US conducts first live-fire hypersonic test with repurposed HATS launcher

The US Army has successfully conducted its first live-fire hypersonic test utilizing a repurposed Heavy Artillery Test System (HATS) launcher, originally designed for the canceled Strategic Long Range Cannon (SLRC) program. The July 30 test took place at the Arizona-based Yuma Proving Ground (YPG), a sprawling 830,000-acre facility.

The Army's DEVCOM Armaments Center, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and YPG participated in the trial. Instead of a fully developed hypersonic missile, a specially designed Integrated Launch Package (ILP) was fired from the HATS. This hardened package carried the experimental payload, offering a more economical and expedient way to evaluate its performance upon impact.

The cannon, adapted from the SLRC, is capable of launching rocket-assisted, precision-guided projectiles over 1,000 miles, a range far surpassing that of conventional 155-mm artillery. Post-program cancellation, the launcher was repurposed for hypersonic research. During the test, telemetry, high-speed cameras, and range instruments tracked the package from launch to impact, enabling assessment of its performance during the final stage of a weapon's mission.

This marks the first live-fire trial of the hardened ILP, proving its ability to endure the intense forces of a cannon launch. The data collected could aid future hypersonic weapon development while minimizing the financial burden of costly full-scale missile tests. While a full hypersonic missile test can range from $9.5 million to over $15 million, depending on the vehicle and program, the cannon-based approach is not meant to replace conventional flight tests.

Instead, it aims to complement wind tunnels, laboratory experiments, rocket sleds, and live missile launches, thereby lowering testing costs.