The US Army will have a “couple” of live fire flight
tests this fiscal year for its hypersonic weapon program as it works toward fielding the
missile in the coming months, according to the three-star officer leading the
effort.
Lt. Gen. Rob Rasch, director of the Rapid
Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, said today the Long-Range
Hypersonic Weapon program is still on track to field to units by the end of
fiscal 2023.
Rasch said that the tests will “characterize” the
glide body, the two-stage rocket motor and ground support equipment. Asked what
would happen if the test fails, Rasch said the RCCTO team would “manage risk.”
“If we have an anomaly and we don’t reach our …
threshold, then we’ll sit down, analyze it and talk amongst the team and manage
the risk as we go,” Rasch said during an event hosted by Defense News.
Soldiers with the I Corps’ 5th Battalion, 3rd Field
Artillery Regiment, 17th Field Artillery Brigade at Joint Base Lewis-McChord,
Wash., have been training with the LRHW since last September, when RCCTO was
able to send the ground equipment. That equipment included a battery operations
center, four transporter erector launchers and modified trucks and trailers.
Each launcher holds two rounds.
“The unit is trained, and we’re now working to
finish up the testing and then the actual build out of the all-up round,” Rasch
said.
The Army is working with the Navy to develop the
Common Hypersonic Glide Body, which the sea service will use for its
Conventional Prompt Strike missile. The Navy plans to field its first live
rounds in fiscal year 2025, while the Army is procuring its second battery.
The Long Range Hypersonic Weapon is one of the
Army’s top 35 modernization programs and can fly at least 1,725 miles. The
weapon is a key priority under the service’s long range precision fires
initiative, which also includes the Precision Strike Missile, Extended Range
Cannon Artillery and Mid-Range Capability. The Mid-Range Capability and
Precision Strike Missile are also scheduled to field to units this fiscal year.
fiscal year 2023 is an important year for the Army’s
modernization priorities, as the service plans to have 24 of its 35
modernization either fielded or in prototyping. Asked if the service would be
able to reach the goal, Army assistant secretary for acquisition, logistics and
technology Doug Bush said he was “confident.”
“We have a very well informed plan to do so. “Of
course, there are risks. So one thing we do very well and we’re going into some
test cycles on new equipment, just learn from the testing, adapt our plans, and
then move from there ,” Bush said”
“So not everything is going to go perfectly, but
that’s the point of doing the test.”
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