Latest news with #LRHW
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
US Army launches hypersonic missile from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A December 2024 hypersonic missile test from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. | Credit: DOD The U.S. Army launched an undisclosed hypersonic missile from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force station last week, just days after naming its new hypersonic weapon the "Dark Eagle." Dark Eagle is the colloquial name for the U.S. Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), a surface-to-surface missile that carries a hypersonic glide body, a vehicle capable of carrying warheads and maneuvering as it travels at speeds greater than five times the speed of sound through Earth's atmosphere. Because of their speed and maneuverability, these types of weapons are much more difficult to defend against than traditional missiles. The U.S. Army did not disclose any details about the test, the existence of which was learned largely through airspace closure notices issued by the Federal Aviation Administration for Friday, April 25. It's unknown if this launch was the "Dark Eagle," although the Army launched the same missile from the Cape late last year. However, some Space Coast photographers were able to snap a few pictures of what appears to be the launch. Photographer Jerry Pike posted four photos to X that appear to show the Dark Eagle/LRHW launching from Cape Canaveral out toward the Eastern Range, the airspace that supports launches from the U.S. East Coast. "Shortly after liftoff, the vehicle split into two distinct sections, with one appearing to tumble away, and the other continuing to propel itself forward until it disappeared into the sky," Pike wrote in the post. It's unclear what the fallen piece could have been, but the LRHW is a two-stage rocket; it's possible Pike caught the first stage falling away. The U.S. Army just announced the name "Dark Eagle" for the LRHW on April 25. According to an Army statement, the word "dark" reflects the missile's ability to render obsolete adversary capabilities, including anti-aircraft systems, long-range weapons and communication infrastructure. RELATED STORIES: — US and UK militaries pick Rocket Lab's HASTE launcher to help test hypersonic tech — Rocket Lab's secretive launch last month was a hypersonic test for the US military (photos) — Space Force aims to launch 1st 'Foo Fighter' satellites in 2027 to track hypersonic threats "Eagle," meanwhile, owes its name to the bald eagle, the national bird of the United States. The bald eagle, the Army writes, is "a master hunter known for its speed, stealth and agility" and reflects the LRHW's "combination of velocity, accuracy, maneuverability, survivability and versatility." The U.S. Army last tested the LRHW in December 2024 in another flight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. That test "achieved hypersonic speed at target distances and demonstrates that we can put this capability in the hands of the warfighter," said Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth in an Army statement.
Newsweek
28-04-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
Photos Show US Launching Dark Eagle Hypersonic Missile
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States conducted a test launch of the U.S. Army's hypersonic missile, also known as the Dark Eagle, in Florida on Friday, capable of traveling over five times the speed of sound. Newsweek has reached out to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for comment by email. Why It Matters Russia and China have fielded their hypersonic weapons, including the Russian Oreshnik missile that was launched against Ukraine last November, as well as the Chinese DF-17 medium-range ballistic missile that can strike Japan where the U.S. has deployed its forces. This type of so-called "game-changer" armament is capable of evading most of the air and missile defense systems by maneuvering within the atmosphere at hypersonic speed. The U.S. is currently developing hypersonic missiles and the countermeasures against them. What To Know According to photos shared on X, formerly Twitter, by @JerryPikePhoto, the U.S. Army executed a test launch of the Dark Eagle missile, also known as the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Friday. A missile was seen launching from the ground. Liftoff of the LRHW Dark Eagle this morning 🚀 — Jerry Pike (@JerryPikePhoto) April 25, 2025 Shortly after liftoff, the vehicle split into two distinct sections, with one appearing to tumble away, and the other continuing to propel itself forward until it disappeared into the sky — Jerry Pike (@JerryPikePhoto) April 25, 2025 The Office of the Secretary of Defense confirmed the test event to Orlando Sentinel, adding that the results are being evaluated. This marked the first test of the Dark Eagle missile since its successful flight test held in December last year, the report added. The Dark Eagle is a ground-launched missile attached with a maneuverable hypersonic glide body as its warhead, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) said in its report on Thursday. The missile has a reported range of 1,725 miles with a top speed of over 3,800 miles per hour. According to the report, each Dark Eagle missile unit will consist of four launchers armed with a total of eight missiles. Due to what the report called "integration challenges," the first complete unit is now expected to be fielded in fiscal year 2025, two years behind schedule. Fiscal year 2025 began on October 1, 2024, and ends on September 30, 2025, meaning the U.S. Army has five months left to put the missile into service, according to the new schedule. The latest test comes after the U.S. Army announced on Thursday that "Dark Eagle" is the popular name for the LRHW. The word "dark" reflects the weapon's ability to "disintegrate adversary capabilities," while "eagle" is a tribute to the master hunter, the U.S. Army said. The LRHW, which is the combination of velocity, accuracy, maneuverability, survivability, and versatility, matches the eagle's characteristics—speed, stealth, and agility. Meanwhile, America's national bird, the bald eagle, represents independence, strength, and freedom. In this photo provided by the United States DOD on December 12, 2024, a Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon system fires a conventional hypersonic missile from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. In this photo provided by the United States DOD on December 12, 2024, a Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon system fires a conventional hypersonic missile from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. U.S. Department of Defense What People Are Saying Patrick Mason, U.S. senior official performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, said on Thursday: "Hypersonic weapons will complicate adversaries' decision calculus, strengthening deterrence ... Their speed, accuracy and versatility are befitting its new popular name, Dark Eagle." The Congressional Research Service reported: "The LRHW system provides the Army a strategic attack weapon system to defeat Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) capabilities, suppress adversary long-range fires, and engage other high payoff/time critical targets." What Happens Next? It remains to be seen whether the U.S. Army will conduct additional tests of the Dark Eagle missile before declaring it operational. The Army has previously expressed interest in operating its Multi-Domain Task Force, which hosts the Dark Eagle missile, out of Japan.
