Latest news with #Mid-RangeCapability
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Science
- Newsweek
US Reaches Major Hypersonic Weapon Milestone
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 reached a historic milestone in the contested development of hypersonic weapons as a new long-range missile system was deployed overseas for the first time. The deployment of the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) was part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, a multinational war game hosted by Australia in July, during which the U.S. conducted a live-fire drill with its Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system. Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Army for further comment via email. Why It Matters A hypersonic weapon is capable of flying at Mach 5 or faster, more than five times the speed of sound. Unlike ballistic missiles, which follow a predictable trajectory, this type of superfast and novel weapon can maneuver during flight, making it difficult to intercept. Both of the U.S.'s major rivals—Russia and China—and regional adversaries such as North Korea and Iran have said they have developed and deployed hypersonic missiles. An expert previously told Newsweek that "nobody wants to drop out" of this arms race. Facing the rapidly growing threat of hypersonic weapons, the U.S. military is enhancing its defense posture, including upgrades to the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense radar for tracking hypersonic missiles and conducting simulated intercept tests. What To Know The U.S. Army Pacific Public Affairs Office said on Saturday that one of its units—the Hawaii-based Third Multi-Domain Task Force (3MDTF)—had deployed a LRHW system outside the continental U.S. for the first time, stationing it in Australia's Northern Territory. The deployment, which seeks to showcase what the Army described as a "game-changing capability," took place as early as July 9 and involved at least two missile launchers at an undisclosed location in the Northern Territory, according to photos released on Saturday. The LRHW, capable of conducting precision strikes at "long range, leveraging hypersonic speeds," demonstrated the 3MDTF's ability to adapt and innovate in response to evolving security challenges during this deployment, the U.S. Army Pacific said in a news release. The missile system—dubbed "Dark Eagle"—has a reported range of 1,725 miles, according to a Congressional Research Service report published in June. Each LRHW unit, known as a battery, is equipped with four launchers capable of accommodating a total of eight missiles. This land-based weapon system serves as a "strategic attack weapon system" designed to defeat anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities, suppress adversary long-range fires, and engage other high-payoff or time-critical targets, the report further noted, citing the Army. A2/AD capabilities prevent or restrict an enemy from entering and operating within an area. China is regarded as possessing the world's most sophisticated A2/AD network as Beijing warns against foreign interference over Taiwan, which it considers its "breakaway province." The United States Army Third Multi-Domain Task Force deploys the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon system to Northern Territory, Australia, on July 9 to participate in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. The United States Army Third Multi-Domain Task Force deploys the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon system to Northern Territory, Australia, on July 9 to participate in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. Sgt. Perla Alfaro/U.S. Army The LRHW, the 1,000-mile-range MRC, and the 310-mile-plus-range Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) are all part of the U.S. Army's effort to counter A2/AD networks. The PrSM also featured in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, where it was fired by the Australian army. What People Are Saying Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, the commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said in a news release on Saturday: "The deployment of the LRHW system to Australia marks a significant achievement for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, as it validates the Army's ability to deploy, position, and exercise command and control (C2) of the system in a forward environment." Colonel Wade Germann, the commander of the U.S. Army Third Multi-Domain Task Force, said in a news release on Saturday: "The deployment of the LRHW system to Australia is a major milestone for the Army and demonstrates our ability to rapidly deploy and operate advanced capabilities in support of our allies and partners." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the U.S. Army will deploy the LRHW in allied countries near China—such as Japan, South Korea or the Philippines—following the conclusion of the Australia-hosted war game. An MRC has been deployed in the Philippines since April 2024.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The US Army fired its new missile system that rattles China in a Western Pacific first. It found its target and sank it.
