The US Army is finally set to operationalize its “Dark Eagle” long-range hypersonic weapon (LRHW) this year, overcoming years of testing failures and delays.
A recent US congressional report, confirmed by a defense official to Defense News, revealed that the first unit will receive the ground-based LRHW by the end of fiscal year 2025.
However, it remains unclear whether the army will stick to its original plan of fielding it first to the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
The Dark Eagle is a cornerstone of the US Army’s efforts to counter China, Russia, and North Korea’s hypersonic advancements.
It is believed to have an operational range of 2,700 kilometers (1,677 miles) and speeds surpassing Mach 5.
It is also designed to evade interception by enemy air defenses by staying at the top of the Earth’s atmosphere until ready to strike.
The system consists of a ground-launched missile with a hypersonic glide body, supported by transport, fire control, and logistical equipment.
Testing Failures
Originally slated for deployment in 2023, the Dark Eagle faced multiple technical issues that delayed its fielding by nearly two years.
During its first tests in 2022, the missile encountered pre-flight problems, forcing the army to delay the trials until early 2023.
A battery issue was then discovered prior to the 2023 flight tests, further postponing the operational assessment.
However, the Dark Eagle program saw progress in 2024 when an LRHW battery made its much-awaited debut at Exercise Resolute Hunter.
Now, with official deployment expected this year, the Dark Eagle is set to give the US a critical edge in high-speed precision strikes, bolstering deterrence against near-peer adversaries.
