Dark Eagle LRHW tests : CCSFS SLC-46 : 2023-2025

[Targeteer]

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/mysterious-launch-out-of-cape-canaveral-appears-imminent

[Skyrocket]

the NOTAM areas are strange.

My guess is, that something is launched in the south-east direction and does a massive dog-leg-maneuver to reach the northern NOTAM areas. The southern NOTAM areas would be then for the case that the dog-leg-maneuver fails and the objects continue to follow the original launch trajectory.

But this is only my speculation.

[Jim]

Sub launches are not publicly posted

[Orbiter]

Could this be a LRHW test? Those can get up to Mach 17.

[Skyrocket]

Sub launches are not publicly posted

Indeed, but the westernmost NOTAM areas seem to hint to a land launch from the Cape, not a submarine launch.

Also given by the fact, that some activities at SLC-46 have been observed, i tend to say that it is not a submarine launch

[markbike528cbx]

Are attack subs typically this close to the cape?

https://twitter.com/jennyhphoto/status/1632778527622811649

Possible sub for mystery launch

[Orbiter]

Are attack subs typically this close to the cape?

https://twitter.com/jennyhphoto/status/1632778527622811649

Possible sub for mystery launch

Yes, subs frequently go in-and-out of the Port for many reasons.

[Targeteer]

https://twitter.com/EmreKelly/status/1632765086401024000

[Targeteer]

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/mysterious-launch-out-of-cape-canaveral-appears-imminent

The story has been updated with additional details...  https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2022/FY22DOTEAnnualReport.pdf

Pg 177  "Flight testing of the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) prototype All-Up Round (AUR) began in June 2022 with Joint Flight Campaign–1 (JFC-1). During JFC-1, the missile experienced an in-flight anomaly which prevented data collection over a portion of the planned flight profile. The Navy reports identification of the root cause and implementation of corrective actions for the anomaly, and is preparing to execute JFC-2. The Navy has four JFCs planned though 4QFY24 to develop and demonstrate a hypersonic, cold-gas launched missile system prototype capability. The Army plans to employ the prototype AUR from mobile land-based launchers as part of the Long Range Hypersonic  Weapon (LRHW) program. The Navy intends to transition to rapid fielding aboard the Zumwalt-class destroyer in FY25 and achieve initial operational capability aoard the Virginia-class submarine in FY29."

[Targeteer]

https://sattrackcam.blogspot.com/2023/03/another-hypersonic-glider-test-likely.html

"Last weekend saw a scrubbed Hypersonic Missile test from Cape Canaveral, Florida (see a previous post). It looks that another Hypersonic Missile test is upcoming next week, this time in the Pacific in front of California. Lines of evidence point to this Pacific test being another test of the hypersonic AGM-183 ARRW."

https://sattrackcam.blogspot.com/2023/03/a-possible-hypersonic-missile-test-from.html

"An odd Navigational Warning, NAVAREA IV 221/23 (text of warning below, areas mapped above), was published on March 1, suggesting a launch from Cape Canaveral with a time window from March 2 tot March 6. The jury is still out on what it is, although opinions are converging on a missile test, possibly a test of the hypersonic LHRW."

[kraisee]

I didn't see any notices and the local EOC didn't send out an activation notice, which they usually do, but a small rocket (smaller than an F9) just climbed away, Easterly, from the Cape. Anyone know what it was?

Ross.

[kraisee]

Looks like it might be some flavour of missile test, based on this post: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=8184.msg2647802#msg2647802

Ross.

