Lockheed Is Building Next Generation Hypersonic Weapon Batteries After Getting A $756 Million Contract

The U.S. Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to design and manufacture the next generation of ground-based hypersonic weaponry.

The main objective of the new contract is to construct the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) battery equipment system. In addition to hardware, the company will supply software engineering assistance and logistics solutions for the US Army.

Steve Layne, Vice President of Hypersonic Strike Weapons Systems at Lockheed Martin, stated, “Lockheed Martin is proud to continue our strong partnership with the US government for hypersonic strike capability. With this contract, we will support the US Army in sustaining the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon System currently in the hands of US soldiers, produce additional batteries for future fielding, and support flight testing.”

The LRHW introduced a new class of ultrafast, highly maneuverable, long-range hypersonic missiles that can be launched from mobile ground platforms. This weapon system is intended to use the standard hypersonic All Up Round (AUR) from the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) program, which is overseen by the US Navy. The system includes transporter erector launchers, an Army canister, and a battery operations center.

To stay ahead against potential threats and improve long-range precision firing capabilities, hypersonic weapon systems are crucial to national security. The LRHW, dubbed “Dark Eagle,” has a 1,725-mile range and a hypersonic glide body. This ground-launched missile system gives the US Army a full option since it comes with transport, support, and fire control systems.

Lockheed Martin produced the first LRHW battery in 2021. With a top speed of 3,800 miles per hour, the hypersonic missile can bypass air and missile defense systems and reach the edge of Earth’s atmosphere. Eight missiles overall, two All Up Round plus Canister (AUR+C) missiles per Transporter Erector Launcher (TERL) atop modified M870A4 trailers comprise each LRHW battery. It also has a BOC support vehicle and one Battery Operations Centre (BOC) for command and control.

A Congressional Research Service (CRS) report states that the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, will operate the first battery of eight LRHW missiles. This development emphasizes the importance of hypersonic weapons in maintaining military power and national security.