US unveils secret 'Dark Eagle' hypersonic missile
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The US Army's Dark Eagle hypersonic missile, officially designated as a Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon, completed a successful test at Cape Canaveral.
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A conventional hypersonic missile was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in December 2024. (US Department of Defense)
Following a successful test at a military launch site late last year, the US Army has officially designated its advanced hypersonic weapon system as "Dark Eagle," a long-range hypersonic missile designed to neutralize enemy defenses.
Social media images showed the missile's fiery ascent from a coastal launch complex as authorities issued airspace and maritime restrictions along with stern keep-out warnings for the surrounding area.
❗️🦅🇺🇲 - The Pentagon recently conducted another successful test of the Dark Eagle hypersonic missile, a ground-based weapon system.
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) April 25, 2025
The trial, part of ongoing efforts to advance U.S. hypersonic capabilities, demonstrated the missile’s precision and speed, reaching velocities… pic.twitter.com/6D0ERBSRmw
"The US Army announced 'Dark Eagle' as the popular name for the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon following the system's successful end-to-end flight test of the common All-Up Round last December," said the Defense Department in a statement published to its website on Thursday.
The Office of the Secretary of Defence stated, “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."
“We are currently evaluating the results of the test,” it added.
The Defense Department explained in a press release that the name honors the eagle, a skilled predator admired for its speed, stealth, and precision, reflecting the weapon system's blend of velocity, accuracy, maneuverability, and adaptability while also drawing symbolism from the bald eagle, America's national emblem representing power, liberty, and self-reliance.
The Pentagon elaborated that the "dark" designation signifies the hypersonic weapon's capacity to rapidly neutralize enemy defenses, dismantling critical assets such as area-denial systems, communication networks, long-range artillery, and other high-value time-sensitive targets with overwhelming precision.
The successful December test was a collaboration between the US Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office and the Navy's Strategic Systems Programs.
Hypersonic world stage
Hypersonic weapons travel at Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound, well over 3,000 miles per hour, and, unlike ballistic missiles, are maneuverable, making them nearly hard to intercept in flight. They also create extremely high temperatures, necessitating the use of sophisticated ceramics and other difficult-to-design and build exotic materials.
