Deployment and Development of the US Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon System

Overview of the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW)

In July 2025, the US Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) system marked a significant milestone with its inaugural overseas deployment during Exercise Talisman Sabre 25 in Australia. This deployment signals progress toward operational fielding decisions for a system designed to enhance tactical power projection and deterrence capabilities.

Specifications and Capabilities

The LRHW is a mobile, ground-launched hypersonic glide weapon with an impressive range exceeding 2,775 kilometers and minimum speeds of Mach 5. Key capabilities include:

• Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) Neutralization: Targeting and neutralizing adversarial A2/AD frameworks.
• Suppression of Long-Range Fires: Engaging long-range adversary artillery systems.
• Rapid Engagement of Critical Targets: Engaging high-value, time-sensitive targets effectively.

The Army officially designated the weapon as ‘Dark Eagle’ on April 24, 2025. The nomenclature evokes the eagle’s prowess in hunting—symbolizing speed, precision, and adaptability in engagement, while “dark” signifies the weapon’s capacity to degrade enemy capabilities.

System Composition

The weapon’s architecture comprises the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB), developed by Dynetics Inc., which integrates:

• Warhead
• Guidance System
• Thermal Shielding

Coupled with a two-stage booster, the LRHW is configured for vertical launch as an All Up Round (AUR). Both the Army and the Navy plan to utilize the AUR, with the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike variant slated for deployment on naval vessels. Lockheed Martin oversees the integration of the Army’s ground-based variant.

Battery Configuration

Each mobile Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL) houses two AURs. A comprehensive LRHW battery comprises:

• Four TELs
• A Mobile Battery Operations Center (BOC)
• Support vehicles

Current structuring assigns one LRHW battery to each of the Army’s five Multi-Domain Task Forces (MDTFs), whereby the LRHW is integrated into the long-range fires battalions (LRFBs).

Testing and Development Trajectory

Flight Test Overview

The LRHW development commenced in 2019 as part of a prototyping initiative. Initial phases experienced significant delays due to technical challenges, causing disruptions to flight tests in both 2022 and 2023.

However, flight testing resumed mid-2024 with a successful end-to-end test on June 28, 2024, at the Pacific Missile Range in Hawaii. The test successfully verified the missile’s trajectory and its C-HGB’s capabilities, reaching a designated target over 3,200 km away.

In December 2024, an Army-specific test involved a live-fire event using the BOC and TEL from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, successfully demonstrating the operational capabilities of the system.

Operational Certification and First Unit Selection

The successful series of flight tests allowed for operational certification of the LRHW prototypes, with Lockheed Martin authorized to continue production for the first operational battery.

As reported in the US Government Accountability Office’s June 2025 Weapons System Annual Assessment, production for a complete battery of eight hypersonic missiles is expected to span 11 months. B Battery of the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, part of the 1MDTF, is the anticipated first operational unit for the LRHW capability.

Strategic Deployment – Talisman Sabre 2025

In July 2025, the 3rd MDTF, based in Hawaii, participated in Talisman Sabre 2025 in Australia, utilizing resources from the 1MDTF’s B Battery due to its current lack of its own LRHW battery. This deployment represented the first operational employment of the LRHW outside the continental United States. While it remains unclear if live missiles were part of the deployment, the exercise underscored the Army’s capability in global operational contexts and interoperability with allied forces.

Commentary from Leadership

Adm. Samuel J. Paparo of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command emphasized the significance of deploying the LRHW system in a forward environment, reinforcing commitment to regional defense partnerships.

Fielding and Future Deployments

By early September 2025, Army Materiel Command representatives indicated continued alignment with timelines for establishing the first LRHW battery by year-end.

Future developments include additional LRHW batteries slated for the 2MDTF in Wiesbaden, Germany, and the 3MDTF in Hawaii, with both task forces expected to be operational by FY2027. The Army aims to equip beyond three batteries, emphasizing a need for missile availability and survivability in prospective conflict scenarios.

Procurement and Cost Efficiency

The LRHW procurement cycle underlines the Army’s intent to maintain a robust hypersonic inventory while simultaneously controlling expenditures. Anticipated joint production with the Navy aims to reduce unit costs from $41 million.

Several congressional testimonies in June 2025 indicated interest in developing more economically feasible ground-based hypersonic systems that could complement the LRHW’s specialized capabilities, enabling broader operational reach.

Continuing Development

The learnings gleaned from extensive flight testing will inform further refinements to the LRHW design. The GAO envisions modifications to the second battery’s missile, with testing for these adjustments slated for late FY2025.

General Francisco Lozano confirmed a commitment to ongoing tests amidst cost considerations, citing the need for efficiency.

Conclusion: Strategic Readiness

While the LRHW prototyping initiative began in 2019 with an ambitious timeline, the Army anticipates meeting its fielding objectives by late 2025—a timeline that, although extended, is still ahead of standard missile development durations. The ongoing enhancements to hypersonic capabilities position the Army to effectively address contemporary and emerging threats in the evolving security landscape.

This comprehensive overview of the LRHW underscores the progressive strides taken toward its deployment, operational integration, and strategic utility, reflecting the Army’s commitment to enhancing its combat readiness and deterrent posture in the face of evolving global threats.