[catdlr]

Looks like it might be some flavour of missile test, based on this post: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=8184.msg2647802#msg2647802

Ross.

and another post on the possible trajectories

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=8184.msg2647830#msg2647830

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=8184.msg2647836#msg2647836

[catdlr]

Here we go guys:

https://twitter.com/JConcilus/status/1867252080303390726

[edkyle99]

Not sure where to put this.  The LRHW Dark Eagle apparently flew from Cape Canaveral yesterday, December 12, 2024.  Complex 46 hosted the launch.

https://defensescoop.com/2024/12/13/army-navy-second-hypersonic-missile-test-2024-aur-lrhw-dark-eagle-cps/
https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2024/12/12/u-s-military-launches-dark-eagle-hypersonic-missile-from-cape-canaveral-space-force-station-florida/76943770007/

 - Ed Kyle

[Coastal Ron]

Yes, and it was even caught on the NSF livestream, according to this article: 

Army's Dark Eagle Hypersonic Missile Finally Blasts Out Of Its Launcher - The WarZone

[catdlr]

Not sure where to put this.  The LRHW Dark Eagle apparently flew from Cape Canaveral yesterday, December 12, 2024.  Complex 46 hosted the launch.

https://defensescoop.com/2024/12/13/army-navy-second-hypersonic-missile-test-2024-aur-lrhw-dark-eagle-cps/
https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2024/12/12/u-s-military-launches-dark-eagle-hypersonic-missile-from-cape-canaveral-space-force-station-florida/76943770007/

 - Ed Kyle

This was originally covered in the Live Events but probably should be here as well

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=62051.msg2648075#msg2648075

[zubenelgenubi]

Moderator:
Threads merged here, with locked stub remaining in Live Events.

[Steven Pietrobon]

I believe this might be JFC-4. The JFC-3 test looks to have been performed on or before 28 June.

https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2023/army/2023lrhw.pdf?ver=jClghaowEkarGt-qUGMXNg%3D%3D

Flight testing of the AUR continued with an attempted launch from the Army’s LRHW (Dark Eagle)
prototype TEL in March 2023. This test, Joint Flight Campaign-2 (JFC-2), did not occur due to
challenges in pre-flight checks. The JFC-2 Retest (JFC-2R) was attempted in September 2023 but
did not occur as a result of pre-flight checks. The JFC-3 test is planned for FY24, also planned to be
launched from the Army LRHW TEL. JFC testing continues through FY29 using both Navy and Army
launchers.

https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11991

Successful LRHW Flight Test
On June 28, 2024 DOD announced, The U.S. Navy and U.S. Army recently completed an end-to-end flight test of a hypersonic missile from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, HI. Reportedly, the two-stage missile was launched from a ground stand from Hawaii across the Pacific Ocean more than 2,000 miles to a test range in the Marshall Islands, with the missile flying its intended course and releasing the C-HGB, which flew to the target.

[Steven Pietrobon]

This post seems to indicate that JFC-4 was in June and this flight was JFC-2.

https://x.com/MeNMyRC1/status/1867252154647380360

Third try is the charm.  JFC-2 (joint flight campaign) is in the books.  The Conventional Prompt Strike campaign phase 1 called for 5 flight tests.  The Navy has completed JFC-1 and JFC-4 but the launcher hardware failures delayed the Army flight tests (JFC-2 and JFC-3.
Hopefully the flight was nominal and the CPS/LRHW program can get back on track.  Success of this test today was a huge milestone for Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor and supplier of the "Dark Eagle" launch hardware.  "Under the gun" would be an understatement.

A bunch of Chinese posts are calling this JFC-2R3.

https://www.wforum.com/news/weapons/2024/12/12/476530.html

According to U.S. media reports, at about 11:30 local time on December 12, the U.S. Army's "Dark Eagle" long-range hypersonic missile (LRHW) conducted the first vehicle-missile test launch in Florida, and the flight code name was "Joint Flight Test 2R3" (JFC-2R3). Subsequently, the website of the US Department of Defense announced that the test launch of the "Dark Eagle" hypersonic missile was a success, and this is also the second successful test launch of the "Dark Eagle" missile this year.

Here's a comprehensive Chinese article on the tests!

https://www.163.com/dy/article/JJ9JI8LK0556AMYP.html