The US military launched a long-range hypersonic missile Friday morning from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on a test flight that, if successful, could pave the way for the weapon\u2019s operational deployment later this year.<\/p>\n
The Army\u2019s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon fired out of a canister on a road-mobile trailer shortly after sunrise on Florida\u2019s Space Coast, then headed east over the Atlantic Ocean propelled by a solid-fueled rocket booster. Local residents shared images of the launch on social media.<\/p>\n
Designed for conventional munitions, the new missile is poised to become the first ground-based hypersonic weapon fielded by the US military. Russia has used hypersonic missiles in combat against Ukraine. China has \u201cthe world\u2019s leading hypersonic missile arsenal,\u201d according to a recent Pentagon report on Chinese military power. After a successful test flight from Cape Canaveral last year, the long-range hypersonic weapon (LRHW)\u2014officially named \u201cDark Eagle\u201d by the Army earlier this week\u2014will give the United States the ability to strike targets with little or no warning.<\/p>\n
The Dark Eagle missile rapidly gained speed and altitude after launch Friday morning, then soon disappeared from the view of onlookers at Cape Canaveral. Warning notices advising pilots and mariners to steer clear of the test area indicated the missile and its hypersonic glide vehicle were supposed to splash down in the mid-Atlantic Ocean hundreds of miles north and northeast of Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n
A US defense official did not answer questions from Ars about the outcome of the test flight Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cA combined team of government, academic, and industry partners conducted a test on behalf of the Department of Defense from a test site at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station,\u201d the official said. \u201cWe are currently evaluating the results of the test.\u201d<\/p>\n