The Proposed Action is sponsored by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, which has designated the Navy Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) as one of two lead agencies for the Proposed Action. The U.S. Army has designated the U.S. Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) as the second lead agency. Together SSP and RCCTO form the joint Action Proponents for this Supplemental EA/OEA.

The Proposed Action would add potential launch and impact locations to the JFC EA/OEA selected actions of up to six flight tests per year over 10 years designed to prove various aspects of the JFC system’s capabilities. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to perform the JFC land-based test launches at PMRF and PSCA, with payload impacts in the Pacific BOA, to collect data to verify Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) performance. The Proposed Action is needed to prove that the Conventional Prompt Strike weapon system and Army LRHW system meet all key performance requirements within the capabilities of the All-Up-Round missile used by both systems. The analyzed additional Alternative consists of the two test scenarios: (1) launch from PMRF’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defense launch site with payload impact in the Pacific BOA; and (2) launch from PSCA’s Area 1 or Launch Pad-2 with a payload impact in the Pacific BOA. Flight tests are designed to prove various aspects of the LRHW system’s capabilities. The LRHW launch vehicle consists of a two-stage booster system and payload known as an All-Up-Round missile. The Proposed Action entails standard ground preparations and pre-flight activities for the test at the proposed launch sites.

The Navy SSP and U.S. Army RCCTO determined that the activities associated with the Proposed Action are not expected to result in significant impacts to the environment. They also considered the No Action Alternative, as required by the Council on Environmental Quality regulations.