During the Joint Exercise Bamboo Eagle 24-3, the U.S. Army integrated its new Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) system into operations with the Air Force for the first time. This collaboration, according to the official statement, enhances interoperability between military branches and underscores the rapid deployment capability of the LRHW, marking a key advancement in Indo-Pacific defense.
This eight-day exercise was the first instance where U.S. Army forces from the 1st Multidomain Task Force (MDTF) were incorporated into an Air Force-led exercise, involving over 3,000 personnel from four military branches, alongside participants from the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Australian Air Force.
The U.S. Army has recently made significant strides in integrating its capabilities with those of the Air Force, improving interoperability and the rapid deployment of the hypersonic system in various scenarios. According to the statement, the successful integration of Army and Air Force capabilities demonstrated the importance of inter-service cooperation. Notably, the LRHW missile system’s battery operated in a demanding environment, maintaining a high level of readiness throughout the combined activities.
Strategic Role of LRHW in Indo-Pacific Defense
The development of the LRHW has been a multi-year process as part of the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon program. Following the initial delivery of the missile system and launchers in March 2021, the testing and evaluation unit conducted training in four iterations to familiarize troops with the new hypersonic system.
By late 2023, the unit focused on training, doctrine development, and refining tactics, techniques, and procedures. In February 2023, the LRHW battery achieved a key milestone with a 4,828-kilometer deployment to Cape Canaveral, Florida, as part of Exercise Thunderbolt Strike, showcasing the Army’s capability for rapid hypersonic system deployment.
The Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon comprises a propulsion system and a Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB). The missile components are being developed jointly by Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. “…The missile component serves as a common two-stage booster for both the Army’s LRHW and the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) system, which can be launched from both surface ships and submarines…”
The Common Hypersonic Glide Body is based on the Alternate Re-Entry System developed by the Army and Sandia National Laboratories. Dynetics, a Leidos subsidiary, “…currently holds a contract to manufacture C-HGB prototypes for the Army and Navy. The C-HGB uses a rocket motor to accelerate to speeds well above hypersonic… The C-HGB, which can reach Mach 5 or more on its own, is maneuverable, which may complicate detection and interception…”
Lastly, the U.S. highlights that, as a theater-level unit and enabler for the Joint Force assigned to the Indo-Pacific, the 1st Multidomain Task Force (MDTF) plays a vital role in synchronizing long-range precision fires with long-range precision effects to create multiple dilemmas and neutralize adversary A2AD (anti-access and area denial) networks.
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