Last week, the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) reached a significant milestone in the development of its sea-based hypersonic capability with a successful end-to-end flight test of the ‘Dark Eagle’ conventional hypersonic missile at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. This test demonstrated the Navy’s innovative cold-gas launch approach, crucial for the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) system that will be deployed on Navy platforms.
This flight test is part of the ongoing program for the common All Up Round (AUR) missile, a collaborative effort with the U.S. Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office. Notably, the ‘Dark Eagle’ missile will be fielded to both the Navy and the Army, equipping the Army’s Multi-Domain Task Forces (MDTF) as well. Two additional successful end-to-end flight tests of the AUR were conducted in 2024. The cold-gas launch system allows the safe ejection of the missile from naval vessels before its engine ignites.
Vice Adm. Johnny R. Wolfe Jr, Director of SSP, highlighted the importance of this achievement in bringing a safe and reliable hypersonic capability to the Navy and, by extension, to the Army. The CPS program has undergone extensive testing, including the use of an In-Air Launch test facility, to validate the launch method for its initial deployment on the USS ZUMWALT. The data collected from this test will be vital for the continued development and production of the AUR and the integration of the cold-gas launch system on surface ships.
The rapid advancement of sea-based hypersonic strike weapons, like the ‘Dark Eagle’, significantly enhances U.S. deterrence and provides a crucial advantage in conventional strike capabilities for both naval and land forces. Secretary of the Navy John Phelan emphasized the speed, range, and survivability of these weapons as essential for integrated deterrence, noting their unmatched capabilities for warfighters across domains. This successful cold gas launch marks a key step towards realizing this enhanced strategic capability.
Originally published Navy Advances Sea-Based Hypersonic Missile Program with Successful Cold-Gas Launch on by https://defense-update.com/20250504_cps.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cps at Defense Update
Originally published Defense Update