US Army’s First Hypersonic Battery to be Fully Equipped by December

After a series of delays and rigorous testing, the United States Army is on track to fully equip its first-ever hypersonic weapon battery by the end of December 2025. The 1st Multidomain Task Force, 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, will have its full complement of the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), known as Dark Eagle.

Overcoming Developmental Hurdles

The journey to arming this pioneering unit has been a multi-year effort marked by ambitious timelines and developmental challenges. The unit initially received the ground equipment, including launchers, trucks, and a battle operations center, ahead of schedule in late 2021. However, the actual delivery of the live hypersonic rounds was postponed from its original target of fall 2023 due to several aborted test events.

These delays were attributed to a combination of range challenges and technical hiccups during the launch process. Army officials have emphasized that ensuring the system is safe, effective, and reliable was a critical prerequisite to fielding the advanced weaponry. A significant milestone was achieved in May 2024 with a successful end-to-end flight test at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii, which paved the way for the current fielding schedule.

A Phased Delivery and Future Plans

The delivery of the live munitions to the Washington state-based unit is being conducted in phases. The first three missiles were delivered earlier this year, with the final munitions from that batch arriving in July, according to Maj. Gen. Frank Lozano, the Army’s program executive officer for missiles and space, said a fourth round is undergoing final acceptance checks at Lockheed Martin’s Cortland, Alabama, facility. The last eight rounds needed to complete the battery’s basic load are expected by the end of December, coinciding with a planned hypersonic missile test.

Once the first battery is fully equipped, the Army will shift its focus to the second battery. This next phase of production will also include manufacturing reloads for the first battery, a process that involves transitioning a complex prototype system into a more repeatable and efficient production model.

Navigating the Production Learning Curve

Officials acknowledge the challenges inherent in accelerating a highly advanced weapons program. “We’re learning as we build these missiles,” Lozano stated, noting that the rapid development timeline means that production and quality control are being refined simultaneously. While a traditional missile development program might span a decade or more to eliminate risks, the LRHW program is progressing at an accelerated pace of just over five years to meet strategic demands.

This urgency is fueled by the active development and testing of hypersonic weapons by near-peer adversaries such as China and Russia. The Army has been collaborating with partners like Leidos’ Dynetics to build the domestic industrial base for the Common-Hypersonic Glide Body, which will be utilized by both the Army and the Navy. Lockheed Martin serves as the lead integrator for the Army’s truck-launched system. Despite the learning curve, Army leadership remains optimistic. “The good news is that we’re making progress now,” Lozano commented. “We just have to keep our foot on the gas pedal and continue to push forward.”