide hypersonic weapon being developed for use by the United States Army. The United States Navy intends to procure a ship/submarine-launched variant of the missile as part of the service's Intermediate-Range Conventional Prompt Strike (IRCPS) program.[2] The weapon consists of a large rocket booster that carries the unpowered Common-Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) in a nose cone. Once the booster reaches significant altitude and speed, it releases the C-HGB, which glides at hypersonic speeds as it descends towards its target. Dynetics will build the hypersonic glide vehicle while Lockheed Martin will build the booster as well as assemble the missile and launch equipment.[10]

The C-HGB has been successfully tested, in October 2017, March 2020,[11][12] 28 June 2024,[13] and 12 December 2024.[14] The missile had been planned to enter service with the Army in 2023.[15] The Navy intends to field the weapon aboard its Zumwalt-class destroyers by 2025[15] and later on its Block V Virginia-class submarines[16] in 2028; it was intended to also be fielded on guided missile variants of the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines, but funding delays and the boats' impending retirement caused those plans to be scrapped.[17]

Development and testing

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Common-Hypersonic Glide Body

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In 2018, the Navy was designated to lead the design of the Common-Hypersonic Glide Body with input from the Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office.[18]

Design

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LRHW on Transporter erector launcher, 3 August 2024, Exercise Bamboo Eagle 24-3, Nellis AFB[19]
A 2020 test launch of a STARS booster carrying a prototype of the Common-Hypersonic Glide Body

The design of the Common-Hypersonic Glide Body with kinetic energy projectile warhead[20] is based on the previously developed Alternate Re-Entry System, which was tested in the early 2010s as part of the Army's Advanced Hypersonic Weapon program.[21][22] The Alternate Re-Entry System was itself based on the Sandia Winged Energetic Reentry Vehicle Experiment (SWERVE) prototype developed by Sandia National Laboratories in the 1980s.[23] Design work is by Sandia while Dynetics constructs prototypes and test units.

Testing

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The first test of the Intermediate Range Conventional Prompt Strike Flight Experiment-1, was on 30 October 2017. A missile capable of fitting in the launch tube of an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine flew over 2,000 nautical miles from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands at hypersonic speeds.[24] The Common-Hypersonic Glide Body was tested in March 2020.[11][12] LRHW subsystems were tested at Project Convergence 2022 (PC22).[25][26]

On 28 June 2024, the DoD announced a successful recent end-to-end test of the US Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon all-up round (AUR) and the US Navy's Conventional Prompt Strike. The missile was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii,[13] landing more than 2000 miles away in the Marshall Islands.[7] A second 2024 test of the land-based launcher[27] fired an all-up round (AUR) from a transporter erector launcher (TEL) using a Battery Operations Center at Cape Canaveral on 12 December 2024, which was successful.[14]

Boosters

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The first stage solid rocket motor was tested 27 May 2020.[28]

Both stages of the missile booster as well as a thrust vector control system were tested in 2021.[29][30]

On 29 October 2021, the booster rocket for the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon was successfully tested in a static test in Utah; the first stage thrust vector control system was included in the test.[31]

In March 2021, training with inert missile canisters began.[1] On 7 October 2021, 17th Field Artillery Brigade of the I Corps received ground equipment for the first operational LRHW battery.[32]

In June 2022 in Hawaii, a launch failure of Conventional Prompt Strike occurred after ignition.[33] The test of a completely assembled CPS weapon, which uses a two-stage booster,[34] failed before ignition of the C-HGB.[35] Conventional Prompt Strike was successfully tested 12 December 2024.[14]

Entry into service

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LRHW placed on transporter erector launcher

The United States Army intends to deploy the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon in an eight missile battery containing four M983 trucks and trailers each holding two missiles in launch canisters alongside a command vehicle.[11][12] The LRHW has been named Dark Eagle by the US Army.[36][37][38]

In February 2023, the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment (5-3 LRFB)—1st MDTF's long-range fires battalion—deployed the LRHW from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Tacoma, Washington to Cape Canaveral, Florida. The first battery of missiles was expected to be deployed by end of September 2023.[39]

On 7 September 2023, a test launch of the LRHW system was canceled due to an unspecified failure of pre-flight checks.[40][41][9] United States Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology Douglas R. Bush revealed that the launcher had a "mechanical engineering problem", and that a new plan was in place to correct and test it.[42][43][44] An LRHW all-up round was successfully tested sometime prior to 28 June 2024.[13]

