US Army To Test 3,800 MPH Speeding Hypersonic Missile For Deployment

After years of development, testing, and behind-the-scenes adjustments, the United States is poised to finally enter the hypersonic race. The U.S. Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW)—better known as Dark Eagle—is set for one final test this December before entering active service.

Though the United States is more than capable of developing cutting-edge military systems, it has remained notably cautious in fielding hypersonic weapons. These missiles, capable of speeds beyond Mach 5—over 3,800 miles per hour—and with the ability to strike targets more than 1,700 miles away, offer a potent mix of speed, maneuverability, and altitude, allowing them to bypass traditional missile defense systems.

The LRHW, or Dark Eagle, is a land-based, truck-launched weapon system that utilizes a hypersonic glide body paired with specialized launch and control equipment. Its strategic edge lies in its ability to reach the upper edge of Earth’s atmosphere, cruising at high altitudes until the moment of impact—leaving adversaries with minimal time to react.

This system isn’t just fast—it’s smart. Dark Eagle is designed to take out Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) systems, neutralize enemy long-range fire capabilities, and strike high-priority or time-sensitive targets. It represents a new chapter in precision warfare, where threats can be handled at blistering speed from thousands of miles away.

Developed in collaboration with the U.S. Navy, the LRHW system is composed of the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) mounted on a Navy-designed 34.5-inch booster. A full battery includes four Transporter Erector Launchers (TELs) mounted on modified trailers, each carrying two missile canisters, plus a Battery Operations Center (BOC) and a support vehicle.

However, this level of sophistication doesn’t come without complexity. The Army has acknowledged the need for extensive flight testing to protect the missile’s sensitive electronics, evaluate high-temperature materials (up to 3,000° Fahrenheit), and improve aerodynamic predictions.

While a successful test was conducted in December 2024, DARPA and military leaders note that there is still insufficient data to fully evaluate the missile’s operational effectiveness, survivability, and suitability. These factors are key to ensuring the system performs reliably in a real-world conflict scenario.

Initial plans aimed to deploy the LRHW by the end of Fiscal Year 2025, potentially assigning it to the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force, 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. Whether this timeline will hold remains uncertain.

Currently, the program is being transitioned from the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) to the Program Executive Office Missiles & Space, but this move won’t be finalized until the system sees actual deployment.

The bigger question: Why has the U.S. taken so long?

While Russia has already deployed hypersonic systems like the Kinzhal, and China appears to be moving forward—possibly even in secret—the U.S. has taken a more deliberate route. Some speculate this restraint reflects transparency protocols, inter-agency scrutiny, or perhaps a tactical decision to maintain ambiguity and keep adversaries guessing.

But as the December test nears, concerns persist. If global competitors are already wielding these weapons, the stakes of falling behind become more urgent.