South China Morning Post
25-04-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
US launches secretive ‘Dark Eagle' hypersonic missile
After a successful test from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station last December, the US Army on Thursday officially named its long-range hypersonic weapon 'Dark Eagle'. The system designed to 'disintegrate adversary capabilities' was at it again on Friday morning. Advertisement Images posted to social media showed the missile launch from Canaveral's Space Launch Complex 46 while the Eastern Range had posted keep-out notices and warnings for maritime and airspace. 'A combined team of government, academic and industry partners conducted a test on behalf of the Department of Defence from a test site at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station,' according to a statement from the Office of the Secretary of Defence. 'We are currently evaluating the results of the test.' The action on the Space Coast comes a day after the Army officially dubbed the defence system with its new moniker. 01:34 North Korea launches new hypersonic missile test ahead of Trump's return to White House North Korea launches new hypersonic missile test ahead of Trump's return to White House 'Part of the name pays tribute to the eagle – a master hunter known for its speed, stealth and agility – due to the LRHW's combination of velocity, accuracy, manoeuvrability, survivability and versatility,' reads a press release from the Defence Department.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Secretive ‘Dark Eagle' hypersonic missile launches from Cape Canaveral
After a successful test from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station last December, the Army on Thursday officially named its long-range hypersonic weapon 'Dark Eagle.' The system designed to 'disintegrate adversary capabilities' was at it again Friday morning. Images posted to social media showed the missile launch from Canaveral's Space Launch Complex 46 while the Eastern Range had posted keep-out notices and warnings for maritime and airspace. 'A combined team of government, academic and industry partners conducted a test on behalf of the Department of Defense from a test site at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station,' according to a statement from the Office of the Secretary of Defense. 'We are currently evaluating the results of the test.' The action on the Space Coast comes a day after the Army officially dubbed the defense system with its new moniker. 'Part of the name pays tribute to the eagle — a master hunter known for its speed, stealth and agility — due to the LRHW's combination of velocity, accuracy, maneuverability, survivability and versatility,' reads a press release from the DOD. 'In addition, the bald eagle — our national bird — represents independence, strength and freedom.' The release further explained the 'dark' portion of the name refers to the hypersonic weapon's ability to 'disintegrate adversary capabilities, including anti-access/area-denial systems, communications capacity, long-range fires and other high-payoff/time-critical targets.' The December test was a combined effort of the Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office and the Navy's Strategic Systems Programs, an effort for the two branches to use the same weapon system and reduce testing timelines and cost. 'Hypersonic weapons will complicate adversaries' decision calculus, strengthening deterrence,' said Patrick Mason, senior official performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology. 'Their speed, accuracy and versatility are befitting its new popular name, Dark Eagle.' SLC 46 had most recently hosted a pair of Astra Space rocket launches in 2022 before its use of late for DOD testing. The launch apparatus uses a battery operations center and transporter erector launcher sending the missile streaking east over the Atlantic. The December test was the system's first 'live-fire event,' DOD stated. The system is meant to be deployed on land or sea. Hypersonic missiles travel at more than five times the speed of sound offering a much more difficult weapon to counter after launch.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US Army aiming for next hypersonic missile test in December
The U.S. Army has scheduled a test of its Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon, or LRHW, for December, the service's program executive officer for missiles and space told Defense News in a recent interview. After a lengthy delay as the Army and Navy struggled to test a jointly developed hypersonic glide body capability, the Army said earlier this year that it would field its ground-launched missiles to the first unit by the end of fiscal 2025. In fact, the Army is forecasting that the first unit to get the hypersonic capability will begin receiving the rounds at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, in the May time frame, Maj. Gen. Frank Lozano said. The 1st Multidomain Task Force, 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Field Artillery Brigade unit at JBLM received all equipment for the LRHW capability except for the actual live rounds in 2021. The unit was supposed to get the missiles in the fall of 2023 but several aborted test events forced the Army to push back its fielding plans. The Army is working to transition the LRHW program from the Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) to Program Executive Office Missiles & Space, but it won't formally join the portfolio until the first round is delivered, Lozano noted. Lockheed Martin, the lead weapon integrator for the truck-launched capability, is wrapping up work on the first round at its facility in Courtland, Alabama, according to Lozano. Leidos' Dynetics manufactures the common hypersonic glide body that will be supplied to both the Army and Navy versions of the weapon. The Army unit at JBLM will continue to receive rounds as they come off the production line throughout the year. The Army plans to couple a test firing of the round with soldiers from the unit at the console as part of their operational training in December because the rounds are 'very expensive,' Lozano said. 'We're trying to be efficient.' The U.S. is in a race to field the capability and develop systems to defend against hypersonic missiles, as China and Russia are actively developing and testing hypersonic weapons. Hypersonic weapons can fly faster than Mach 5 — or more than 3,836 miles per hour — but their ability to maneuver between varying altitudes sets them apart. Their maneuverability makes them much harder to detect and defeat. The Army conducted a successful end-to-end flight test of its hypersonic missile at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii in May 2024, bringing the initial fielding to the first unit closer to the horizon. The Army and Navy completed another successful all-up round test in December at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, of the Common Hypersonic Glide Body, or C-HGB. The test provided additional confidence to move forward with the system, which consists of a weapon's warhead, guidance system, cabling and thermal protection. The Navy's version, dubbed Conventional Prompt Strike, will be launched from ships. While the plan to field the weapon to the Army has taken nearly two years longer than planned, Army officials have been quick to point out that missile development programs typically take about 10 years. The LRHW program is just beyond the five-year mark.