The US Army fired a Standard Missile-6 from its Mid-Range Capability, or Typhon, system in Australia. The successful live-fire test sank a maritime target. The MRC's deployment in the region has previously and repeatedly irritated China. The US Army fired its new MRC missile system in the Western Pacific for the first time, striking and sinking a maritime target. The Mid-Range Capability, or Typhon, missile system drew China's ire during a previous deployment, with Beijing repeatedly warning that its presence risks escalating tensions. The Army sees the weapon as an essential strike asset that closes a critical capability gap in the region. The Army said on Tuesday that the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force successfully fired a Standard Missile-6 using the versatile MRC launcher and sank an unspecified sea target. The test occurred earlier this month during the joint Talisman Sabre exercise in northern Australia. The service said it was the first time the land-based MRC had been fired west of the international date line, which splits the Pacific Ocean. "The deployment of the MRC and successful execution of a [Standard Missile-6] live fire against a maritime target is another significant step forward in our ability to deploy, integrate, and command and control advanced land-based maritime strike capabilities," Col. Wade Germann, commander of the 3rd MDTF, said. While this was the first live test of the MRC in the region, it has been deployed there before, notably during a joint exercise with the Philippines last year. The MRC is a high-value system for the Army, filling both a capability and range gap by providing a flexible way to fire both the SM-6s and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile. The MRC's development followed the 2019 US withdrawal from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty over concerns about Russian violations. The treaty banned nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,000 kilometers. The withdrawal, overseen by the first Trump administration and driven by Moscow's SSC-8/9M729 missile, opened the door to the development of previously banned weapons. When the MRC was first deployed to the Philippines, China was quick to express its frustration. In September of last year, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China's foreign military, called the deployment "a move to turn back the wheel of history," adding that "it gravely threatens regional countries' security, incites geopolitical confrontation, and has aroused high vigilance and concerns of countries in the region." Earlier last year, he said that Beijing "strongly opposes the US strengthening forward deployment at China's doorstep." China notably maintains a large arsenal of ballistic missiles, including many intermediate-range systems able to threaten US and allied forces in the region. China also expressed its irritation to the Philippines last year. In August 2024, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said that his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, had expressed concerns the weapon could destabilize the security and relations of the region and that when they discussed it, China "made it very dramatic." China has warned Manila against igniting an arms race. Beijing has said the Philippines, a key US ally, is serving American interests to the detriment of its own. Manila has expressed interest in the MRC's capabilities as a useful combat capability. China's US embassy didn't immediately respond to BI's request for comment on the test. The MRC is a work in progress for the Army, which is still exploring how best to employ it. During the MRC's deployment to the Philippines, US personnel also tinkered with and reworked the system in the field, according to a Government Accountability Office report earlier this year, providing user input that led to "multiple design changes." The test of the MRC in Australia, the Army said, validated the ability to forward deploy long-range precision fires. It also, Germann added, provided valuable insights and lessons for future land-based maritime strike capabilities. Mobile launchers with the ability to strike targets on land and at sea have tremendous potential in Pacific combat. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
The US Army fired its new missile system that rattles China in a Western Pacific first. It found its target and sank it.
The US Army fired its new MRC missile system in the Western Pacific for the first time, striking and sinking a maritime target. The Mid-Range Capability, or Typhon, missile system drew China's ire during a previous deployment, with Beijing repeatedly warning that its presence risks escalating tensions. The Army sees the weapon as an essential strike asset that closes a critical capability gap in the region. The Army said on Tuesday that the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force successfully fired a Standard Missile-6 using the versatile MRC launcher and sank an unspecified sea target. The test occurred earlier this month during the joint Talisman Sabre exercise in northern Australia. The service said it was the first time the land-based MRC had been fired west of the international date line, which splits the Pacific Ocean. "The deployment of the MRC and successful execution of a [Standard Missile-6] live fire against a maritime target is another significant step forward in our ability to deploy, integrate, and command and control advanced land-based maritime strike capabilities," Col. Wade Germann, commander of the 3rd MDTF, said. While this was the first live test of the MRC in the region, it has been deployed there before, notably during a joint exercise with the Philippines last year. The MRC is a high-value system for the Army, filling both a capability and range gap by providing a flexible way to fire both the SM-6s and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile. The MRC's development followed the 2019 US withdrawal from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty over concerns about Russian violations. The treaty banned nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,000 kilometers. The withdrawal, overseen by the first Trump administration and driven by Moscow's SSC-8/9M729 missile, opened the door to the development of previously banned weapons. When the MRC was first deployed to the Philippines, China was quick to express its frustration. In September of last year, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China's foreign military, called the