U.S. Army Moves Closer to Unleashing ‘Dark Eagle’ Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon in Major Test with U.S. Navy - The Debrief

 

 US Army Deploys First Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon System 

 The US Army has successfully fielded its first long-range hypersonic weapon (LRHW) system, marking a significant milestone in its expeditionary hypersonic launch capabilities. The LRHW system, consisting of a prototype ballistic missile with a Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB), was deployed by the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force (1st MDTF) long-range fires battalion, 5th Battalion and 3rd Field Artillery Regiment (5-3 LRFB) during the exercise Thunderbolt Strike. 

This event represents a successful collaboration between the 1st MDTF, RCCTO, industry, and Army partners, generating immediate feedback on the complex system's integration. Hypersonic weapons, like the LRHW, are significant because they can reach speeds of Mach 5 or higher, making them extremely difficult to intercept by modern air defense systems. 

The US Army plans to field a prototype LRHW battery in FY2023, followed by the transition into a formal Program of Record and the implementation of the second and third batteries in FY2025 and FY2027. The LRHW's deployment is a positive development for the US military, which has been lagging in hypersonic weapon technology. The successful deployment could help bridge the gap in the ongoing competition for hypersonic weapons dominance.

 U.S. Army Moves Closer to Unleashing ‘Dark Eagle’ Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon in Major Test with U.S. Navy - The Debrief

The U.S. military is getting closer to deploying a new, extremely fast and highly maneuverable long-range missile called the

Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW). The Navy and Army are working together to test this missile system.

The Navy will first test launching a component based on a Sandia Laboratories vehicle called the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) using their rocket booster. Once launched, the C-HGB can glide at speeds over 5 times the speed of sound, making it very difficult to shoot down.

The Army's version is nicknamed "Dark Eagle." After the Navy's test, the Army plans to test firing the Dark Eagle missile from a truck-based launch system later this year. When operational, Dark Eagle missiles will be able to hit targets up to 1,725 miles away while traveling at over 3,800 mph.

This new hypersonic weapon is seen as crucial for the U.S. to counter similar ultra-high-speed missile projects being developed by Russia and China. The first Dark Eagle missiles will be deployed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord once testing is complete.

Joint Testing of a Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon

The article discusses the upcoming joint testing of a long-range hypersonic weapon by the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. The key points are:

1. The U.S. Navy is preparing to test the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB), which is part of the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) program being developed with the U.S. Army.
2. The C-HGB is designed to be launched by the Navy's booster rocket and can glide at speeds of Mach 5 or greater, making it highly maneuverable and difficult to intercept.
3. The Army's version of the LRHW is called "Dark Eagle," capable of reaching targets within 1,725 miles at speeds exceeding 3,800 miles per hour.
4. After the Navy's initial C-HGB test this spring, the Army plans to conduct its own test later this summer from a ground-based truck-launched system developed by Lockheed Martin.
5. The first LRHW battery will be operated by the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, with additional batteries planned for the 1st Multi Domain Task Force.
6. The U.S. is racing against similar hypersonic weapon developments by Russia and China, and the successful testing of these weapons is seen as a strategic priority for the military.

Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) program

Here are some more details about the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) program, the contractors involved, and its expected performance:

Contractors:

• Dynetics, a subsidiary of Leidos, was contracted to develop the prototypes of the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) that is the core component of the LRHW. This marks the first time a private U.S. company has built hypersonic weapons.
• Lockheed Martin is performing the weapon system integration for the Army's ground-based truck-launched LRHW systems.

Expected Performance:

• The Army's version, nicknamed "Dark Eagle", is expected to have a range of 1,725 miles (2,775 km).
• It will be capable of traveling at speeds exceeding 3,800 mph (6,115 kph), which is over 5 times the speed of sound.
• It climbs to a high atmospheric altitude where it can glide and maneuver, making it very difficult to track and intercept.
• This high speed and maneuverability allows it to penetrate advanced anti-air defenses.
• It is designed to precisely strike "high-value, time-critical" targets.

Other Details:

• The C-HGB is boosted to hypersonic speeds by the Navy's 34.5-inch rocket booster.
• The Army is organizing LRHW batteries, each with 4 truck-mounted Transporter Erector Launcher systems fitted on M870A4 trailers.
• The first LRHW battery will be based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord under the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment.
• Additional batteries will follow for the 1st Multi Domain Task Force as more systems come online.

So in summary, this advanced hypersonic glide vehicle leverages technology from multiple contractors to provide an extremely fast, maneuverable and long-range precision strike capability for the U.S. military.