US Army and Navy achieve milestone with major test of advanced Hypersonic Missile System

News, US December 16, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

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The U.S. Army and U.S. Navy successfully conducted the latest all-up round (AUR) test of the jointly developed Common Hypersonic Glide Body system, advancing both services toward the deployment of hypersonic weapons from both ground and sea platforms.

The U.S. Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office and the Navy Strategic Systems Programs conducted the highly anticipated test on December 12, 2024, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, according to the Defense Department.

“This test builds on several flight tests in which the Common Hypersonic Glide Body achieved hypersonic speed at target distances and demonstrates that we can put this capability in the hands of the warfighter,” U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said in a statement.

The test marks the first live-fire test for the Army’s Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), also known as Dark Eagle, with a battery operations center and transporter erector launcher. The Army plans to incorporate the system into ground launchers for the Dark Eagle program, while the Navy aims to integrate it into its ship-launched hypersonic capability, Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS).

“This test marks an important milestone in the development of one of our most advanced weapons systems. As we approach the first delivery of this capability to our Army partners, we will continue to press forward to integrate Conventional Prompt Strike into our Navy surface and subsurface ships to help ensure we remain the world’s preeminent fighting force,” according to the U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro.

Data from the recent test will support the Army’s first operational deployment and the Navy’s sea-based fielding of the system, according to a Pentagon release. The Department of Defense, however, did not provide further details on fielding timelines or expectations for either program.

Hypersonic missile test — ^{The U.S. Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, in collaboration with the U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs, recently completed a conventional hypersonic missile test from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, on December 12, 2024. (Image Credit: U.S. Department of Defense)}

The successful AUR test of the Common Hypersonic Glide Vehicle comes after a series of previous aborted and failed attempts that had delayed the fielding of both hypersonic weapons. Earlier tests were canceled due to issues with the system’s launcher, prompting the Army and Navy to revise their testing plans and timelines.

Vice Adm. Johnny R. Wolfe Jr, Director of Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs (the lead designer of the common hypersonic missile), said the test was a “demonstration of the successful Navy and Army partnership that has allowed us to develop a transformational hypersonic weapon system that will deliver unmatched capability to meet joint warfighting needs.”

The U.S. Army’s RCCTO and the U.S. Navy’s SSP programs have partnered to accelerate the development and deployment of both land and sea variants of a hypersonic weapon system designed to address critical joint warfighting needs. By utilizing a common hypersonic missile and leveraging joint test opportunities, the services are able to pursue a more expedited timeline for delivery while also achieving significant cost savings. This collaboration between RCCTO and SSP ensures that the U.S. military remains ahead of emerging threats, preserving a decisive advantage on the battlefield.

Lt. Gen. Robert A. Rasch, Director of Hypersonics, Directed Energy, Space and Rapid Acquisitions for RCCTO, emphasized that the responsiveness, maneuverability, and survivability of hypersonic weapons surpass traditional strike capabilities for precision targeting, particularly in anti-access/area denial environments.

Hypersonic systems, capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound), offer a unique combination of speed, range, maneuverability, and altitude, making them highly effective for rapidly neutralizing time-sensitive and heavily defended targets with enhanced survivability.