U.S. Army to Deploy Second Dark Eagle: Features and Combat Readiness Explained

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The U.S. Army is set to deploy its second Dark Eagle hypersonic missile battery in the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2026. This move marks a significant step in the Army’s efforts to enhance its long-range precision strike capabilities, reinforcing its strategic deterrence posture. This expansion aligns with the Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) strategy, which aims to accelerate the deployment of critical battlefield technologies.

What Is the Dark Eagle Missile System?

The Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), commonly known as Dark Eagle, is a cutting-edge missile system designed to deliver rapid and precise strikes against high-value enemy targets. With a reported range of approximately 1,725 miles (2,776 kilometers) and speeds exceeding 3,800 miles per hour (6,115 kilometers per hour), Dark Eagle missiles can reach the edge of the Earth's atmosphere, making them extremely difficult to intercept.

Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons like Dark Eagle employ a hypersonic glide body (HGB), which allows them to maneuver unpredictably. This capability complicates enemy detection and interception efforts, ensuring that the missile can strike with minimal warning.

The second Dark Eagle battery will be fielded under the Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) strategy, which aims to accelerate the delivery of key battlefield capabilities. The first battery, currently operational, has been undergoing testing and crew training to refine its effectiveness.

Each battery consists of four mobile launchers, each carrying two missiles, mounted on transporter platforms. These mobile units allow for rapid repositioning after firing, reducing vulnerability to counterattacks.

Technical Specifications of the Dark Eagle Hypersonic Missile


  • Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin

  • Unit Cost: Approximately $41 million

  • Weight: 16,300 lb (7,400 kg)

  • Diameter: 34.5 in (0.88 m)

  • Operational Range: 1,725 miles (2,776 km)

  • Maximum Speed: Mach ≥5 (over 3,800 mph / 6,115 km/h)

  • Warhead: Common-Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB)

  • Launch Platform: Ground-based transporter erector launcher

  • Guidance System: Advanced inertial navigation with precision targeting, and GPS

The Dark Eagle missile is a boost-glide hypersonic weapon, meaning it is launched via a large rocket booster that propels the C-HGB to extreme speeds before releasing it to glide toward its target. This design allows the missile to maintain high maneuverability, making it difficult for enemy defenses to intercept.

Development and Testing

The Common-Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB), which forms the core of the Dark Eagle system, was developed through a collaboration between the U.S. Army and Navy. The glide body has undergone multiple successful tests, including:

  • October 2017

  • March 2020

  • June 28, 2024

  • December 12, 2024

These tests have validated the missile’s speed, accuracy, and survivability, ensuring its readiness for deployment.

Future Deployment and Strategic Impact

The U.S. Army plans to field the second Dark Eagle battery in Fiscal Year 2026, further strengthening its long-range precision strike capabilities. The Navy also intends to integrate a ship/submarine-launched variant of the missile into its Intermediate-Range Conventional Prompt Strike (IRCPS) program.

With its unmatched speed and precision, the Dark Eagle hypersonic missile is set to play a crucial role in modern warfare, providing the U.S. military with a strategic advantage in high-threat environments.

Advantages of Hypersonic Weapons

Hypersonic weapons, such as the Dark Eagle hypersonic missile, offer several strategic advantages that make them a game-changer in modern warfare:

  1. Unmatched Speed Hypersonic missiles travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (over 3,800 mph / 6,115 km/h), allowing them to reach distant targets in minutes rather than hours. This rapid response capability is crucial for time-sensitive operations.

  2. Maneuverability Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons can change trajectory mid-flight, making them extremely difficult to intercept. This unpredictability allows them to bypass enemy air defenses.

  3. Reduced Reaction Time for Adversaries The extreme speed of hypersonic missiles compresses the enemy’s decision-making window, limiting their ability to react or deploy countermeasures effectively.

  4. High Survivability Hypersonic glide bodies operate at low altitudes, reducing their visibility to radar systems. Additionally, their maneuverability and speed make interception nearly impossible with current missile defense systems.

  5. Precision Strikes Equipped with advanced guidance systems, hypersonic missiles can accurately target high-value assets, including command centers, air defense systems, and mobile launchers.

How Hypersonic Glide Bodies Work

Hypersonic glide bodies (HGBs) are a key component of hypersonic missile systems. They function differently from traditional warheads:

  1. Launch Phase The missile is launched using a large rocket booster, which propels the hypersonic glide body into the upper atmosphere.

  2. Glide Phase Once the booster detaches, the glide body continues its journey at hypersonic speeds. Unlike ballistic missiles, which follow a predictable arc, the glide body maneuvers dynamically, making interception extremely difficult.

  3. Terminal Phase As it approaches the target, the glide body adjusts its trajectory, ensuring a precise impact. This capability allows it to strike hardened or mobile targets with minimal warning.

Hypersonic glide bodies are designed to withstand extreme temperatures generated by air friction at high speeds. Advanced thermal protection systems ensure the missile remains operational throughout its flight.

Expanding Hypersonic Capabilities to Naval Forces

While the Dark Eagle hypersonic missile was initially developed for the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy is now integrating a sea-based variant into its fleet. This adaptation is part of the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) program, which aims to equip naval vessels with long-range, precision-strike hypersonic weapons.

How the Navy Will Deploy Dark Eagle

The Navy’s version of the Dark Eagle missile will be launched from surface ships and submarines, providing a rapid-response strike capability against high-value targets. The missile system will be installed on:

  • Zumwalt-class destroyers (DDG-1000)

  • Virginia-class submarines (Block V)

  • Future naval platforms designed for hypersonic warfare

The Zumwalt-class destroyers will be the first to receive the CPS system, with initial testing expected in 2027 or 2028. These stealthy warships, designed for precision strikes, will serve as the primary launch platform for the Navy’s hypersonic arsenal.

Key Features of the Navy’s Hypersonic Missile System

The Navy’s CPS missile shares core components with the Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), including:

  • Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) for maneuverability

  • 34.5-inch booster for rapid acceleration

  • Cold-gas launch system for safe ejection from submarines

Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, hypersonic glide bodies can maneuver unpredictably, making them extremely difficult to intercept. This capability ensures that the Navy can strike targets with minimal warning, even in heavily defended areas.

Strategic Implications

The deployment of Dark Eagle on naval platforms significantly enhances the U.S. military’s global strike capabilities. With hypersonic weapons integrated into both land and sea forces, the U.S. can:

  • Neutralize enemy defenses before they react

  • Strike high-value targets deep within contested zones

  • Deter adversaries with rapid, unpredictable attacks

The Navy’s CPS program is a joint effort with the Army, ensuring that both branches benefit from shared technology and development. This collaboration accelerates the deployment of hypersonic weapons across multiple domains.

Future Developments

The Navy plans to procure additional CPS missiles in Fiscal Year 2026, with full-scale deployment expected by 2028. As testing progresses, the integration of hypersonic weapons into submarines will further expand the Navy’s ability to conduct stealthy, long-range strikes.

The Dark Eagle hypersonic missile is no longer just an Army asset—it is becoming a cornerstone of the Navy’s future warfare strategy. With its unmatched speed, range, and maneuverability, this weapon system will redefine naval combat and strategic deterrence.

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