deployment "a move to turn back the wheel of history," adding that "it gravely threatens regional countries' security, incites geopolitical confrontation, and has aroused high vigilance and concerns of countries in the region." Earlier last year, he said that Beijing "strongly opposes the US strengthening forward deployment at China's doorstep." China notably maintains a large arsenal of ballistic missiles, including many intermediate-range systems able to threaten US and allied forces in the region. China also expressed its irritation to the Philippines last year. In August 2024, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said that his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, had expressed concerns the weapon could destabilize the security and relations of the region and that when they discussed it, China "made it very dramatic." China has warned Manila against igniting an arms race. Beijing has said the Philippines, a key US ally, is serving American interests to the detriment of its own. Manila has expressed interest in the MRC's capabilities as a useful combat capability. China's US embassy didn't immediately respond to BI's request for comment on the test. The MRC is a work in progress for the Army, which is still exploring how best to employ it. During the MRC's deployment to the Philippines, US personnel also tinkered with and reworked the system in the field, according to a Government Accountability Office report earlier this year, providing user input that led to "multiple design changes." The test of the MRC in Australia, the Army said, validated the ability to forward deploy long-range precision fires. It also, Germann added, provided valuable insights and lessons for future land-based maritime strike capabilities. Mobile launchers with the ability to strike targets on land and at sea have tremendous potential in Pacific combat.
Business Insider
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
US Army soldiers reworked a new missile system in the field during a deployment that deeply frustrated China
Troops deployed to the Pacific tinkered with and reworked a missile system in the field, showing the value of soldier-driven design input during a deployment that irritated China, a recent report noted. Soldiers were in the Philippines and working with the US Army's new Mid-Range Capability, or Typhon, missile system. The Government Accountability Office, a watchdog agency, reported last month on the Army's modernization efforts for its artillery, rocket, and missile systems. Citing conversations with the program's officials, the GAO said that there were "multiple design changes" made "during development based on user input provided during new equipment training and other exercises." The improvements made included reducing the reload time and stress on the system's components, and they were made by soldiers on the ground during those exercises. "For example, because of the orientation of the launcher, soldiers suggested moving certain access points and panel connections on the trailer to make it easier to reload, operate, and maintain," the office said. User input on the system was collected during and after its deployment to the Philippines last year as part of a joint US-Philippine exercise. In a statement at the time, US Army Pacific called it a "landmark deployment" marking "a significant milestone for the new capability while enhancing interoperability, readiness, and defense capabilities in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines." It marked the system's first overseas deployment. The MRC is one of the Army's newest missile systems. It's a versatile ground-based missile system capable of firing both the Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) and Tomahawk Land Attack Missile and designed to fill a key gap in the US arsenal in terms of range and flexibility. While it wasn't fired during the trainings, its presence angered China, which demanded it be removed. In September 2024, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, said that China had made its opposition to the deployment clear more than once. "The deployment is a move to turn back the wheel of history," he said, adding that "it gravely threatens regional countries' security, incites geopolitical confrontation, and has aroused high vigilance and concerns of countries in the region." China notably maintains a large arsenal of ballistic missiles. China has also expressed its frustrations to the Philippines. In August last year, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, had expressed concerns the weapon could destabilize the security and relations of the region, and that when they discussed it, China "made it very dramatic." Beijing has said the Philippines, a key US ally, is serving American interests ot the detriment of its own, and China has kept up its complaints amid reports of a coming second MRC deployment to the Philippines, which has expressed great interest in the system's capabilities. The MRC's development came after the 2019 US withdrawal from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which banned nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometers. That withdrawal, which the first Trump administration said was driven by Moscow's violation of the treaty with its SSC-8/9M729, has opened new doors for the US arsenal. In the GAO report, the office noted that the effort underway for the MRC has "reflected several attributes of an iterative product development approach as it established a business case with flexible requirements focused on a minimum viable product," including adapting new capabilities and requesting user feedback on the system. Iterative, or staged, development with key soldier feedback has been of growing interest for US Army's transformation and innovation projects. The Army has called these soldier touchpoints, but there are many names for this process within the military. US special operations forces have also been really involved in this approach. The value of this kind of work in the field has also been seen in the war in Ukraine, where Ukrainian soldiers are often in close contact with and providing feedback to weapons makers, fueling rapid growth in experimental and emerging combat technologies. The Army's first iteration of the Mid-Range Capability experienced that during the Philippines deployment. Military leaders have said that companies should be testing their tech on the front lines. Short of that, they'd ideally be getting their systems in the hands of deployed troops in training.
