
US launches secretive ‘Dark Eagle' hypersonic missile
After a successful test from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station last December, the US Army on Thursday officially named its long-range hypersonic weapon 'Dark Eagle'. The system designed to 'disintegrate adversary capabilities' was at it again on Friday morning.
Advertisement
Images posted to social media showed the missile launch from Canaveral's Space Launch Complex 46 while the Eastern Range had posted keep-out notices and warnings for maritime and airspace.
'A combined team of government, academic and industry partners conducted a test on behalf of the Department of Defence from a test site at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station,' according to a statement from the Office of the Secretary of Defence.
'We are currently evaluating the results of the test.'
The action on the Space Coast comes a day after the Army officially dubbed the defence system with its new moniker.
01:34
North Korea launches new hypersonic missile test ahead of Trump's return to White House
North Korea launches new hypersonic missile test ahead of Trump's return to White House
'Part of the name pays tribute to the eagle – a master hunter known for its speed, stealth and agility – due to the LRHW's combination of velocity, accuracy, manoeuvrability, survivability and versatility,' reads a press release from the Defence Department.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
New Chinese students barred from Harvard, how birds conquered skies: SCMP daily highlights
Catch up on some of SCMP's biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing The administration of US President Donald Trump has formally barred Harvard University from enrolling international students, citing the institution's failure to address national security risks on campus. Russia's fresh bid to revive a strategic triangle with China and India as a counterbalance to the Western-led international order faces headwinds given the deep-seated distrust between the two Asian powers, according to observers. Fossils preserved in amber offer a unique opportunity to study soft structures, as objects stuck in the hardened tree resin remain trapped in time. Photo: AP/Science Dinosaur feathers found trapped in Burmese amber have shed new light on the evolution of flight feathers, an essential step that allowed early birds to surpass their dinosaur relatives in conquering the skies, a Chinese study has found.


South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Trump planning to replace his nominee for Nasa head
The White House said it would name a new nominee for Nasa administrator, just days before billionaire Jared Isaacman, the current pick, was to face his planned Senate confirmation vote. 'It's essential that the next leader of Nasa is in complete alignment with President Trump's America First agenda and a replacement will be announced directly by President Trump soon,' White House spokeswoman Liz Huston said. It was not immediately clear why US President Donald Trump was dropping the nomination of Isaacman, who had already been approved by the Senate Commerce Committee. Isaacman is the chief executive officer of Shift4 Payments. The company processes payments for restaurants, resorts, hotels, casinos and stadiums. Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite internet provider, is also a customer. 01:52 SpaceX's latest Starship test flight ends with another explosion SpaceX's latest Starship test flight ends with another explosion Isaacman has spent an undisclosed sum of his own money on two SpaceX missions, while Shift4 Payments has provided SpaceX with US$27.5 million in funding.


South China Morning Post
20-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Trump picks US$175 billion Golden Dome design to block China, Russia threats
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he had selected a design for the US$175 billion Golden Dome missile defence shield and named a Space Force general to lead the effort to build the ambitious defence programme aimed at blocking threats from China and Russia. Trump announced at a White House press conference that US Space Force General Michael Guetlein would be the lead programme manager for what the president said would be a US$175 billion project, an effort widely viewed as the keystone to Trump's military planning. Golden Dome will 'protect our homeland', Trump said from the Oval Office and added that Canada had said it wanted to be part of it. First ordered by Trump in January, Golden Dome aims to create a network of satellites to detect, track and potentially intercept incoming missiles. The shield could deploy hundreds of satellites for missile detection and tracking. At a cost of US$175 billion, it will take years to implement, as the controversial programme faces both political scrutiny and funding uncertainty. US Space Force General Michael Guetlein (right) speaks as US President Donald Trump makes an announcement regarding the Golden Dome missile defence shield in the Oval Office on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters Democratic lawmakers have voiced concern about the procurement process and the involvement of Trump ally Elon Musk's SpaceX, which has emerged as a front runner alongside Palantir and Anduril to build key components of the system.