New details released by US Army officials reveal that America’s first operational hypersonic missile is far more far-reaching and faster than previously disclosed. During a recent visit by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, military leaders outlined the capabilities of the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon, known as Dark Eagle, as reported by The War Zone.
Dark Eagle is a ground-launched, trailer-mounted hypersonic boost glide weapon designed to hit high-value, time-sensitive targets at extreme distances. After launch, a booster accelerates the glide vehicle to speeds exceeding Mach 5. The vehicle then separates and maneuvers through the atmosphere at lower altitudes than traditional ballistic missiles, making it harder to detect, track, and intercept.
According to Lt. Gen. Francisco Lozano, the Army’s director for hypersonic and space-related programs, Dark Eagle has an estimated range of about 3,500 kilometers, or roughly 2,175 miles. This marks a significant increase from earlier public figures, which placed the missile’s range at a minimum of around 1,725 miles. Lozano said the weapon could theoretically reach mainland China if launched from Guam, Moscow from Western Europe, or Tehran from the Gulf region.
Army officials also emphasized the system’s speed. At full range, Dark Eagle could reach its target in under 20 minutes, dramatically shrinking an adversary’s warning and response time. This rapid strike capability is a central reason the Pentagon has prioritized hypersonic weapons, particularly for scenarios involving heavily defended or fleeting targets.
Despite its reach, Dark Eagle carries a relatively small warhead, weighing less than 30 pounds. Officials explained that the missile’s destructive power relies primarily on the immense kinetic energy generated by its hypersonic velocity. During the briefing, an Army officer described the payload as dispersing projectiles over an area roughly the size of a large parking lot, making it especially effective against so-called soft targets such as radar sites, air defense systems, and command-and-control infrastructure.
Dark Eagle is expected to be the first hypersonic weapon deployed for frontline US service. The Navy is developing a closely related system, the Intermediate-Range Conventional Prompt Strike, which uses the same missile architecture for launch from surface ships and submarines.
Although questions were raised during earlier testing about the weapon’s effectiveness against certain targets, the latest disclosures suggest the Army remains confident in Dark Eagle’s role as a powerful new conventional strike option. As deployment approaches, the system is set to significantly alter how quickly and how far the US military can project precision firepower.
