Photos Show US Launching Dark Eagle Hypersonic Missile
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The United States conducted a test launch of the U.S. Army's hypersonic missile, also known as the Dark Eagle, in Florida on Friday, capable of traveling over five times the speed of sound.
Newsweek has reached out to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for comment by email.
Why It Matters
Russia and China have fielded their hypersonic weapons, including the Russian Oreshnik missile that was launched against Ukraine last November, as well as the Chinese DF-17 medium-range ballistic missile that can strike Japan where the U.S. has deployed its forces.
This type of so-called "game-changer" armament is capable of evading most of the air and missile defense systems by maneuvering within the atmosphere at hypersonic speed. The U.S. is currently developing hypersonic missiles and the countermeasures against them.
What To Know
According to photos shared on X, formerly Twitter, by @JerryPikePhoto, the U.S. Army executed a test launch of the Dark Eagle missile, also known as the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Friday. A missile was seen launching from the ground.
Liftoff of the LRHW Dark Eagle this morning 🚀 https://t.co/lCJhUXxT84 pic.twitter.com/YJXXuSxmJK — Jerry Pike (@JerryPikePhoto) April 25, 2025
Shortly after liftoff, the vehicle split into two distinct sections, with one appearing to tumble away, and the other continuing to propel itself forward until it disappeared into the sky pic.twitter.com/Fa75Zdenr1 — Jerry Pike (@JerryPikePhoto) April 25, 2025
The Office of the Secretary of Defense confirmed the test event to Orlando Sentinel, adding that the results are being evaluated. This marked the first test of the Dark Eagle missile since its successful flight test held in December last year, the report added.
The Dark Eagle is a ground-launched missile attached with a maneuverable hypersonic glide body as its warhead, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) said in its report on Thursday. The missile has a reported range of 1,725 miles with a top speed of over 3,800 miles per hour.
According to the report, each Dark Eagle missile unit will consist of four launchers armed with a total of eight missiles. Due to what the report called "integration challenges," the first complete unit is now expected to be fielded in fiscal year 2025, two years behind schedule.
Fiscal year 2025 began on October 1, 2024, and ends on September 30, 2025, meaning the U.S. Army has five months left to put the missile into service, according to the new schedule.
The latest test comes after the U.S. Army announced on Thursday that "Dark Eagle" is the popular name for the LRHW. The word "dark" reflects the weapon's ability to "disintegrate adversary capabilities," while "eagle" is a tribute to the master hunter, the U.S. Army said.
The LRHW, which is the combination of velocity, accuracy, maneuverability, survivability, and versatility, matches the eagle's characteristics—speed, stealth, and agility. Meanwhile, America's national bird, the bald eagle, represents independence, strength, and freedom.
In this photo provided by the United States DOD on December 12, 2024, a Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon system fires a conventional hypersonic missile from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
In this photo provided by the United States DOD on December 12, 2024, a Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon system fires a conventional hypersonic missile from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
U.S. Department of Defense
What People Are Saying
Patrick Mason, U.S. senior official performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, said on Thursday: "Hypersonic weapons will complicate adversaries' decision calculus, strengthening deterrence ... Their speed, accuracy and versatility are befitting its new popular name, Dark Eagle."
The Congressional Research Service reported: "The LRHW system provides the Army a strategic attack weapon system to defeat Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) capabilities, suppress adversary long-range fires, and engage other high payoff/time critical targets."
What Happens Next?
It remains to be seen whether the U.S. Army will conduct additional tests of the Dark Eagle missile before declaring it operational. The Army has previously expressed interest in operating its Multi-Domain Task Force, which hosts the Dark Eagle missile, out of Japan.
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