Experienced hypersonic missile system LRHW Dark Eagle transferred to the troops
The American project of a promising land-based hypersonic missile system Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) or Dark Eagle is gradually approaching the beginning of flight tests. The first facilities of the experimental complex have already been transferred to one of the units of the ground forces. In the near future, the personnel will study these products, after which preparations for the first test launches will begin.
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The Pentagon press service announced the transfer of experimental equipment on October 5. At the same time, the actual acceptance of the products took place in mid-September. In the coming days, an official ceremony of putting the equipment into operation will take place.
The tests of the experimental complex Dark Eagle were entrusted to the 5th battalion of the 3rd artillery regiment of the 17th field artillery brigade of the ground forces (Lewis McCord base, Washington state). On September 14, two towed LRHW launchers were reportedly handed over to the battalion. These products received their own names Hyperion and Stormbreaker. The units are designed as semi-trailers and were delivered on heavy equipment platforms.
The next day, mock-ups of transport and launch containers with missiles were delivered to the base. Despite their large size, working with them was not difficult. One of the mock-up TPKs was immediately reloaded onto a standard launcher. No other procedures or activities were reported.
According to previous plans, the Pentagon, represented by one of the combat units, was supposed to begin flight tests of LRHW missiles by the end of 2021. By now, the program schedule has been revised, and the first launch is scheduled for early next year. Then, at intervals of several months, several subsequent firings will be carried out. The tests are going to be completed in 2023. During this period, it is planned to supply the first rocket battery of the regular composition for setting on experimental combat duty.
Technical features
Previously, various structures of the Pentagon, as well as contractors Lockheed Martin and Dynetics Technical Solutions, have repeatedly published various materials on the LRHW project, incl. the exterior of the complex was shown. Now, for the first time, full-scale samples of fixed assets are being demonstrated, which will be used in subsequent events. Perhaps they will then be included in the first combat battery.
The Dark Eagle towed launcher is based on a modified three-axle M870 semi-trailer used in the Patriot air defense system. On the cargo area of such a semi-trailer, various containers with equipment of unclear purpose are placed. Above them is a lifting boom with mounts for two TPK missiles. A gas shield is provided at the rear of the trailer. In the firing position, the launcher is hung out using four hydraulic jacks.
The mobility of the complex is provided by a four-axle M983A4 HEMTT tractor. Such a machine allows you to get high mobility using roads and some off-road sections. In addition, this tractor is part of a unified family of automotive technology, which will simplify the operation of the missile system as a whole.
The exact shape of the LRHW rocket has not yet been revealed. At the same time, they showed the layout of her TPK. It is a rectangular piece with a length of approx. 10 m. The design of its back cover indicates that inside the rectangular body there is a cylindrical "glass" for the rocket itself. The start is carried out in a hot way, for which breakthrough membranes are provided in the TPK cover.
The Dark Eagle battery will include four launchers with two missiles each. To control the fire, it is planned to use the unified mobile battery command post AFADTS of the latest version 7.0.
New rocket
According to older reports, the LRHW complex will use a promising All-Up-Round (AUR) missile with a Common-Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) warhead. In fact, we are talking about a medium-range ballistic missile with a hypersonic gliding warhead. The firing range of such a complex is declared at the level of 2775 km.
The alleged images of these products have already been published in the official materials, but it is not yet clear how much they correspond to reality. Some images show a rocket with a cylindrical body without protruding parts and with an ogival nose cone. Other illustrations show the product with a tapered fairing and different body proportions.
The AUR is a two-stage solid-propellant rocket capable of delivering a payload to a ballistic trajectory. The C-HGB combat unit is a hypersonic glider that flies by accelerating on a rocket. The officially declared flight speed is not less than 5M; more precise values were not disclosed. According to the Pentagon's plans, the LRHW will only use non-nuclear payload.
Complex assembly
In October 2017, the Pentagon and contractors conducted the first test launch of the C-HGB warhead using a non-standard launch vehicle. In March 2020, another launch took place, and new flight tests were no longer reported. Apparently, within the framework of two launches, it was possible to solve all the tasks at hand, which made it possible to begin preparations for the next stages of the project.
In August 2019, Lockheed Martin and Dynetics Technical Solutions received contracts from the army for the production of an experimental complex. Lockheed Martin was responsible for the manufacture of the AUR launcher and missile, as well as for the general assembly of the complex. Dynetics was supposed to supply warheads of a new type. Each contractor received approx. USD 350 million
A few weeks ago, contractors began supplying manufactured LRHW components to a customer. At the same time, only the transfer of launchers and TPK has been reported so far. Probably, within a few months, full-fledged experimental missiles and warheads will arrive. In the near future, the combat unit will master the received equipment, and next year flight tests will begin.
Tests of an incomplete experimental complex will take no more than 12-18 months. and should be completed by the end of FY2023. After that, the 5th battalion of the 17th brigade can receive additional funds, form a full-fledged battery and take it into experimental combat operation. Plans for further production and deployment of the Dark Eagle have not been disclosed for obvious reasons. They may not even have been compiled yet.
It can be assumed that future flight tests will indeed meet the established time frame. The fact is that the main purpose of these events will be to work out the integration and interaction of the complex's means. All key components of LRHW, incl. a fundamentally new warhead, certain tests have already passed with subsequent fine-tuning, and now it is only necessary to check their joint work and the features of operation in the troops.
The future is clearing up
Thus, the US hypersonic program is gradually moving forward and yielding certain results. The next project has almost reached full-fledged flight tests, and soon the experienced LRHW missile system will have to confirm the calculated characteristics and capabilities. At the same time, limited time is allocated for testing, which is probably due to the sufficient "technological maturity" of the project.
Recent events give the Pentagon reason to be optimistic. The Dark Eagle complex will enter service in a few years and, most likely, will become the first model of a hypersonic weapons in the US Army. Its appearance will seriously expand the combat capabilities of the ground forces - and at the same time reduce the lag behind foreign leading countries in the hypersonic direction.
- Ryabov Kirill
- The US Department of Defense
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