Miami Herald
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
US Ally Doubles Down on Missiles Angering China
The Philippines' defense chief has again pushed back against China's claim that hosting U.S. missiles in the country amounts to a provocation. "It's none of China's business; it's for Philippine defense," Gilberto Teodoro said in a recent interview with 60 Minutes when asked to respond to Beijing's objections. China asserts sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, citing historical rights-a position that puts it at odds with competing claims by the Philippines and several other neighbors. In recent years, Manila has stepped up its response to China's growing presence within the Philippine maritime zone. Fierce clashes between Chinese and Philippine forces near disputed reefs have, on several occasions, left Philippine sailors injured. These incidents have put Manila's Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington in the spotlight, raising questions of whether U.S. forces could be drawn into a conflict with nuclear-armed China. Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry with a request for comment outside of office hours. On the latest episode of 60 Minutes, which aired Sunday, Teodoro compared China to "the proverbial schoolyard bully." "It just muscles you over," he said. The conversation turned to the Mid-Range Capability, or "Typhon" missile launcher, which the U.S. Army deployed to the Philippines ahead of joint military drills in April. The system can be equipped with Tomahawk missiles-whose maximum range of 1,200 miles puts much of China's east coast within reach-as well as shorter-range Standard Missile 6s. Army officials have said the SM-6 is the only U.S. missile currently capable of intercepting a hypersonic missile, such as those possessed by China and Russia, in late flight. China has repeatedly called for the Typhon to be removed from the Philippines. Asked by interviewer Cecelia Vega whether the missiles are there to stay, Teodoro said he could neither confirm nor deny such a plan. "What happens within our territory is for our defense," he said. "We follow international law. What's the fuss?" Teodoro said he didn't know how the feud would end, but indicated the Philippines will not back down. "All I know is that we cannot let [China] get away with what they're doing." A Hague-based arbitral court's 2016 decision dismissed China's sweeping South China Sea claims. Beijing maintains that the ruling was politically motivated. The 60 Minutes interview aired just two weeks after a tense back-and-forth between Teodoro and senior Chinese defense officials at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense forum in Singapore, where the Philippine official said a "deficit of trust" in China was the greatest obstacle to a solution to tensions in the South China Sea. Ray Powell, the director of the Stanford University-affiliated maritime analysis group SeaLight, told 60 Minutes: "China has decided that at this point in their history, they are large enough so they can buck the law." U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense summit in Singapore on May 31: "We're watching very closely China's destabilizing actions, and any unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the South China Sea and the First Island Chain-by force or coercion-is unacceptable." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakuntold reporters in February: "The Philippines has worked with the U.S. to bring in the Typhon system. It's placing its national security and defense in the hands of others and introducing geopolitical confrontation and the risk of an arms race into the region…China will not sit idly by when its security interests are harmed or threatened." Speaking with Newsweek on the sidelines of the Shangril-La Dialogue, Teodoro said Manila would seek to increase deterrence against China's activities in the Philippine exclusive economic zone by pushing for "international resonance" and "building up capability resilience." The Philippines is expected to continue holding joint military exercises with the U.S. and other countries concerned with China's growing assertiveness, including Japan and Australia. Last year, the U.S. pledged $500 million in military aid to its Southeast Asian ally. Related Articles US Aircraft Carrier USS George Washington Counters China Navy PresenceChina Touts Weapons Capabilities As Iran's Defenses CollapseWhy Trump Needs Tesla | OpinionMap Shows World's Nuclear Stockpiles As China Warheads Increase 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
