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The United States has made a significant advancement in the development of hypersonic weapons by deploying its Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) system overseas for the first time. This deployment was part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, a multinational military exercise held in July in Australia.
During the exercise, the U.S. Army conducted live-fire drills with the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system. Newsweek contacted the U.S. Army for further comment via email but did not receive a response.
**Why It Matters**
A hypersonic weapon can fly at Mach 5 or faster, more than five times the speed of sound. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, which follow predictable trajectories, hypersonic weapons can maneuver during flight, making them difficult to intercept. Both Russia and China, as well as regional adversaries like North Korea and Iran, have developed and deployed such missiles.
**What To Know**
The U.S. Army Pacific Public Affairs Office reported that one of its units—the Hawaii-based Third Multi-Domain Task Force (3MDTF)—deployed the LRHW system outside the continental U.S. for the first time, placing it in Australia’s Northern Territory during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025.
The deployment showcased a “game-changing capability,” according to the U.S. Army Pacific. The LRHW, nicknamed “Dark Eagle,” has a reported range of 1,725 miles and is capable of conducting precision strikes at long ranges using hypersonic speeds. Each LRHW unit consists of four launchers that can accommodate eight missiles.
This land-based weapon system serves as a strategic attack capability designed to defeat anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities, suppress adversary long-range fires, and engage other high-value targets. China is considered to have the world’s most sophisticated A2/AD network, as it warns against foreign interference over Taiwan.
**What People Are Saying**
Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, the commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, stated in a news release that the deployment of the LRHW system to Australia marks a significant achievement for the command, validating the Army’s ability to deploy and exercise command and control (C2) of the system in a forward environment.
Colonel Wade Germann, the commander of the U.S. Army Third Multi-Domain Task Force, noted that the deployment is a major milestone, demonstrating the Army’s ability to rapidly deploy advanced capabilities in support of allies and partners.
**What Happens Next**
Following the conclusion of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, it remains unclear whether the U.S. Army will deploy the LRHW system in allied countries near China, such as Japan, South Korea, or the Philippines. An MRC has been deployed in the Philippines since April 2024.
*The United States Army Third Multi-Domain Task Force deploys the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon system to Northern Territory, Australia, on July 9 to participate in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025.*
*Credit: Sgt. Perla Alfaro/U.S. Army*
📚 Reading Comprehension Quiz
During Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, which U.S. Army system was deployed overseas for the first time as part of a live-fire drill?
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