On 12 December 2024, the Army and the Navy announced that the Dark Eagle has completed a successful end-to-end flight test in Cape Canaveral Space Station, Florida.[14][45]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Manuel, Rojoef (3 April 2023). "US Army Deploys First Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon in Florida". The Defense Post. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b Parlato, Richard (30 March 2023). "1st Multi-Domain Task Force deploys the Army's first Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon system". U.S. Army. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023.
  3. ^ CBO Estimates $15-18 Million Cost Per ARRW Hypersonic Missile. Air & Space Forces Magazine. 1 February 2023.
  4. ^ Tirpak, John A. (1 February 2023). "CBO Estimates $15-18 Million Cost Per ARRW Hypersonic Missile". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024.
  5. ^ Trevithick, Joseph (19 March 2021). "Navy Wants Triple-Packed Hypersonic Missile Modules On Its Stealthy Zumwalt Destroyers". The Drive. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023.
  6. ^ Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (12 May 2021) Army Discloses Hypersonic LRHW Range Of 1,725 Miles; Watch Out China Ranges for: ERCA, GMLR-ER, PRSM, MRC, LRHW
  7. ^ a b Andrew Feickert, Congressional Research Service (updated 2 Jul 2024) "The U.S. Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW):Dark Eagle" Report IF11991
  8. ^ Marino, Cheryl (10 July 2024). "Two new missile programs deliver enhanced capabilities to thwart emerging threats and bolster joint force effectiveness". US Army.
  9. ^ a b Weinberger, Sharon (18 September 2023). "Hypersonic Missiles Are Game-Changers, and America Doesn't Have Them". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023.
  10. ^ Roblin, Sebastien (30 April 2020). "The Pentagon Plans to Deploy an Arsenal of Hypersonic Weapons in the 2020s". Forbes. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  11. ^ a b c Freedberg Jr, Sydney J. (20 March 2020). "Hypersonics: Army, Navy Test Common Glide Body". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023.
  12. ^ a b c "Department of Defense tests hypersonic glide body". U.S. Army. 20 March 2020. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023.
  13. ^ a b c (28 Jun 2024) "DOD Completes Flight Test of Hypersonic Missile" US Department of Defense
  14. ^ a b c d "Army and Navy Successfully Test Conventional Hypersonic Missile". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  15. ^ a b Megan Eckstein (17 Feb 2023) Navy awards Lockheed Martin $1.2B contract for hypersonic missiles
  16. ^ LaGrone, Sam (28 April 2021). "CNO: Hypersonic Weapons at Sea to Premiere on Zumwalt Destroyers in 2025". USNI News. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  17. ^ Hypersonic Weapons on Track to Deploy on Attack Submarines in 2028. USNI News. 18 November 2021.
  18. ^ Thurgood, Neil (4 September 2019). "Hypersonics by 2023". U.S. Army. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  19. ^ Capt. Ryan DeBooy (30 Aug 2024) US Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon Battery integrates in Exercise Bamboo Eagle
  20. ^ House Armed Services Committee (12 Mar 2024) Weber-Rumford Statement
  21. ^ Sayler, Kelley M. (11 July 2019). "Hypersonic Weapons: Background and Issues for Congress" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 October 2023.
  22. ^ Sayler, Kelley M. (13 February 2023). "Hypersonic Weapons: Background and Issues for Congress" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 January 2024.
  23. ^ Threvithick, Joseph (3 June 2019). "Here's What The Army's First Ever Operational Hypersonic Missile Unit Will Look Like". The Drive. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  24. ^ "Conventional Prompt Global Strike and Long-Range Ballistic Missiles: Background and Issues". Congressional Research Service. 8 January 2019. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  25. ^ Tucker, Patrick (21 October 2022). "The Military's Network Warfare Experiment Scaled Up This Year". Defense One. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023.
  26. ^ Eckstein, Megan (2 November 2022). "US Navy touts hypersonic missile progress ahead of 2025 fielding". Defense News. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024.
  27. ^ Judson, Jen. (6 Sep 2024) "US Army aiming for one more hypersonic weapon test by year’s end"
  28. ^ Eckstein, Megan (27 May 2021). "US Navy conducts first live-fire test of hypersonic missile motor". Defense News. Archived from the original on 1 June 2021.
  29. ^ Katz, Justin (26 August 2021). "Navy Successfully Tests Solid Rocket Motor For Hypersonic Weapon". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on 6 January 2024.
  30. ^ Judson, Jen (26 August 2021). "US Navy tests second-stage rocket motor for hypersonic weapon". Defense News. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021.
  31. ^ Stone, Mike (29 October 2021). "U.S. successfully tests hypersonic booster motor in Utah". Reuters. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021.
  32. ^ "Army delivers first hypersonics ground equipment". U.S. Army. 7 October 2021. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  33. ^ Herskovitz, Jon; Capaccio, Tony (29 June 2022). "Hypersonic missile test fails off Hawaii in fresh setback for program". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023.
  34. ^ Cole, Brendan (1 July 2022). "Russia Reacts to U.S. Hypersonic Missile Failure". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023.
  35. ^ Liebermann, Oren (30 June 2022). "Latest US hypersonic test fails after 'anomaly' during first full flight test". CNN. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  36. ^ Hitchens, Theresa (11 August 2021). "'Confident' Of 2023 Fielding Goal, Army Dubs Hypersonic Weapon 'Dark Eagle'". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023.
  37. ^ Rogoway, Tyler (5 March 2023). "Mysterious Launch Out Of Cape Canaveral Appears Imminent (Updated)". The Drive. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023.
  38. ^ Kelly, Emre (6 March 2023). "Department of Defense scrubs hypersonic missile test at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station". Florida Today. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023.
  39. ^ Parlato, Richard (30 March 2023). "1st Multi-Domain Task Force Deploys the Army's First Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon System". U.S. Army. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  40. ^ Capaccio, Anthony (7 September 2023). "US Army cancels flight test of Long Range Hypersonic Weapon". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 7 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  41. ^ Capaccio, Anthony (14 September 2023). "US Army Faces Facts: Its Hypersonic Weapon To Miss a Deadline". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 14 September 2023.
  42. ^ Roque, Ashley (3 December 2023). "Army has a revised hypersonic test plan to address launcher 'problem': Official". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023.
  43. ^ Harper, Jon (7 November 2023). "Army anticipates another delay in fielding Dark Eagle hypersonic weapon after detecting 'problem'". DefenseScoop. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023.
  44. ^ Harper, Jon (3 December 2023). "Army hopes to field Dark Eagle hypersonic missile in summer 2024 after resolving problems with launcher". DefenseScoop. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023.
  45. ^ Easley, Mikala (13 December 2024). "Army, Navy complete highly anticipated hypersonic missile test". DefenseScoop. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
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